Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Maryland
Democratic
· State Senator
Ben Brooks
Represents District 10 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
98%
on 255 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 98%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 1,239 of 1,244 roll calls · Senate median 96%
Their bills that became law
5 of 27
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 7
Roll calls on record
1,244
2026 Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 10, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 2026 Regular Session.
How Ben Brooks votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where Ben Brooks sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Ben Brooks is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
5 of 255 party-line votes.
HB1017 · Correctional Services – Private Detention Facilities – Zoning Requirement
In plain English Prohibits the state and local governments from approving construction or operation of privately-run detention facilities.
Floor Amendment 543027/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected · 2026-04-10 · Failed 17–25 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB791 · Correctional Services and Criminal Procedure – Immigration Enforcement – Prohibitions (Community Trust Act)
In plain English Prohibits local correctional facilities and law enforcement from taking certain immigration enforcement actions, with specified exceptions.
Floor Amendment 873025/1 (Senator Gallion) Rejected · 2026-04-10 · Failed 16–25 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB841 · Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act
In plain English Requires the Office of Home Energy Programs to manage electric assistance for certain customers, establishes a nonprofit green energy loan program, and changes solar permitting procedures, among other changes.
Floor Amendment 223827/1 (Senator West) Rejected · 2026-04-02 · Failed 14–29 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB626 · Sex Designation on Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards and Birth Information Histories (Birth Certificate Modernization Act)
In plain English Requires the state to maintain birth information histories and allows government access to them, and changes when new birth certificates are issued for sex designation changes.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-03-23 · Passed 24–16 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB626 · Sex Designation on Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards and Birth Information Histories (Birth Certificate Modernization Act)
In plain English Requires the state to maintain birth information histories and allows government access to them, and changes when new birth certificates are issued for sex designation changes.
Motion to Postpone Indefinitely (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-20 · Failed 20–21 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
HB1222 · Prince George's County – State's Attorney Salary – Alteration PG 426-26
In plain English Increases the Prince George's County State's Attorney salary to $250,000, excluding the current officeholder.
Committee Amendment 513122/1 Rejected · 2026-04-13 · Failed 22–22
SB841 · Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act
In plain English Requires the Office of Home Energy Programs to manage electric assistance for certain customers, establishes a nonprofit green energy loan program, and changes solar permitting procedures, among other changes.
Floor Amendment 813629/1 (Senator Jennings) Adopted · 2026-04-02 · Failed 20–19
SB626 · Sex Designation on Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards and Birth Information Histories (Birth Certificate Modernization Act)
In plain English Requires the state to maintain birth information histories and allows government access to them, and changes when new birth certificates are issued for sex designation changes.
Motion to Postpone Indefinitely (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-20 · Failed 20–21
HB154 · Open Meetings Act – County Boards of Education – Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act)
In plain English Requires county school boards to keep archived video recordings of open meetings on their websites for at least five years.
Floor Amendment 793028/1 (Senator Ready) Adopted · 2026-04-08 · Passed 24–20
SB284 · Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026
Floor Amendment 673521/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-17 · Failed 20–24
Republicans they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Chris WestRepublican · District 42 · 264 shared contested votes
42%
Mike McKayRepublican · District 1 · 265 shared contested votes
33%
Bryan SimonaireRepublican · District 31 · 216 shared contested votes
23%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (5 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Maryland Delegation
YeaNayNayNayNayNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Ben Brooks was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced27
Out of committee9
Passed one chamber8
Passed both chambers5
Became law5
Never left committee18
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Environmental Matters 12Notices 11Reports 11Awareness and Outreach 10Rules and Regulations 9Standards and Best Practices 9
Residential Child Care Programs – Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners
In plain English Requires residential child care program operators to provide educational opportunities to children in their care and establishes training requirements for child and youth care practitioners.
