Senate passes several bills on third reading; SB141 held for amendment
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
On Feb. 5 the Maryland Senate reported final passage for Senate Bill 5, 29 and 93 (constitutional majorities declared), moved SB141 back to second reader for a technical amendment and recorded the adoption of a committee amendment to SB255 before ordering it to third reading.
The Senate took a series of third‑reading actions and votes during its Feb. 5 floor session. After a quorum call the clerk read the third‑reading calendar and the Senate recorded final passage for multiple bills.
Senate Bill 5 (sponsor: Senator Kagan) was declared passed with 43 affirmative votes. Senate Bill 29 (sponsor: Senator Kagan) was declared passed with 44 affirmative votes. Senate Bill 93 (sponsor: Senator Kagan) was declared passed with 36 affirmative votes. The clerk announced those tallies on the floor; the transcript records the constitutional majorities declared for each measure.
Senate Bill 141 (sponsor: Senator Hester), concerning election misinformation/disinformation and deepfakes, was held by the sponsor for a technical amendment; the sponsor asked to move the bill back to second reader, special ordered it to an appropriate time on Tuesday and the motion carried without objection. Earlier in the day the chamber adopted a committee amendment to Senate Bill 255 and ordered SB 255 printed for third reading.
Other floor business: a lighthearted roll‑call poll on the Super Bowl produced 28 votes for the Seahawks, 8 for the Patriots and 7 recorded as indifferent; committee chairs announced schedules; the majority leader moved (and the body agreed) to adjourn until Feb. 6 for a pro forma session at 11 a.m., adjourning in honor of Mee Yi Lee, mother of former senator Susan Lee.
Vote tallies (as recorded on the floor): SB 5 — 43 affirmative; SB 29 — 44 affirmative; SB 93 — 36 affirmative. SB 141 — returned to second reader and special ordered for Tuesday (no final vote recorded). SB 255 — committee amendment adopted and ordered to third reading (no final passage recorded Feb. 5).
What happens next: Bills declared passed will proceed according to legislative process (transmittal, enrollment) as applicable; SB 141 will return to second reader for amendment; SB 255 will proceed to third reading.