Maryland State Senate
| Maryland State Senate | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Party control: | Democrat |
| Session start: | January 10, 2024 |
| Session end: | April 8, 2024 |
| Term length: | 4 years |
| Term limits: | None |
| Redistricting: | Legislature-dominant |
| Salary: | $52,343/year + per diem |
| Members | |
| Total: | 47 |
| Democrats: | 34 |
| Republicans: | 13 |
| Other: | 0 |
| Vacancies: | 0 |
| Leadership | |
| President: | William Ferguson IV (D) |
| Maj. Leader: | Nancy King (D) |
| Min. Leader: | Stephen Hershey Jr. (R) |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
The Maryland State Senate is the upper chamber of the Maryland General Assembly. Alongside the Maryland House of Delegates, it forms the legislative branch of the Maryland state government and works alongside the governor of Maryland to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Maryland State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
The Maryland State Senate meets in the State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
Maryland has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. |
This page contains the following information on the Maryland State Senate.
- Which party controls the chamber
- The chamber's current membership
- Partisan control of the chamber over time
- Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
- A district map
- How redistricting works in the state
- Legislation currently under consideration
- Legislative session dates
- Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
- A list of committees
Party control
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Maryland State Senate as of January 2024:
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 34 | |
| Republican Party | 13 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 47 | |
Members
Leadership
The president and president pro tem of the Senate are elected by the full body. The president appoints the majority leader. These two leaders then appoint the deputy majority leader and majority whip. Minority leaders are named by the minority party.[1]
Leadership and members
- Senate president: William Ferguson IV (D)
- President Pro Tempore: Melony Griffith (D)
- Majority leader: Nancy King (D)
- Minority leader: Stephen Hershey Jr. (R)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $52,343/year | $108/day for lodging. $63/day for meals. |
Swearing in dates
Maryland legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.[2]
Membership qualifications
Section 9 of Article 3 of the Maryland Constitution states, "A person is eligible to serve as a Senator or Delegate, who on the date of his election, (1) is a citizen of the State of Maryland, (2) has resided therein for at least one year next preceding that date, and (3) if the district which he has been chosen to represent has been established for at least six months prior to the date of his election, has resided in that district for six months next preceding that date.
If the district which the person has been chosen to represent has been established less than six months prior to the date of his election, then in addition to (1) and (2) above, he shall have resided in the district for as long as it has been established.
A person is eligible to serve as a Senator, if he has attained the age of twenty-five years, or as a Delegate, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years, on the date of his election.[3]
Historical party control
Democrats won control of the Maryland State Senate in 1900. In 2022, they won a 34-13 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Maryland Senate following every general election from 1990 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Maryland State Senate election results: 1990-2022
| Year | '90 | '94 | '98 | '02 | '06 | '10 | '14 | '18 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 40 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
| Republicans | 7 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Trifecta history
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Maryland was under the following types of trifecta control:
- Democratic trifecta: 1992-2002, 2007-2014, 2023
- Republican trifecta: None
- Divided government: 2003-2006, 2015-2022
Maryland Party Control: 1992-2024
Twenty-one years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Elections
Elections by year
Maryland state senators serve four-year terms, with all seats up for election every four years. Maryland holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2022
- See also: Maryland State Senate elections, 2022
Elections for the Maryland State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for July 19, 2022. The filing deadline was April 15, 2022.
In the 2022 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the chamber from 32-15 to 34-13.
| Maryland State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 32 | 34 | |
| Republican Party | 15 | 13 | |
| Total | 47 | 47 | |
2018
- See also: Maryland State Senate elections, 2018
Elections for the Maryland State Senate took place in 2018. The closed primary election took place on June 26, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was February 27, 2018. The filing deadline for third party and independent candidates was August 6, 2018.[4]
In the 2018 elections, the Democratic majority in the Maryland State Senate was reduced from 33-14 to 32-15.
| Maryland State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 33 | 32 | |
| Republican Party | 14 | 15 | |
| Total | 47 | 47 | |
| Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2014
Elections for the Maryland State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 25, 2014. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 35-12 majority. Democrats lost two seats in the election, giving them a 33-14 majority.
2010
Elections for the office of Maryland State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 6, 2010. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 33-14 majority. Democrats gained two seats in the election, giving them a 35-12 majority.