Official synopsis: Repealing the maximum age for children in certain residential child care programs who receive educational support; requiring operators of certain residential child care programs to provide certain educational opportunities to the children for whom they have legal custody or care and control; requiring that applicants…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 641 · 2026-05-26
Education – Dependent Children of Active Service Members – Advance Enrollment Procedures
In plain English Requires county school superintendents to allow dependent children of active service members to advance enroll remotely, with disability plan documentation options and state publication of enrollment information.
Official synopsis: Requiring a county superintendent of schools to allow a certain dependent child of an active service member to advance enroll in a school in the county in a certain manner; requiring the remote registration process to provide an opportunity for the service member or other…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 645 · 2026-05-26
Property Tax Credit – Retail Service Station Conversions
In plain English Allows local governments to grant property tax credits for former gas stations converted to other uses, if underground storage tanks were properly closed.
Official synopsis: Authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or municipal corporation to grant, by law, a credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax on real property if use of the real property has been converted…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 642 · 2026-05-26
Fish and Wildlife – Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds – Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings
Requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and, if warranted, update regulations related to the Irreplaceable Natural Areas Program by July 1, 2033, and at least every 10 years thereafter; requiring the Secretary to delist an endangered or threatened species under certain circumstances; authorizing…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 212 · 2026-04-28
Local Government – Regulatory Powers – Regulation of Invasive Trees
In plain English Allows counties and municipalities to regulate tree of heaven and certain invasive trees, and to offer bounties or native tree replacement programs to encourage their removal.
Official synopsis: Authorizing the governing body of a county or municipality to adopt certain ordinances to regulate the nonnative, highly invasive, deciduous hardwood tree known as tree of heaven and certain invasive trees; and authorizing the governing body of a county or municipality to establish a bounty…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 209 · 2026-04-28
Vehicle Laws – Speed Monitoring Systems – Residential Districts
Applying statewide certain provisions of law authorizing the use of speed monitoring systems in certain residential districts; etc.
Out of committeeFavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings · 2026-04-13
Environment – On-Site Wastewater Systems – Implementation Dates
In plain English Delays until 2027 and 2028 the deadlines for adopting wastewater regulations and requiring licenses for wastewater service providers.
Official synopsis: Extending the date from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2027, by which the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the State Board of On-Site Wastewater Professionals, is required to adopt certain regulations; and extending the date from July 1, 2026 to July 1,…
Passed one chamberReferred Rules and Executive Nominations · 2026-04-09
Land Use – Residential Housing – Oversight and Approval (Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act)
Establishing certain policies and processes to facilitate the development of residential housing in the State; requiring an entity that owns residential real property in the State to make a certain certification to the Department of Housing and Community Development; authorizing a local jurisdiction to establish…
Passed one chamberHearing 4/02 at 2:30 p.m. · 2026-04-02
Sales and Use Tax – Tax-Free Day – Veterans' Day
Establishing, beginning in calendar year 2026, November 11 as a tax-free day each year during which an exemption from the sales and use tax is provided for sales to certain veterans if the taxable price of the item for sale is less than $2,000; authorizing…
Passed one chamberHearing 3/24 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-03-16
National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals With Disabilities – Maryland Chapter – Establishment
Establishing the Maryland Chapter of the National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities in the Department of State Police; requiring the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Disabilities, to establish guidelines for the use of a certain interface and protocols and policy; establishing…
Not out of committeeWithdrawn by Sponsor · 2026-02-23
General Provisions – Commemorative Month – Maryland Native Plant Month
Requiring the Governor to annually proclaim May as Maryland Native Plant Month in recognition of the benefits that native plants have on Maryland's natural environment; and requiring the proclamation to urge educational and environmental organizations and businesses to observe Maryland Native Plant Month properly.
Not out of committeeHearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-16
State Designations – State Song – "The Heart of Maryland"
Designating "The Heart of Maryland", written by Jayla Elise from Dorchester County for the Maryland 250 Project, as the State song.
