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HB 608 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Employees - Compensation

HB 608 would authorize the Chief Judge of Maryland's Appellate Court and administrative judges in circuit or district courts to receive an annual stipend in addition to their regular salary. This bill amends Maryland's judicial compensation law to specifically add this stipend provision for these roles. The stipend would be paid on top of existing salaries, with no change to base pay rates. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Courts - Administrative Judges - Annual Stipend → Third - Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Employees - Compensation · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to expand its scope by adding a new provision that adjusts compensation for the Workers' Compensation Commission. Specifically, the Chairman's salary is now required to be at least equal to the District Court Chief Judge's salary, rather than a fixed dollar amount increase. The bill also reorganized the legislative text to include this new section alongside existing court stipend provisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from solely addressing administrative judge stipends to also include compensation adjustments for the Workers' Compensation Commission Chairman.
FISCAL

Added a new requirement that the Workers' Compensation Commission Chairman's salary must be at least equal to the District Court Chief Judge's salary.

SCOPE

Broadened the bill title and purpose statement to explicitly include judicial and quasi-judicial employees beyond just administrative judges.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure to add a new section repealing and reenacting Labor and Employment laws alongside the existing Courts section.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

47–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Mar 18, 2026
D Democratic36
35 Yea 1
97% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 563
executive
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Apr 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Committee
Referred Budget and Taxation
upper
Mar 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)
senate
Mar 9, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (122-3-17)
house of delegates
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
First Reading Appropriations
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.