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Maryland Legislative History Resources: House and Senate Journals

Discover the array of Maryland legislative history resources available at the Law Library, and learn how to use them effectively.

How to Trace Legislative History

Here, we take a step-by-step look at tracing the legislative history of a Maryland statute.  In many cases, print resources mentioned herein have online analogues (and vice-versa).  Occasionally online information providers will offer a disclaimer to the effect that the material is unofficial, or not to be cited as authoritative in, e.g., court filings.  If that is indeed what you intend it for, then check and cite to the print version.

House and Senate Journals

Both chambers of the General Assembly maintain their own journals of proceedings--the Senate Journal and the House Journal.  Depending on where your bill originated, you will be consulting one or the other.  These journals, published annually after each session, contain proceedings for all bills presented by that chamber during the session, including votes, dispositions, etc.  These sets are particularly useful for bills not enacted into law (as those would appear in Laws of Maryland).  


See also General Assembly Publications website for House and Senate Journals.

Subject Guide

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David Matchen
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