HB1407 • 2026

Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Notice of Timely Receipt

Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Delegate Rosenberg
Last action: 2026-02-13
Official status: In the House - Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date: 2026-06-01

Plain English Breakdown

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

Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Notice of Timely Receipt

Requiring the State Administrator of Elections to provide certain additional notice to voters using certain methods if there is an occurrence of federal judicial action regarding the timely receipt of absentee ballots with federal contests that preempts certain State law and regulations.

What This Bill Does

Requiring the State Administrator of Elections to provide certain additional notice to voters using certain methods if there is an occurrence of federal judicial action regarding the timely receipt of absentee ballots with federal contests that preempts certain State law and regulations.

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

2026-02-13 House
First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
2026-02-13 House
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Notice of Timely Receipt

Official Summary Text

Requiring the State Administrator of Elections to provide certain additional notice to voters using certain methods if there is an occurrence of federal judicial action regarding the timely receipt of absentee ballots with federal contests that preempts certain State law and regulations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1407*

HOUSE BILL 1407
G1 6lr3156

By: Delegate Rosenberg
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Election Law – Absentee Ballots – Notice of Timely Receipt 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the State Administrator of Elections to provide certain 3
additional notice to voters using certain methods if there is an occurrence of federal 4
judicial action regarding the timely receipt of certain absentee ballots that preempts 5
certain State law and regulations; and generally relating to a notice of timely receipt 6
for absentee ballots. 7

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9

(a) If there is an occurrence of federal judicial action regarding the timely receipt 10
of absentee ballots with federal contests that preempts regulations adopted by the State 11
Board of Elections in COMAR 33.11.03.08, in accordance with § 11–302 of the Election Law 12
Article, that prescribe timely receipt of absentee ballots in the State, the State 13
Administrator of Elections shall provide additional notice to voters in the State of the 14
requirements: 15

(1) under federal law for timely receipt of absentee ballots with federal 16
contests; and 17

(2) under State law for the timely receipt of absentee ballots with State and 18
local contests. 19

(b) The notice required under subsection (a) of this section shall, at minimum, 20
encourage an early return of absentee ballots by urging voters to: 21

(1) mail the ballot at least 1 week before election day; or 22

(2) place the ballot in an official ballot drop box on or before election day. 23

2 HOUSE BILL 1407

(c) The State A dministrator shall use multiple methods to provide the notice 1
required under this section, including written notice with instructions for sample ballots 2
and ballots, a social media campaign, and mass media communications. 3

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 4
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 6 months and, at the end of November 30, 5
2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated 6
and of no further force and effect. 7