Legislation - SB0255

Prohibiting the imposition or application of a method for electing the governing body of a county or municipal corporation that impairs the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of the members' choice or influence the outcome of an election by diluting or abridging the rights of voters who are members of a protected class; authorizing the Attorney General and any other person to bring a certain action in the county where the violation allegedly occurred for injunctive relief, damages, or other relief; etc.

Committees

Original:: Education, Energy, and the Environment Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Government, Labor, and Elections Click to view Recorded Media

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Emergency Bill

Cross-filed with: HB0350

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): Upon Enactment

History

Legislation History
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/16/2026 Legislative Date 1/16/2026 Action First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/19/2026 Legislative Date 1/19/2026 Action Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/02/2026 Legislative Date 2/02/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/03/2026 Legislative Date 2/03/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {453628/1 Proceedings 14 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/03/2026 Legislative Date 2/03/2026 Action Motion Laid Over (Senator Hershey) Adopted Proceedings 14 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/05/2026 Legislative Date 2/05/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {453628/1 Adopted Proceedings 16 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/05/2026 Legislative Date 2/05/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 16 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/10/2026 Legislative Date 2/07/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (30-15) Proceedings 18 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/11/2026 Legislative Date 2/11/2026 Action Referred Government, Labor, and Elections Proceedings 20 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/24/2026 Legislative Date 3/24/2026 Action Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - House - Committee - Government, Labor, and Elections Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/10/2026 Legislative Date 4/10/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/10/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {943523/1 Proceedings 63 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/10/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Committee Amendment Withdrawn Proceedings 63 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/10/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Substitute Committee Amendment {353027/1 Adopted Proceedings 63 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/10/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Adopted Proceedings 63 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/10/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 63 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Floor Amendment {663122/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (36-88) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Floor Amendment {123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (34-92) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Floor Amendment {553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-90) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Floor Amendment {493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected (35-86) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Floor Amendment {183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (36-86) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Floor Amendment {513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-88) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/11/2026 Legislative Date 3/27/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (94-35) Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
Senate	1/16/2026	1/16/2026	First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
			Text - First - Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations
Senate	1/19/2026	1/19/2026	Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment	Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	2/02/2026	2/02/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
Senate	2/03/2026	2/03/2026	Favorable with Amendments {453628/1	14 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	2/03/2026	2/03/2026	Motion Laid Over (Senator Hershey) Adopted	14 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	2/05/2026	2/05/2026	Favorable with Amendments {453628/1 Adopted	16 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	2/05/2026	2/05/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	16 Click to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations
Senate	2/10/2026	2/07/2026	Third Reading Passed (30-15)	18 Click to view Recorded Media
House	2/11/2026	2/11/2026	Referred Government, Labor, and Elections	20 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/24/2026	3/24/2026	Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - House - Committee - Government, Labor, and Elections	Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/10/2026	4/10/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
House	4/10/2026	3/26/2026	Favorable with Amendments {943523/1	63 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/10/2026	3/26/2026	Committee Amendment Withdrawn	63 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/10/2026	3/26/2026	Substitute Committee Amendment {353027/1 Adopted	63 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/10/2026	3/26/2026	Favorable with Amendments Adopted	63 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/10/2026	3/26/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	63 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Floor Amendment {663122/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (36-88)	64 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Floor Amendment {123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (34-92)	64 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Floor Amendment {553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-90)	64 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Floor Amendment {493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected (35-86)	64 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Floor Amendment {183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (36-86)	64 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Floor Amendment {513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-88)	64 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/11/2026	3/27/2026	Third Reading Passed (94-35)	64 Click to view Recorded Media

File Code

Subjects

Statutes