# Maryland SB 0443: Local Boards of Elections - Board Counsel - Qualifications

Maryland SB 0443, Local Boards of Elections - Board Counsel - Qualifications, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mary Beth Carozza (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 257) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0443-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0443
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Local Boards of Elections - Board Counsel - Qualifications
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 257
- Sponsor: Mary Beth Carozza (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Elections, Attorneys, Committees and Commissions, Elections Supervisors, Emergency Bills, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Safety -see also- Occupational Safety
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (160 yes, 18 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More lawyer choices for Maryland election boards: benefit, low. Beginning April 28, 2026, Maryland local election boards can appoint or retain lawyers registered to vote anywhere in Maryland. Lawyers no longer need to be registered voters in the board’s county. They must still be admitted to practice law in Maryland.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mary Beth Carozza (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stephen S. Hershey (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Cheryl C. Kagan (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johnny Mautz (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 115 | 18 | 7 |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 257
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (115-18) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-24: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-13: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_257_sb0443t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0443t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0443f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_257_sb0443t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0443t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0443f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0443-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).