In Maryland, the General Assembly is the branch of government that creates state laws. It includes two parts: the Senate and the House of Delegates. Maryland is divided into 47 districts, each represented by one Senator and three Delegates. These lawmakers serve four-year terms.
- When the General Assembly passes a law, it's called a statute. Before a law is passed, it begins as a bill—a proposal for a new law. If the bill starts in the House of Delegates, its number begins with HB (House Bill). If it starts in the Senate, it begins with SB (Senate Bill).
- Sponsors are the representatives (senators and/or delegates) who signed the bill and promoted it during the General Assembly session when the bill was considered. Sponsors are listed at the top of each bill.
To learn more about the legislative process and see current bills, visit the Maryland General Assembly website.
Legislative history is the record of what happened as a bill became a law. It can include:
- different drafts of the law before the final version;
- Floor debates;
- History (who proposed amendments and what happened);
- Testimony from any hearings.
If you're researching a law, legislative history can help you understand the intent behind it. A good first step is to find the original bill. For bills from 1996 to today, the General Assembly website may include materials like amendments, voting history, and Fiscal and Policy Notes.
Looking for more help?
- Maryland - The Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library's website has detailed research guides on Maryland legislative history.
- Federal - The Law Library of Congress's website has detailed information on how to find federal legislative history.