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House opens 2026 session, adopts joint committee appointments and reads introductory bills
Summary
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES convened in Annapolis on Jan. 14, 2026, opened with a chaplain’s prayer, adopted joint committee appointments by unanimous consent, and read House Bills 302–317 for first reading and referral; several committees scheduled organizational meetings for later the same day.
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES convened in Annapolis on Jan. 14, 2026, with the presiding officer confirming a quorum and the clerk reporting 132 members present. A chaplain identified only as 'the gentleman from Cecil County' offered an opening prayer asking that lawmakers be guided in their work.
The clerk read a slate of joint committee appointments for the Joint Committee on Protocol, naming Veronica Turner as House chair, Denise Roberts as vice chair, Frank M. Connelly Jr. and Stuart Michael Schmidt Jr. among others. The presiding officer said, 'Here are no objection,' and the clerk announced, 'The appointments are adopted.' The clerk subsequently read minority leadership appointments, including Jason C. Buckle as minority leader and Jesse Pippe as minority whip, and recorded those appointments in the journal.
On the consent calendar, the majority leader announced the reading of introductory House Bills 302 through 317. The presiding officer noted 'Hearing no objection,' and the bills were read for the first time and referred to appropriate committees for further consideration.
Committee chairs used the floor to announce organizational meetings: Appropriations, Economic Matters, Environment and Transportation, Government, Labor and Elections, Health, Judiciary, and Ways and Means each scheduled organizational meetings around 11:00 a.m., with some specifying rooms or noting that meetings would be virtual.
Delegation leaders and members made a series of recognitions and invitations: the Anne Arundel County Delegation will meet by Zoom with County Executive Stuart Pittman and Annapolis Mayor Jared Littman; the Maryland Schools and Colleges Association and the Maryland School Psychology Association were welcomed for advocacy day; the Maryland Athletic Trainers Association was noted as present in the gallery; and student council members and other guests were introduced.
A delegate from Carroll County used his floor time to announce that this will be his final session as a delegate and offered farewell remarks. Near the end of the provided transcript, the clerk reported 136 members present and the majority leader said, 'I move that the house stands adjourned until Friday, January 16 at 11:00AM.' The transcript ends after that motion; the provided record does not include whether the motion was adopted.
Procedural scheduling and housekeeping—committee organization, guest recognition, and the journalization of appointments—dominated the session. The next formal floor day referenced in the remarks is Friday, Jan. 16, at 11:00 a.m.
