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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0978*
HOUSE BILL 978
P5, G1 6lr2024
CF 6lr2561
By: Delegate Mireku–North
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
General Assembly – Home Security System Expenses – Campaign Funds and 2
Reimbursement 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing a campaign finance entity of a member of the General 4
Assembly, under certain circumstances, to make a disbursement from a campaign 5
account to reimburse the member for certain expenses related to a home security 6
system used at the member’s primary place of residence ; authorizing a member of 7
the General Assembly who expends personal funds on certain expenses related to a 8
home security system used at the member’s primary place of residence to be 9
reimbursed by the General Assembly ; and generally relating to reimbursement for 10
home security system expenses by members of the General Assembly. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – Election Law 13
Section 1–101(a) and (w) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Election Law 18
Section 13–218(b) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY adding to 22
Article – Election Law 23
Section 13–220.3 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26
BY adding to 27
2 HOUSE BILL 978
Article – State Government 1
Section 2–1805 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
Article – Election Law 7
1–101. 8
(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless a 9
different meaning is clearly intended from the context. 10
(w) “Election cycle” means the period that begins on the January 1 that follows a 11
gubernatorial election and continues until the December 31 that is 4 years later. 12
13–218. 13
(b) (1) Assets of a campaign finance entity may be disbursed only: 14
(i) if they have passed through the hands of the treasurer; and 15
(ii) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N § 13–220.3 OF THIS SUBTITLE , in 16
accordance with the purposes of the entity. 17
(2) Subject to § 13–220(b)(2) and (c) of this subtitle and except as provided 18
in subsection (d) of this section, the treasurer shall approve all disbursements for the 19
campaign finance entity. 20
13–220.3. 21
(A) THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE ENT ITY OF A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL 22
ASSEMBLY MAY MAKE A DISBURSEM ENT FROM A CAMPAIGN ACCO UNT TO 23
REIMBURSE THE MEMBER FOR EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE MEMB ER FOR THE 24
ACQUISITION, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, OR UPGRADE OF A HOME SECURITY 25
SYSTEM USED AT THE M EMBER’S PRIMARY PLACE OF R ESIDENCE IF THE MEMBER 26
SUBMITS PROOF OF THE COMPLETED WORK DURING THE MEMBER ’S TERM OF 27
OFFICE. 28
(B) A CAMPAIGN FINANCE ENT ITY THAT MAKES A DIS BURSEMENT UNDER 29
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL: 30
HOUSE BILL 978 3
(1) SUBMIT TO THE STATE BOARD PROOF OF THE DI SBURSEMENT 1
AND THE PROOF OF THE COMPLETED WORK THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE 2
CAMPAIGN FINANCE ENTITY; AND 3
(2) MAINTAIN A RECEIPT FOR THE DISBURSEMENT. 4
(C) A CAMPAIGN FINANCE ENTITY MAY NOT MAKE A DISBURSEMENT UNDER 5
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION: 6
(1) OF MORE THAN $1,000 DURING THE MEMBER’S TERM OF OFFICE; 7
OR 8
(2) MORE THAN ONCE DURING AN ELECTION CYCLE. 9
(D) THE STATE BOARD MAY AUDIT A DISBURSEMENT MADE UNDER 10
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 11
(E) A DISBURSEMENT MADE UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY 12
NOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE AN EXPENDITURE FOR PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE. 13
Article – State Government 14
2–1805. 15
(A) A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO EXPENDS PERSONAL 16
FUNDS ON THE ACQUISITION , INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, OR UPGRADE OF A 17
HOME SECURITY SYSTEM USED AT THE MEMBER ’S PRIMARY PLACE OF R ESIDENCE 18
MAY BE REIMBURSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE EXPENDITURE. 19
(B) TO BE REIMBURSED UNDE R SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION , THE 20
MEMBER SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROOF OF: 21
(1) THE EXPENDITURE OF PERSONAL FUNDS; AND 22
(2) THE WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED. 23
(C) A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY NOT BE R EIMBURSED 24
UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION: 25
(1) FOR MORE THAN $1,000 DURING THE MEMBER’S TERM OF OFFICE; 26
OR 27
(2) MORE THAN ONCE DURING THE MEMBER’S TERM OF OFFICE. 28
4 HOUSE BILL 978
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2