Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections Committee Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reports several elections bills to floor, including SBE appointment change and campaign finance tool updates
Summary
The House Privileges and Elections Committee reported multiple bills to the next stage: HB 1952, HB 2216, HB 2140 and HB 2165 (with substitutes/incorporations as noted). Vote tallies ranged from unanimous approvals to an 18-1 subcommittee-recommended report; several bills will move to other committees for further action.
The House Privileges and Elections Committee reported several bills out of committee on a mix of party-line and unanimous votes during its session.
Key outcomes:
- HB 1952 (listed by the elections administration subcommittee) — requires the Department of Elections to publish on its website the cost of purchasing voter and other lists. The subcommittee recommended reporting by a vote of 8-0; the full committee reported the bill on a roll call vote of 19-0.
- HB 2216 (patron: Delegate O’Quinn) — would change the appointing authority for the Commissioner of Elections to the State Board of Elections, require an affirmative vote of 4 of the 5 board members for appointment or removal, and alter the start of the commissioner’s four-year term; the subcommittee recommended reporting by a vote of 6-2 and the full committee reported the bill 18-1. The bill has a delayed effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.
- HB 2140 (patron: Delegate Krizak) — directs that the state’s online campaign finance interface provide tools for searching and manipulating exported campaign finance data; the subcommittee recommended reporting 8-0 and the committee reported the bill 19-0.
- HB 2165 (patron: Delegate Cole), incorporating HB 1686 — updates prohibitions on personal use of campaign funds; the campaign finance subcommittee recommended reporting with a substitute and the full committee reported HB 2165 with substitute by a recorded vote of 20-0.
The committee also carried out ministerial incorporations where subcommittee recommendations were folded into primary bills, and several bills were reported with substitutes to clarify language or implementation details. The reported measures will proceed to the next legislative step or to Appropriations where noted.
