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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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HOUSE BILL 101
G1, B1 EMERGENCY BILL 6lr1589
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Simmons
Requested: October 31, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections and Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Broadcasters – Debate for Candidates for Statewide Office – Required 2
Participants 3
FOR the purpose of requiring a public broadcaster that holds a debate between candidates 4
for statewide office to invite all candidates who are certified to the ballot in the 5
general election subject to certain requirements ; prohibiting a public broadcaster 6
from using or receiving State funds under certain circumstances for a certain amount 7
of time; requiring the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission to request an 8
amended appropriation to reappropriate State funds from a public broadcaster to 9
another program under certain circumstances; requiring the Governor to approve an 10
amended appropriation to reappropriate State funds from a public broadcaster under 11
certain circumstances ; and generally relating to a requirement for public 12
broadcasters to include candidates in a debate. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – Education 15
Section 24–201 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – Education 20
Section 24–208 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
Preamble 24
WHEREAS, State–funded media, including Maryland Public Television, receive 25
public funds to serve the people of the State; and 26
2 HOUSE BILL 101
WHEREAS, The State has a compelling interest in ensuring that public institutions 1
uphold principles of fairness, neutrality, and access to information for all voters; and 2
WHEREAS, Restricting participation in debates to candidates from only certain 3
political parties or candidates meeting certain polling thresholds denies voters the 4
opportunity to hear from all individuals who will appear on the general election ballot; and 5
WHEREAS, The public interest is best served when voters are informed of all choices 6
available to them through transparent and inclusive public forums; now, therefore, 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 9
Article – Education 10
24–201. 11
There is a Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. 12
24–208. 13
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 14
INDICATED. 15
(2) “GENERAL ELECTION” INCLUDES A SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION. 16
(3) “PUBLIC BROADCASTER ” MEANS A BR OADCASTER THAT 17
RECEIVES FUNDS , INCLUDING GRANTS OR LOANS, FROM THE STATE IN A GIVEN 18
FISCAL YEAR. 19
(B) IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO: 20
(1) PROMOTE OPEN, DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE; 21
(2) STRENGTHEN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE STATE’S DEMOCRATIC 22
INSTITUTIONS; AND 23
(3) ENSURE THAT STATE FUNDING FOR PUB LIC BROADCASTERS IS 24
CONDITIONED ON THE I NVITATION OF ALL CAN DIDATES TO A DEBATE WHO ARE 25
CERTIFIED TO THE BALLOT FOR A GENERAL ELECTION FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE. 26
(C) A PUBLIC BROADCASTER T HAT HO LDS A DEBATE BETWEEN 27
CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE: 28
HOUSE BILL 101 3
(1) SHALL INVITE TO PARTICIPATE ALL CANDIDATES FOR THAT 1
STATEWIDE OFFICE WHO ARE CERTIFIED TO THE BALLOT IN THE GE NERAL 2
ELECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ELECTION 3
LAW ARTICLE; 4
(2) SHALL PROVIDE EQUITAB LE OPPORTUNITY TO EACH 5
PARTICIPATING CANDIDATE TO CONTRIBUTE AND RESPOND IN THE DEBATE; AND 6
(3) MAY NOT CONDITION ELI GIBILITY FOR OR INVITATIONS TO THE 7
DEBATE ON CAMPAIGN FUNDRAIS ING METRICS, PARTY AFFILIATION, OR POLLING 8
METRICS. 9
(D) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL REQUIRE A PUBLIC BROADCASTER TO 10
INVITE A CANDIDATE TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEBATE WHO: 11
(1) IS A WRITE–IN CANDIDATE; OR 12
(2) HAS FORMALLY OR INFOR MALLY SUSPENDED OR T ERMINATED 13
THE CANDIDATE’S CAMPAIGN. 14
(E) (1) IF A PUBLIC BROADCAST ER HOLDS A DEBATE IN VIOLATION OF 15
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN 16
WHICH THE DEBATE OCCURS: 17
(I) THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER M AY NOT USE STATE FUNDS ; 18
AND 19
(II) A UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT PROVIDE FUNDS 20
TO THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER. 21
(2) (I) THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT A PROPOSED AM ENDED 22
APPROPRIATION TO THE SECRETARY OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT TO REQUEST 23
THAT ANY REMAINING STATE FUNDS FROM A PUBLIC BROADCASTER THAT VIOLATES 24
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION BE REAPPROPRIATED TO ANOTHER PROGRAM 25
FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. 26
(II) THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPROV E AN AMENDED 27
APPROPRIATION SUBMIT TED IN ACCORDANCE WI TH SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 28
PARAGRAPH. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 30
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 31
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three –fifths of all the members elected to 32
4 HOUSE BILL 101
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it i s 1
enacted. 2