The official source does not provide details on how the new judge will be selected or funded.
Increase in District Court Judges for Washington County
This law increases the number of associate judges in the District Court in District 11 from five to six by adding one more judge appointed from Washington County.
What This Bill Does
Increases the total number of associate judges in District 11 from five to six.
Who It Names or Affects
The residents and courts in Washington County
District Court judges appointed from Washington County
Terms To Know
Associate Judge
A judge who assists the main judges in handling cases.
Limits and Unknowns
The bill does not specify how these additional judges will be selected or funded.
It is unclear if there will be any changes to the workload of existing judges in District 11.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 493
(Third Reading File Bill)
AMENDMENT NO.
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 493
(Third Reading File Bill)
AMENDMENT NO.
1
On page 1, in line 2, before “Judgeships” insert “Washington County –”; in the
same line, strike “ Circuit Court and ”; strike beginning with “increasing” in line 3
down through “County;” in line 4; in line 6, strike “the circuit courts and”; and in line 9,
strike “1–503(a)(18) and”.
AMENDMENT NO.
2
On page 1, strike in their entirety lines 15 through 19, inclusive.
Bill History
2026-05-12Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 474
2026-04-13Senate
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
2026-04-09Senate
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
2026-04-01House
House Concurs Senate Amendments
2026-04-01House
Third Reading Passed (126-7)
2026-04-01House
Passed Enrolled
2026-03-25Senate
Favorable with Amendments { 663321/1 Adopted
2026-03-25Senate
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
2026-03-25Senate
Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator Smith) Adopted
2026-03-25Senate
Third Reading Passed (45-0)
2026-03-21House
Favorable Report by Judiciary
2026-03-21Senate
Favorable
2026-03-21Senate
Motion Recommit to Committee (Senator Smith) Adopted
2026-03-11House
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
2026-03-09House
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-03-07Senate
Referred Judicial Proceedings
2026-01-29House
Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-27House
First Reading Judiciary
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Judgeships - Circuit Court and District Court
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Judiciary
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Judgeships - Circuit Court and District Court
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Judicial Proceedings
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Judicial Proceedings
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Enrolled - Washington County - Judgeships - District Court
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - Washington County - Judgeships - District Court
Official Summary Text
Increasing from five to six the number of associate judges in the District Court in District 11 by increasing from two to three the number of associate judges appointed from Washington County.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*hb0493*
HOUSE BILL 493
D1 (6lr2501)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judiciary/Judicial Proceedings —
Introduced by Chair, Judiciary Committee (By Request – Maryland Judicial
Conference)
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington County – Judgeships – Circuit Court and District Court 2
FOR the purpose of increasing the number of resident judges of the Circuit Court for St. 3
Mary’s County; increasing the number of associate judges of the District Court in a 4
certain district appointed from Washington County; and generally relating to 5
judgeships in the circuit courts and the District Court. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8
Section 1–503(a)(18) and 1–603(b)(11) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
2 HOUSE BILL 493
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 3
1–503. 4
(a) In each county in the first seven judicial circuits there shall be the number of 5
resident judges of the circuit court set forth below, including the judge or judges provided 6
for by the Constitution: 7
(18) St. Mary’s .......................................................................................... [3] 4 8
1–603. 9
(b) In each of the districts provided for in § 1 –602 of this subtitle, there shall be 10
the following number of associate judges of the District Court: 11
(11) District 11 — [5] 6, three to be appointed from Frederick County and 12
[two] THREE to be appointed from Washington County 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14
October 1, 2026. 15
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.