Maryland House convenes in Annapolis; lawmakers introduce bond initiatives, honor UMGC Day and pay tribute to Beverly Byron

The Maryland House of Delegates met in Annapolis on Feb. 10, 2025, with the clerk reading introductory bond initiatives and several members offering ceremonial recognitions, announcements and a tribute to former U.S. Rep. Beverly Barton Byron.

The session opened with the clerk taking the roll; the clerk reported 125 members present at that call. The journal from the previous day was placed on the floor for consideration after a motion to consider its reading. The clerk read introductory house bond initiatives numbered and dated in the transcript; the clerk announced that Introductory House Bond Initiatives No. 39 and No. 40 (Feb. 10, 2025) were referred to the Appropriations Committee. Several reassignment letters were read and journalized, including items read in the transcript as "House of 13 37 reassigned to economic matters" and "House 13 62 reassigned to economic matters" (text as read in the session; bill details not specified in the transcript).

Members used the floor for routine delegational and caucus announcements. The Democratic caucus announced a meeting at 9 a.m. the following morning in the Prince George’s County Delegation Room; the Republican caucus announced a 9 a.m. meeting in the Baltimore City Delegation Room. The majority leader alerted members that, because of impending snow, people signed up to testify on Tuesday and Wednesday hearings could contact committees to switch to virtual testimony by 11 a.m. on the day of the hearing.

The House recognized University of Maryland Global Campus Day. Delegate remarks invited the chamber to welcome Gregory Fowler, president of UMGC, and students, alumni and faculty in the gallery and described UMGC’s role as a workforce development resource for adult learners and military students.

A lengthy tribute was delivered recognizing the life and public service of Beverly Barton Byron, who died at age 92. The remarks in the Chamber recounted Byron’s biography as presented on the floor: her birth on July 27, 1932; graduation from National Cathedral School in 1950; attendance at Hood College; her 1979 election to Congress representing Western Maryland following the death of her husband Goodloe Byron; and her service in Congress from 1978 to 1992. The remarks noted Byron’s role as one of a small number of women then serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, her leadership on the House Armed Services subcommittee, and her post-congressional board service, including positions with CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and TEDCO. The speaker described awards and honors recited on the floor, including the Johns Hopkins University President’s Medal (1993) and several honorary degrees. The speaker identified the remarks as being offered on behalf of Delegate Kern and Delegate Simpson and other colleagues; the transcript supplies the biography and honors in detail.

Other floor recognitions and announcements included: visits by constituent groups and former members, recognition of students participating in robotics and STEM competitions (FTC teams), a notice to save the date for the Speaker Society reception, and a reminder about an upcoming blood drive scheduled for Feb. 19. The protocol chair introduced "sunshines" (students visiting the chamber) and excused them after remarks.

Procedural motions on the floor included a motion by the deputy majority leader to consider the reading of the journal and, later in the record, a motion by the majority leader that "the House stands adjourned until Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m." The transcript records the motions and the text as spoken; outcomes for the motions are not specified in the transcript excerpts provided.

The session record in the transcript includes multiple procedural and ceremonial items but no floor debate on substantive legislation in the provided excerpts. Several bill and initiative numbers were read into the record without additional legislative detail; where a bill number or assignment was read but the substance or sponsor was not stated in the transcript, that information is recorded here as not specified.

The House proceeded through routine business, announcements and ceremonial recognitions before the majority leader moved to adjourn; the transcript ends with that motion as provided.