Maryland legislative leadership has announced that the upcoming Special Session, scheduled for August 3–5, 2026, will be limited exclusively to matters related to congressional redistricting.
In a joint letter, pictured below, to members of the General Assembly, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk directed the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) to accept bill drafting requests only if they are directly related to congressional redistricting standards. As a result, legislation addressing unrelated policy issues will not be considered during the Special Session.
Legislative leaders cited the Maryland Constitution’s authority for each chamber to determine its own proceedings, as well as statutory provisions placing DLS under the direction of the presiding officers. They emphasized that this approach is intended to ensure consistency and maintain the Special Session’s focus on its stated purpose.
While acknowledging ongoing concerns surrounding affordability, energy costs, and other issues facing Maryland residents, leadership noted that members may continue preparing legislation on those topics for consideration during the 2027 Regular Session.
Presiding Officers: Special Session Limited to Redistricting – Conduit Street
