Maryland House completes routine session, refers introductory bills and schedules committee briefings
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Summary
The Maryland House met in Annapolis on Jan. 23, 2026, completed roll call and journal reading, read several introductory bills and bond initiatives for first reading and referral to committees, heard multiple committee scheduling announcements and guest recognitions, and the majority leader moved to adjourn until Jan. 28, 2026.
Annapolis — The Maryland House of Representatives convened in Annapolis on Jan. 23, 2026, completed its roll call and journal reading, and moved several introductory bills to committee consideration.
Madam Speaker opened the session, led the Pledge of Allegiance and offered a brief prayer, asking for "peace" and safety. The clerk read the journal from the previous day and presented the Report of the General Assembly Compensation Commission (January 2026); the chamber ordered the report journalized after "hearing no objection."
On the consent calendar, the clerk read introductory bills for first reading, including the item transcribed as "House 4 89, delegate Kerr Health" and a set described as "house bills 5 30 through 5 55." "Hearing no objection, the bills are read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees," the presiding officer said, moving those measures into the committee process. The clerk also read an introductory House joint resolution and bond initiatives; bond initiative number 7 (dated 01/27/2026) was referred to Appropriations.
Several reassignment letters were read and ordered, moving specific bills among committees as recorded by the clerk. Committee chairs and members used the floor to announce schedules and briefings: the Appropriations Committee set bill hearings for 1:00 PM; Environment and Transportation scheduled a 1:00 PM "State of the Bay" briefing followed by an update from the Maryland Department of the Environment; the Ways and Means Committee announced a fiscal briefing with the Department of Legislative Services at 1:00 PM and bill hearings at 2:00 PM; and the House Rules Committee set public hearings for 3:00 PM in House Room 230.
The chamber also recorded caucus and personal guest announcements. The House Democratic Caucus scheduled a meeting after floor in Room 150. A delegate introduced student visitor Aiden Shetty, a fourth grader from North Chevy Chase. A delegate from Howard County introduced the "doctor of the day," Dr. Kalpana Prakasa, a hospitalist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. The co-chair of the Jewish Caucus recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day, noting the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and thanking colleagues for attending a program featuring survivors.
After a quorum check indicating 123 members present, the majority leader moved that "the house stand adjourned until Wednesday, January 28 at 10:00 AM." The transcript does not record a roll-call vote on that motion; the presiding officer closed the session with safety reminders for members leaving in icy conditions.
Because the session on Jan. 23 focused on routine procedural business — first readings, committee scheduling, reassignment letters and guest recognitions — no floor debate on specific bills or final recorded roll-call votes on measures appear in the transcript. The items read for first time will proceed to committee consideration on the schedules announced.
