Maryland Leaders Limit Special Session to Congressional Redistricting Standards

Overview

• Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña‑Melnyk told the Department of Legislative Services to accept drafting requests only for bills tied to congressional redistricting standards, effectively blocking other topics from the Aug. 3–5 special session.
• The session is scheduled to consider a constitutional amendment that would clarify that state rules on compactness and contiguity that apply to legislative districts do not govern congressional maps, responding to Judge Lynne Battaglia’s 2022 decision that invalidated the 2021 map.
• Republican leaders say the drafting limit prevents them from filing affordability bills for utility, gas tax and vehicle fee relief, while Democrats say the restriction keeps the short session focused on the court-driven problem.
• Sen. Cheryl Kagan’s separate constitutional amendment on special elections was delayed again because of the narrow session scope, which means it likely would not reach voters before 2028 if it is not restored.
• Lawmakers will also have a window to attempt overrides of five vetoes by Gov. Wes Moore during the session, and any approved constitutional change would still require voter ratification to affect future congressional redistricting, including the 2028 cycle.