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Delegate proposes expanding legislature and staggering Senate elections
Summary
Delegate Chris Frerich Boucher presented House Bill 96 to expand the Maryland House from 141 to 144 members and the Senate from 47 to 48, and to stagger Senate elections so 24 senators run every two years.
Delegate Chris Frerich Boucher presented House Bill 96 to the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, proposing changes to the size and electoral rhythm of Maryland's General Assembly. Boucher said the bill would expand the House from 141 to 144 members and increase the State Senate from 47 to 48 seats, and would stagger Senate elections so 24 senators face election every two years.
Boucher argued the change would preserve institutional continuity and provide an electoral check similar to the U.S. Senate model. "If there is passion in our electorate and they wanna wipe out this body, we need to maintain the continuity and the institutional knowledge which exists," he said. He described the proposal as nonpartisan and said it is intended to protect legislative continuity across different election cycles.
No committee action or vote on HB 96 was recorded in the hearing transcript; the presentation concluded and the committee moved on to the next item.
