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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0946*
HOUSE BILL 946
D1, P1 6lr2551
By: Delegate Wu
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Government – Governor’s Appointments Office – Judicial Selection – 2
Reporting 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor’s Appointments Office to annually report 4
certain information regarding applicants and nominees for judicial office; and 5
generally relating to applicants and nominees for judicial office. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – State Government 8
Section 8–3A–01(a)(1) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – State Government 13
Section 8–3A–01(a)(3) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – State Government 18
Section 8–3A–03 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
Article – State Government 24
8–3A–01. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 946
(a) (1) In this [section] SUBTITLE the following words have t he meanings 1
indicated. 2
(3) “Office” means the Appointments Office in the Office of the Governor 3
that performs the function of recommending to the Governor the appointment or 4
nomination of an individual to serve as a member of a State or local board, commission, 5
council, committee, authority, task force, or other entity that by law requires the 6
membership to be appointed in whole or in part by the Governor, whether or not the 7
appointment or nomination is with the advice and consent of the Senate or Hou se of 8
Delegates. 9
8–3A–03. 10
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “JUDGE” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 1–101 OF 11
THE COURTS ARTICLE. 12
(B) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2026, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 13
THEREAFTER, THE OFFICE SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN 14
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, AND MAKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE A 15
REPORT FOR THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR ON: 16
(1) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS WHO APPLY TO A JUDICIAL 17
NOMINATING COMMISSION SEEKING APPOINTMENT AS A JUDGE , DISAGGREGATED 18
BY THE JUDICIAL OFFICE SOUGHT, ETHNICITY, GENDER IDENTITY , DISABILITY 19
STATUS, VETERAN STATUS, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION; 20
(2) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS RECOMMENDED BY A JUDICIAL 21
NOMINATING COMMISSIO N TO THE OFFICE FOR APPOINTMEN T AS A JUDGE , 22
DISAGGREGATED BY THE JUDICIAL OFFICE FOR WHIC H THE INDIVIDUAL WAS 23
RECOMMENDED, ETHNICITY, GENDER IDENTITY , DISABILITY STATUS , VETERAN 24
STATUS, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION; AND 25
(3) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR TO 26
SERVE AS A JUDGE , DISAGGREGATED BY THE JUDICIAL OFFICE TO WHICH THE 27
INDIVIDUAL WAS NOMINATED, ETHNICITY, GENDER IDENTITY, DISABILITY STATUS, 28
VETERAN STATUS, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 30
1, 2026. 31