BREAKING: Maryland Passes Congressional Redistricting Bill

UPDATE: After hours of debate on the Senate floor, Maryland Senators have voted to pass House Bill 2100, a constitutional amendment that will put mid-decade redistricting on the ballot this fall.

The Maryland Senate voted 32-13, with two abstaining, to pass the amendment on Tuesday afternoon. Dozens of amendments were proposed by Republican Senators prior to the final vote, but they all ultimately failed, allowing the legislation to be passed on its third reading after the House of Delegates passed it earlier in the day.

Because this legislation is a proposed constitutional amendment, it does not require the Governor’s signature to be put to a public referendum.

In the debate prior to the final passage of the HB 2100, Senators Mary Beth Carozza (R-District 38) and Steve Hershey (R-District 36) both criticized the lack of consideration for how the Chesapeake Bay would be affected by a potentially redistricted map. As a vital resource to the Eastern Shore, the legislators introduced an unsuccessful measure that would require portions of the Bay to be included in any mid-decade redistricting.

Further, Senators Carozza and Johnny Mautz (R-District 37) argued that this measure was being brought forth to eliminate the voices of Eastern Shore constituents, and to institute a full Democratic Congressional Federation.

Governor Wes Moore celebrated HB 2100’s passage, and released a statement saying, in part, the following:

“I continue to believe that our country needs national redistricting reform. But until that happens, inaction is not an option. Maryland will not be caught flat-footed while Republicans engage in political redlining that guts decades of progress that the generations before us fought for. By passing this constitutional amendment, the General Assembly has ensured that Maryland remains committed to being part of that conversation—and that the final decision will rest where it belongs: with the people of Maryland. I look forward to working together to pass the amendment with a strong YES vote in November.”

The issue of new congressional maps will now go to a public vote in November.

MARYLAND – The Maryland House of Delegates has passed House Bill (HB) 2100, advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that will allow the State’s voters to decide whether to pass new standards governing congressional redistricting.

The bill, passed by a vote of 96-38, will put redistricting terms on the ballot this fall, with proposed changes dictating maps to be redrawn every five years instead of ten; a process referred to as mid-decade redistricting. It does not establish a congressional map, redraw any district boundaries, or make changes affecting the 2026 General Election. 

“Today, the House has acted on its constitutional responsibility to meet this moment,” said Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D-District 21). “[HB 2100] simply clarifies Maryland law and gives voters the opportunity to decide whether our Constitution should provide the same legal framework available to other states as they confront the realities of congressional redistricting.”

Across the country, many states have adopted mid-decade congressional redistricting plans, including California, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and more, with some states enacting new maps prior to the 2026 General Election and without sending the issue to a public referendum. Democratic leadership says HB 2100 ensures Maryland is not constrained by uncertainty in its own constitutional language while other states continue to act under applicable federal law.

“Our job was to answer a legal question, not a political one. When constitutional language creates uncertainty, the legislature has a responsibility to provide clarity,” said Delegate Melissa Wells (D-District 40), Chair of the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee. “That’s exactly what this bill does, and ultimately we’re trusting Maryland voters to decide whether we’ve gotten it right.”

However, Republican delegates condemned the vote on Tuesday afternoon. In a message posted to social media, Delegate Wayne Hartman (R-District 38C) called it “another frustrating day in Annapolis,” and called the vote partisan in nature.

“Maryland hits a new low calling a special session to ultimately gerrymander the Congressional districts so there is no Republican representation at the Federal level,” Delegate Hartman wrote. “Maryland has so many important issues to address and no other subject could be raised based on the rules set by the Democrat party.”

Another member of the Eastern Shore Delegation, Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-District 37A) also expressed her reservations with the bill, saying her constituents deserve to have a seat at the table.

“I’m not on this floor today advocating for the person who’s in the seat now for District One,” Delegate Sample-Hughes said on the House floor. “But I do know that the citizens in my district… they still want to have a voice. They still want to be able to to be at the table and understand that the rural community is not diluted by having suburban areas as a part of it.”

HB 2100 now heads to the Senate for its consideration. If finalized in the second chamber, the proposed constitutional amendment will appear on the Nov. 2026 General Election ballot, where Maryland voters will determine whether to adopt the constitutional changes.

This article was originally published on Aug. 4 at 3:19 p.m.