Overview
- Democratic leaders formally filed House Bill 2100 and set a three-day special session for Aug. 3–5 to consider sending a constitutional amendment to the November ballot.
- The amendment would clarify that the state constitutional compactness requirement applies only to General Assembly districts and would state that the Constitution does not set criteria for congressional boundaries.
- House Bill 2100 would give the Maryland Supreme Court original jurisdiction over challenges to congressional district plans, sending such cases directly to the state high court for faster resolution.
- The measure must win a three-fifths vote in both chambers to reach voters and, if ratified in November 2026, could allow lawmakers to draw new congressional maps for the 2028 cycle.
- Republicans say the compressed process and limits on public input — only 50 speakers with two minutes each and a ban on non-redistricting bills during the session — amount to a partisan power grab, and legal challenges are expected if the change passes.