Maryland Senate records 234 new bills; clerk reads and refers select measures to committees
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Summary
The Senate of Maryland recorded 234 newly filed bills on Feb. 9; the clerk read several measures—on AI guidance in schools, pharmacist vaccine authority, parole commission membership, lead-risk housing standards and solar/energy storage—and the measures were referred to standing committees.
The Senate of Maryland recorded 234 newly filed bills on Feb. 9, the presiding officer said, and the clerk read a series of introductory measures that were referred to standing committees for consideration.
"Today, just today, we had 234 bills dropped," the presiding officer said on the floor, noting the tally runs through Senate Bill 954. The chamber compared that number to roughly 4,004 at the same point last year and said members should expect bill hearings to be scheduled now that the filings are in committee.
During the clerk's reading, sponsors and committees were named for a set of measures sent to committee. The clerk read Senate Bill 720, sponsored by Senator Hester, described as addressing artificial intelligence guidelines and professional development in education; SB 773, sponsored by Senator Augustine, concerning pharmacists and vaccine orders; SB 823, sponsored by Senator Smith, related to Parole Commission membership; SB 873, sponsored by Senator M. Washington, addressing lead-risk reduction standards in housing; and SB 923, sponsored by Senator Harris, covering solar photovoltaic modules, energy storage and related advisory councils. Each bill was ordered to its appropriate standing committee following the clerk's reading and the majority leader's motion to consider the readings.
The clerk also read joint resolutions, including Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Sen. Sidor), described as an apology and acknowledgment regarding the state's responsibility in racial terror lynchings, and SJ Res. 4 (Sen. A. Washington) on anti-nuclear proliferation; both were referred to their committees. Bond initiatives and local capital budget items were read and referred to the capital budget subcommittee.
No floor debate or recorded final votes on the measures were recorded in the session transcript; the readings constitute the introductory step that places bills on committee dockets. The presiding officer noted that the scheduling of bill hearings will accelerate now that bills are in committee.
For the record, the clerk and presiding officer confirmed quorum and attendance during the session and later recorded 44 members present before adjournment.
The Senate adjourned until Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m.