In 2010, the candidates running for state Senate raised a total of $9,313,367 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[5]
2006
Elections for the office of Maryland State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $10,593,147. The top 10 contributors were:[6]
2002
Elections for the office of Maryland Senate consisted of a primary election on September 10, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $9,071,191. The top 10 contributors were:[7]
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Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Maryland General Assembly, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement.[8]
The governor makes an appointment based on the recommendations of the political party committee that holds the vacant seat. The political party committee has up to 30 days after the vacancy to submit a list of recommended candidates to the governor. If the party committee fails to act by the 30-day deadline, or if the former officeholder was not affiliated with any party, the governor has 15 days to appoint a person from the political party that last held the seat.[9]
The person appointed to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.[10]
See sources: Maryland Const. Art. 3, Sec. 13
District map
- See also: Maryland state legislative districts
The state of Maryland has 47 legislative districts. Senators are elected from the same legislative districts as are members of the Maryland House of Delegates. Each district elects three delegates but only one senator.
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Maryland
In Maryland, the primary authority to adopt both congressional and state legislative district lines rests with the state legislature. The governor submits a state legislative redistricting proposal (an advisory commission appointed by the governor assists in drafting this proposal). The state legislature may pass its own plan by joint resolution, which is not subject to gubernatorial veto. If the legislature fails to approve its own plan, the governor's plan takes effect. Congressional lines are adopted solely by the legislature and may be vetoed by the governor.[11]
The Maryland Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous, compact, and "give 'due regard' for political boundaries and natural features." No such requirements apply to congressional districts.[11]
2020
Maryland adopted legislative maps on January 27, 2022, when the Maryland House of Delegates approved new legislative district boundaries that had been approved on January 20, 2022, by the Maryland State Senate. The vote in the state Senate was 32-14 and in the House of Delegates was 95-42, both strictly along party lines.[12][13][14][15]Since legislative maps are not subject to gubernatorial veto, the maps were therefore enacted.
2010
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maryland's population grew from 5.30 million to 5.77 million between 2000 and 2010.[16] The growth rate was slightly below the national average, but was one of the fastest rates in the Northeast. Maryland retained all eight Congressional districts, but population shifts suggested that many districts would need to be redrawn.[17] Baltimore lost population relative to other areas of the state.[18]
The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee released a proposed map of new legislative districts on December 16, 2011. Governor Martin O'Malley (D) formally presented the new map to the Maryland General Assembly on January 11, 2012. Legislators had 45 days to approve the plan or pass an alternative map, if they did not pass an alternative plan O'Malley's proposal would automatically become law after the deadline.[19][20] Members of the House produced five alternative plans but none of them were scheduled for committee hearings. No alternative plans were presented in the Senate, and O'Malley's plan became law on February 24, 2012, after the House and Senate declined to vote on it.[21]
Sessions
Legislation
The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Maryland State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.
Dates of legislative sessions in Maryland by year
2024
- See also: 2024 Maryland legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 10, 2024, and adjourn on April 8, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2023, and adjourn on April 10, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 12, 2022, and adjourn on April 11, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 13, 2021, and adjourn on April 12, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2020, and adjourn on March 18, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Maryland State Legislature adjourned its session early, effective March 18, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[22] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2019, through April 8, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2018, through April 9, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 11, 2017, through April 10, 2017. 2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 13 through April 11. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 14 through April 13. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included the state budget shortfall, expanding charter schools, marijuana decriminalization, fracking, and heroin overdoses.[23] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 to April 7. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included addressing the state's minimum wage, emergency health insurance, marijuana legalization, and tax relief.[24] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 9 to April 8. Major issues in 2013Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included an assault weapons ban, boosting the state's wind power industry, transportation funding, and repeal of the death penalty.[25] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 11 through April 19. 2011In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 12 through April 8.[26] A special redistricting session was held from October 17 to October 20.[27][28] 2010In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 13 to April 10.[29] |
About legislative sessions in Maryland
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[30] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.
Article III of the Maryland Constitution establishes when the Maryland General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 14 of Article III states that the General Assembly is to convene in regular session every year on the second Wednesday of January.
Section 14 also contains the procedures for convening extraordinary sessions of the General Assembly. If a majority of the members of each legislative house petition the Governor of Maryland with a request for an extraordinary session, the Governor is constitutionally required to proclaim an extraordinary session.
