How a bill becomes law in Maryland

The General Assembly meets for 90 days starting the second Wednesday of January. This session runs Jan 14, 2026 to Apr 13, 2026 with crossover on Mar 23, 2026. Around 2,500 to 3,000 bills are introduced; roughly a third become law.

1
Drafting and prefiling
A senator or delegate asks the Department of Legislative Services to draft a bill. Bills can be prefiled before January so they get early numbers and early hearings.
2
First reading
The bill is read by number on the floor of its chamber and assigned to a standing committee. This is the moment CivicKnow first sees it in the MGA data.
3
Committee hearing
Every bill gets a public hearing. This is where you come in: anyone can sign up to testify or submit written testimony during the committee's sign-up window. Sponsors go first, then favorable witnesses, then unfavorable.
4
Committee vote
The committee votes the bill out favorable, favorable with amendments, or unfavorable, or never votes at all. Most bills die here without a vote. An unfavorable report is close to final.
5
Second and third reading
On the floor, the bill is amended on second reading and passed on third reading. Third reading votes are recorded and show up under Recorded votes on the bill page.
6
Crossover
To be guaranteed consideration in the other chamber, a bill must pass its house of origin by crossover day, the 69th day of session. Bills that cross later go to the Rules committee, which usually means they are done.
7
The other chamber
The process repeats: first reading, committee hearing (another chance to testify), committee vote, floor votes. If the second chamber amends the bill, the first chamber must concur or the two go to conference.
8
Governor
The Governor has 30 days after presentment to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without a signature. Vetoes can be overridden by three-fifths of each chamber, often at the start of the next session.
9
Chapter law
A signed bill gets a chapter number. Most laws take effect October 1; emergency bills take effect immediately and June 1 and July 1 are common for budget-related bills.

Glossary

Crossfile:: The same bill introduced in both chambers at once (HB and SB). Passing either one is enough.
Fiscal and policy note:: The Department of Legislative Services' analysis of what a bill costs the state and local governments, and its effect on small business.
Favorable with amendments (FWA):: A witness position or committee report that supports the bill only if changed.
Sine die:: The last day of session, when everything not passed dies.
Enrolled:: The final version of a bill as passed by both chambers, sent to the Governor.
Interim study:: A committee report that sets a bill aside for study between sessions; in practice, a polite way to kill it.
Delegation:: The senator and delegates who represent one district, or all the legislators from one county who vote on local bills.

Ready to testify? · Find your legislators