Maryland's Lawmaking Process: Understanding How Bills Become Laws

In Maryland, the process of a bill becoming a law is long and tedious. It involves several stages, including introduction, committee consideration, chamber votes, and gubernatorial approval. The Maryland General Assembly, consisting of the Senate and the House of Delegates, meets annually from January to April to discuss and act on thousands of bills. These bills undergo a rigorous process, including hearings, debates, amendments, and votes, before they are presented to the Governor for signature or veto. The Governor has a limited timeframe to decide on the bills, and if no action is taken, the bills automatically become laws. This process ensures that new laws are carefully considered and reflect the needs and interests of the people of Maryland.

Legislative process

The legislative process in Maryland is a long and tedious one. It involves multiple steps and stakeholders, from legislators to the governor, and can take up to 90 days. Here is an overview of the legislative process in Maryland:

The legislative process begins with a legislator deciding to sponsor a bill. Legislative staff aides then draft the bill for the legislator's approval. Bills on most subjects can be introduced in either chamber of the Maryland General Assembly during the first 55 days of a session. After this period, a bill requires the consent of two-thirds of the membership of the chamber in which it is to be introduced. Once introduced, the bill is given a number and assigned to a committee in the House or Senate.

Committee Action

The assigned committee holds a hearing to consider the bill. This hearing includes testimony from experts, public officials, and advocates. Anyone may testify, and written statements from constituents can also be submitted. The committee then meets to consider proposed amendments and vote on the bill. The committee can vote in favour of the bill, in favour with amendments, or against it. Alternatively, the committee may refer the bill for interim study, in which case no further action is taken until the next session.

Full Chamber Vote

If the bill receives a favourable committee vote, it proceeds to the full chamber for a second reading. The bill and any amendments made by the committee are explained to the full chamber, which may then debate and offer additional amendments. A vote is taken, and if the bill passes, it is reprinted to incorporate the amendments. The final vote by the full chamber is a roll call vote, and if the bill passes, it is sent to the other chamber for consideration.

Second Chamber Consideration

The process in the second chamber is similar, although testimony may be limited, and only the bill's sponsor may be able to testify. Amendments can be proposed at the third reading stage in the second chamber. If there are no amendments, the bill is sent to the governor.

Concurrence/Non-Concurrence

If the second chamber passes an amended version of the bill, it goes back to the original chamber for consideration of the amendments. The original chamber may concur with or reject the amendments. If the original chamber rejects the amendments, the second chamber may be asked to withdraw them. If the second chamber agrees, the amendments are removed, and the chamber votes again on the original version of the bill. If the second chamber does not agree to withdraw the amendments, either chamber may request a conference committee.

Conference Committee

The conference committee consists of three members from each chamber, aiming to reach a compromise between the differing versions of the bill. For a compromise bill to be reported out, four out of six committee members must vote in favour. The conference report must be approved by both houses before the bill is considered passed. Once both chambers have passed identical versions of the bill, it is sent to the governor for signature or veto.

Governor's Action

The governor has a limited period, usually around 30 days, to decide whether to sign or veto the bill. If the governor takes no action within the required time frame, the bill automatically becomes law. The General Assembly can override a veto with a three-fifths vote of the elected membership of each chamber. Once approved, the bill is assigned a chapter number and becomes part of the Laws of Maryland.

The Maryland General Assembly

The process of a bill becoming a law in Maryland begins with a legislator sponsoring a piece of legislation. Legislative staff aides then draft the bill for the legislator's approval. Bills on most subjects may be introduced in either chamber during the first 55 days of a session. After this period, a bill requires the consent of two-thirds of the membership of the chamber in which it is to be introduced.

Once introduced, the bill receives its first reading, where the title, sponsor, and committee assignment are announced. The committee then holds a hearing to consider the bill, allowing anyone to testify and submit written statements. The committee will then meet again to vote on the bill, and if it receives a favorable vote, it will be sent to the full chamber.

The bill and any amendments are explained to the full chamber, and a second reading vote is taken. If the bill passes this vote, it is reprinted to incorporate the amendments and is then put to a final vote by the full chamber. If it passes this final vote, it is sent to the other chamber for consideration.

The process in the second chamber is similar, though testimony may be limited, and amendments can be proposed at the third reading stage. If the second chamber passes an amended version of the bill, it is sent back to the original chamber for consideration of the amendments. If the original chamber does not accept the amendments, a conference committee is appointed to work through the differences.

If an agreement is reached, and both chambers pass identical versions of the bill, it is sent to the governor for signature or veto. The governor has a limited period, usually around 30 days, to make a decision. If the governor does not act within this time, the bill automatically becomes law.

Committee Action

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned a number, it is sent to a committee in the House or the Senate. The committee then holds a hearing to consider the bill, allowing anyone to testify. Written statements such as letters and emails from constituents may also be submitted. The hearing often includes testimony from experts, public officials, and advocates.

After the hearing, the committee meets to consider proposed amendments and vote on the bill. The committee can vote in favor of the bill, in favor with amendments, or against it. Alternatively, the committee may refer the bill for an interim study, in which case no further action will be taken until the next session. If the committee does not support the bill, it dies.

If the committee votes in favor of the bill, it will be sent to the full chamber. The bill and any amendments made by the committee are explained to the full chamber, which may then debate the bill and offer further amendments. Votes are taken on the bill and any amendments; these are usually voice votes. If the bill passes this vote, it is reprinted to incorporate the amendments and is put to a final vote by the full chamber. No amendments can be offered at this stage, and a roll-call vote must be taken. If the bill passes this vote, it is sent to the other chamber for consideration, where the process is similar.

The Governor's role

The Governor plays a crucial role in the process of a bill becoming a law in Maryland. Firstly, it is important to note that the Governor is responsible for setting most of the state's fiscal priorities and the executive branch, which includes the Governor, prepares the state budget. The Governor then submits this budget to the General Assembly, and while the Assembly can make some changes, they have limited budget-making powers.

After a bill has been introduced, examined, and passed by the General Assembly, it is presented to the Governor. The Governor then has a limited period, typically 30 days, to decide whether to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the Governor takes no action within the given timeframe, the bill automatically becomes law without the Governor's signature. However, the General Assembly can override a veto with a three-fifths vote of the elected membership of each chamber.

Additionally, the Governor has the power to approve or disapprove of legislation enacted by the County Council, which is the legislative branch of County government. The County Executive, who is a part of the executive branch, has 10 days to approve or veto the legislation. If vetoed, the Council can reenact the legislation with a supermajority vote of 7 members.

Vetoing a bill

Once a bill has been passed by both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly, it is sent to the governor for their signature or veto. The governor has a limited period of time, typically six days (excluding Sundays), to decide on signing or vetoing the bill. This duration may vary depending on when the bill is presented to the governor.

If the governor does not take any action within the specified timeframe, the bill automatically becomes a law, as per the Maryland Constitution (Md. Const. art. II, § 17). However, if the governor chooses to veto the bill, the General Assembly can override the veto by securing a three-fifths majority vote of the elected members in each chamber.

To override a gubernatorial veto, the bill must garner sufficient support in both the Senate and the House of Delegates, with a three-fifths majority vote in each chamber. This process empowers the legislative branch to enact a bill into law even without the governor's approval.

It is important to note that the Maryland General Assembly, with its two chambers, plays a crucial role in the legislative process. The Assembly meets annually in Annapolis from January to April, comprising 47 senators and 141 delegates elected from across 47 districts.

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