Bill > HB785

This bill establishes procedures for Maryland's participation in a convention called under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which allows states to propose amendments to the Constitution. It requires the General Assembly to appoint a seven-member delegation of "commissioners" to represent the state at such a convention, with specific qualifications including U.S. citizenship, residency in Maryland for at least five years, being at least 25 years old, and not having certain federal employment or felony convictions in the past decade. The bill also creates an "advisory committee" composed of one member from the House, one from the Senate, and one appointed jointly by the Speaker and President, to monitor the convention and advise commissioners. Commissioners must take an oath to act within their specified authority and can be removed by the General Assembly or, if the legislature is not in session, by the advisory committee. The bill outlines duties for the delegation, such as selecting leaders and casting the state's vote, and restricts commissioners from speaking to the media individually or revealing internal divisions. It also prohibits commissioners from voting to alter the traditional one-vote-per-state rule or to amend specific guarantees of individual liberty in the U.S. Constitution, and their authority is limited by the instructions in the "commissioning resolution" passed by the General Assembly. The advisory committee can be asked for advice by commissioners and can determine if a commissioner has exceeded their authority, leading to removal.

Government Affairs

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0785?ys=2026RS