Article II of the Maryland Constitution also gives the Governor of Maryland the power to proclaim an extraordinary session without the request of the General Assembly.[31]
Legislative roles and procedures
Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Maryland are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Three-fifths of members in both chambers.
| Three-fifths of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 85 of the 141 members in the Maryland House of Delegates and 29 of the 47 members in the Maryland State Senate. Maryland is one of seven states that requires a three-fifths vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| Vetoes can be overridden in a special session or when the next regular session convenes.[32] A majority of members in both chambers must agree to call for a special session.[33] |
Authority: Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution.
| "Each House may adopt by rule a veto calendar procedure that permits Bills that are to be reconsidered to be read and voted upon as a single group. The members of each House shall be afforded reasonable notice of the Bills to be placed on each veto calendar. Upon the objection of a member, any Bill shall be removed from the veto calendar. If, after such reconsideration, three-fifths of the members elected to that House pass the Bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if it passes by three-fifths of the members elected to that House it shall become a law." |
Role in state budget
- See also: Maryland state budget and finances
Maryland on 
|
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[34]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
- State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor between August and October.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature on the third Wednesday in January.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget by the 83rd day of the session. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.
Maryland is one of seven states in which the governor cannot exercise line item veto authority.[34]
The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to adopt a balanced budget.[34]
Committees
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
- Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
- Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
- Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Maryland State Senate has six standing committees:
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Maryland Constitution can be amended:
Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution defines two ways to amend the state constitution—through a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
Legislature
A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Maryland State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 85 votes in the Maryland House of Delegates and 29 votes in the Maryland State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Section 2 of Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1970. Maryland is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:
| State | Interval | Last question on the ballot | Next question on the ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 20 years | 2010 | 2030 |
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Maryland 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
| Maryland Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 29 | Yes votes: 32 (68.1%) | No votes: 15 (31.9%) | Yes: 32; No: 2 | Yes: 0; No: 13 |
| House: | Required: 84 | Yes votes: 98 (70.5%) | No votes: 38 (27.3%) | Yes: 98; No: 0 | Yes: 0; No: 38 |
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Maryland State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
- Maryland General Assembly
- Maryland State Archives - General Assembly
- Article III of the Maryland Constitution (Legislative Department)
Footnotes
- ↑ Maryland State Archives, "Organizational Structure," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ Maryland Constitution, "Article III, Section 6," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ Maryland Constitution, "Article III, Section 9," accessed February 10, 2023
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2018 Election Calendar," accessed July 6, 2018
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Maryland 2010 - Candidates," accessed June 15, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Maryland 2006 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Maryland 2002 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Maryland State Archives, "Maryland Constitution," accessed February 11, 2021 (Article III, Section 13, Subsection (a)(1))
- ↑ Maryland State Archives, "Maryland Constitution," accessed February 11, 2021 (Article III, Section 13, Subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2))
- ↑ Maryland State Archives, "Maryland Constitution," accessed February 11, 2021 (Article III, Section 13, Subsection (a)(4))
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 All About Redistricting, 'Maryland," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Maryland state lawmakers give final OK to new district maps; lawsuit likely," January 27, 2022
- ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "Legislative Districting Plan of 2022," accessed March 15, 2022
- ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "Senate of Maryland 2022 Regular Session - SJ 2," accessed March 16, 2022
- ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "General Assembly of Maryland 2022 Regular Session - SJ 2," accessed March 16, 2022
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Maryland Profile," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Maryland population grows by 480,000, Census says," December 21, 2010
- ↑ Baltimore Sun, "Redistricting: Mighty Baltimore to lose influence," August 11, 2011
- ↑ Washington Post, "O’Malley submits state legislative redistricting map to General Assembly," January 11, 2012
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ WBAL, "Lawmakers To Let O'Malley Redistricting Plan Take Effect Without a Vote," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ Patch, "MD Legislature To Adjourn Early, Create Coronavirus Committees," March 15, 2020
- ↑ The Washington Post, "As Md. legislative session nears, uncertainty about Hogan’s agenda," January 10, 2015
- ↑ washingtonpost.com, "10 things to watch in the 2014 Maryland General Assembly session," January 7, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "Maryland legislative session begins with bold predictions," January 9, 2013
- ↑ Maryland Department of Legislative Services, "Journal of Proceedings of the Senate of Maryland - 2011 Regular Session - Volume I," accessed February 11, 2021 (Referenced p. iv)
- ↑ Associated Press, "Md. special session anticipated in week of Oct. 17," July 6, 2011
- ↑ Maryland Department of Legislative Services, "Journal of Proceedings of the Senate of Maryland - 2011 Special Session," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ Maryland Department of Legislative Services, "Journal of Proceedings of the Senate of Maryland - 2010 Regular Session - Volume I," accessed June 15, 2014 (Referenced p. iv)
- ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ Maryland State Archives, "Maryland Constitution," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Hogan vetoes Maryland Democrats' paid sick leave bill," May 25, 2017
- ↑ National Conferences of State Legislatures, "Special sessions," May 6, 2009
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
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