HB0689 • 2026

Candidates for Representative in Congress - Certificate of Candidacy Filing Deadline for the 2026 Election - Alteration

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Delegates Fair and Wells
Last action: 2026-02-06
Official status: In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.
Effective date: Upon Enact

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Candidates for Representative in Congress - Certificate of Candidacy Filing Deadline for the 2026 Election - Alteration

Altering the deadline for a candidate for Representative in Congress to file a certificate of candidacy for the statewide election held in 2026 from the last Tuesday in February to 9 p.m.

What This Bill Does

Altering the deadline for a candidate for Representative in Congress to file a certificate of candidacy for the statewide election held in 2026 from the last Tuesday in February to 9 p.m.
on March 20, 2026.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-06 House
Hearing canceled
2026-02-06 House
Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.
2026-02-03 House
Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-02 House
First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Candidates for Representative in Congress - Certificate of Candidacy Filing Deadline for the 2026 Election - Alteration

Official Summary Text

Altering the deadline for a candidate for Representative in Congress to file a certificate of candidacy for the statewide election held in 2026 from the last Tuesday in February to 9 p.m. on March 20, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0689*

HOUSE BILL 689
G1 EMERGENCY BILL 6lr2717

By: Delegates Fair and Wells
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Candidates for Representative in Congress – Certificate of Candidacy Filing 2
Deadline for the 2026 Election – Alteration 3

FOR the purpose of altering the deadline for a candidate for Representative in Congress to 4
file a certificate of candidacy for the statewide election held in 2026; and generally 5
relating to the deadline for filing a certificate of candidacy. 6

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That, notwithstanding § 5–303(a)(1) of the Election Law Article, for the statewide election 8
held in 2026, a candidate for Representative in Congress shall file a certificate of candidacy 9
not later than 9 p.m. on March 20, 2026. 10

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 11
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 12
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three –fifths of all the members elected to 13
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 14
enacted. 15