Maryland General Assembly

HB 2102 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace the current legislative redistricting process with a citizen-based Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Convention. This 188-member body would be elected by county voters every ten years to draw new state and federal district maps, subject to strict eligibility rules that bar current or aspiring elected officials, party staff, and lobbyists from serving. The General Assembly retains the power to challenge a certified map plan in court, but if no challenge is filed or the Supreme Court of Maryland upholds the plan, it automatically becomes law. Additionally, the bill mandates that every state legislative district for the House of Delegates must consist of exactly three single-member delegate districts.

SB 2102 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an independent Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Commission, which would take over the process of drawing state legislative and congressional district maps from the General Assembly. The bill requires that all House of Delegates districts be single-member units and sets specific standards for map drawing, including prohibitions against considering political party affiliation or the residence of incumbent officeholders when creating boundaries. If the commission fails to adopt a plan or if the legislature rejects the proposed maps, the Supreme Court of Maryland would gain original jurisdiction to establish the final district plans. The legislation also mandates public hearings and transparency requirements for the redistricting process, with the constitutional changes subject to voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that Maryland's state redistricting rules apply only to the General Assembly, not to congressional districts. It would grant the General Assembly the power to allow the state Supreme Court to review congressional district maps and explicitly state that the state constitution provides no specific criteria for drawing those congressional lines. The amendment aims to resolve legal uncertainty by ensuring that state-level districting standards do not interfere with federal requirements for congressional representation. If approved by voters, the change would shift the legal framework for congressional maps to rely solely on federal law while leaving state legislative districts under current state rules.

This bill, titled the Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026, is designed to remove and cancel a duplicate proposed constitutional amendment regarding collective bargaining for state employees. It specifically targets Sections 2 through 4 of Chapter 156 from the 2026 Acts, withdrawing them from the legislative record and repealing their legal effect. Additionally, the bill amends Section 5 of the same chapter to clarify that certain provisions are contingent upon the successful passage and voter ratification of a related constitutional amendment in Chapter 155. By declaring itself an emergency measure, the legislation ensures these changes take effect immediately upon enactment without waiting for further procedural steps.

HB 1151 requires the Maryland Department of Health to study whether reimbursing hospice houses for room and board services under the state's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) would save costs and improve patient outcomes. The study must quantify Medicaid savings per death from hospice care and analyze how reimbursement might reduce hospital deaths, emergency room visits, hospice readmissions, and increase hospice care duration. It specifically examines the impact of covering room and board expenses for hospice providers, as defined by existing regulations. The Department must submit findings to state legislative committees by September 30, 2026. This is a procedural study with no immediate policy change.