Maryland Senate adopts conference reports and passes budget bills, sending measures to the House

The Maryland Senate on March 30 adopted conference committee reports and approved several bills on third reading, advancing the budget and related measures to the House.

Chair of the committee (speaker 22) moved to adopt the conference committee report for Senate Bill 282, the fiscal year 2027 budget bill. The clerk recorded the conference committee report as adopted with 38 affirmative votes. The Senate then proceeded to third reading and final passage of SB 282; the clerk announced the bill passed with 38 affirmative votes and it was declared passed. (Motion to adopt: Chair, Budget & Tax Committee; recorded outcome: conference committee report adopted; final passage: passed, 38 affirmative.)

Later the clerk read the conference committee report for Senate Bill 284, the President’s Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026. The Senate adopted the conference committee report (voice vote recorded as adopted) and on third reading recorded final passage of SB 284 with 31 affirmative votes; the bill was declared passed and will be transmitted to the House for consideration.

On the third-reading calendar the Senate considered Senate Bill 890 (regarding a moratorium and study of premium receipts tax on captive insurers). The clerk called the roll and the bill passed on third reading with 43 affirmative votes and was declared passed.

Floor practice followed standard procedure: the motions to adopt conference reports were made by the designated committee chair; roll calls were taken for third readings where required and tallies were announced from the clerk. The chamber journalized the House messages and conference committee appointments earlier in the evening.

Next steps: the passed bills and conference committee reports will be transmitted to the House of Delegates for any further action required by the legislative process. The Senate adjourned until March 31 at 10:00 a.m.