Members of the Maryland House of Delegates have been asked to reserve two potential timeframes for a special legislative session that could address proposed changes to the Maryland Constitution. In a June 16 letter, House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk wrote “Since the close of session, recent developments have prompted leadership to evaluate whether additional legislative action may be necessary … As a result, Senate President [Bill] Ferguson and I will meet following the primary election to discuss whether the circumstances warrant convening a special session.”
The Speaker identified July 16–22 and July 30–August 5 as possible windows, while emphasizing that legislative leaders have not yet decided whether to reconvene. The earlier July period is preferred, and any session would likely last only a few days.
The potential session could include consideration of two constitutional amendments that did not pass before the General Assembly adjourned in April. One would clarify the constitutional standards governing congressional district boundaries, while the other would establish a special election process for filling certain vacancies in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates. Any proposed constitutional amendment would need to pass the General Assembly by August 4 to appear before Maryland voters in the November election.
Approval of the redistricting amendment could address legal uncertainty created by a 2022 court decision that applied the state constitution’s compactness and contiguity requirements to congressional districts. If voters approve the change, lawmakers could consider new congressional boundaries during the 2027 legislative session for use beginning with the 2028 election cycle.
Midcycle redistricting was a point of disagreement between the House and Senate during the 2026 session. Ferguson opposed efforts to redraw Maryland’s congressional map, citing legal concerns and the possibility that an extended redistricting debate could interfere with other legislative business. The existing congressional map, adopted as a compromise following the 2022 court ruling, contains seven Democratic-leaning districts and one Republican-leaning district.
Since the session ended, Ferguson has indicated that he is willing to consider returning to Annapolis, citing developments in other states and a May U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting Voting Rights Act protections. However, he has said that he would not support considering a new congressional map during a special session. Governor Wes Moore has continued to call for legislative action on redistricting, while the final scope and timing of any special session remain under discussion.
House sets target dates for special session – Maryland Matters