Not out of committeeHearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-16
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity – BURDEN Analysis (CHERISH Our Communities Act)
Requiring that an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for certain generating stations located within a certain at-risk area to include with the application a baseline understanding of risk, disparities, and environmental needs (BURDEN) report describing and including information on certain environmental…
Not out of committeeHearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-11
Environmental Permits – Requirements for Burden Analysis, Issuance and Renewal, and Public Participation (Cumulative Harms for Environmental Restoration for Improving Shared Health – CHERISH Our Communities Act)
Requiring an application for the issuance or renewal of a covered individual environmental permit for a site or facility located within an at-risk census tract after a certain date to include in the permit application a report describing the environmental and public health burdens in…
Not out of committeeHearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-10
Election Law – Telephone Voting System – Requirements
Requiring the State Board of Elections to select, certify, and acquire a telephone voting system for absentee voting by certain voters who have attested to having a print disability that meets certain requirements; defining "print disability" as a condition that prevents or inhibits an individual…
Not out of committeeHearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-10
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
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HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator Feldman) Adopted)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 943226/1 (Senator West) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 763427/1 (Senator Salling) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 393120/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 713626/1 (Senator Simonaire) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 473622/1 (Senator Gallion) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 213220/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Third Reading Passed)
HB2101 · 2026-08-04
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026 – Withdraw and Repeal of Duplicate Proposed Constitutional Amendment (Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator Kagan) Adopted)
HB2101 · 2026-08-04
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026 – Withdraw and Repeal of Duplicate Proposed Constitutional Amendment (Third Reading Passed)
HB862 · 2026-08-03
Railroads – Required Crew for Movement of Freight (Overridden)
HB423 · 2026-04-13
Prince George's County – Public High Schools – Drug Detection Products PG 501-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB38 · 2026-04-13
Financial Institutions – Licensing of Affiliated Insurance Producer-Mortgage Loan Originators – Alterations (Third Reading Passed)
HB405 · 2026-04-13
Condominiums and Homeowners Associations – Governing Documents – Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment (Third Reading Passed)
HB769 · 2026-04-13
State Board of Social Work Examiners – Provisional License to Practice Social Work – Established (Third Reading Passed)
HB1466 · 2026-04-13
Department of Housing and Community Development – Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program – Qualified Properties (Third Reading Passed)
HB547 · 2026-04-13
Income Tax – Enhanced Agricultural Management Equipment Subtraction Modification and Parent of a Stillborn Child Credit (Third Readings Passed with Amendments)
HB1554 · 2026-04-13
Sales and Use Tax – Electricity for Agriculture Purposes – Study and Report (Third Reading Passed)
HB1118 · 2026-04-13
Health, Health Insurance, and Health Occupations – Perinatal Behavioral Health Conditions (Third Reading Passed)
HB1091 · 2026-04-13
Health Insurance and Dental Plan Organizations – Dentists – Assignment of Benefits and Reimbursement of Nonpreferred Providers (Third Reading Passed)
HB107 · 2026-04-13
Motor Vehicles – Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program – Establishment (Third Reading Passed)
HB752 · 2026-04-13
Criminal Law – Theft and Fraud Crimes – Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards (Third Reading Passed)
HB264 · 2026-04-13
Maryland Data Privacy and Protection Act of 2026 (Third Reading Passed)
HB1526 · 2026-04-13
Carroll County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class 1 Distillery On-Premises Consumption Permit (Third Reading Passed)
HB730 · 2026-04-13
Business Regulation – Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law – Alterations (Franchise Reform Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB593 · 2026-04-13
Criminal Law – Interference With Critical Infrastructure or a Public Safety Answering Point (Third Reading Passed)
HB1267 · 2026-04-13
Patuxent Research Refuge and Beltsville Agricultural Research Center – Zoning Classification (Protecting Patuxent Research Refuge Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB6 · 2026-04-13
Public Institutions of Higher Education – Pregnant and Parenting Students – Plan and Reporting (Third Reading Passed)
HB321 · 2026-04-13
Environment – Synthetic Turf Industry and Disposal Study – Deadline Extension (Third Reading Passed)
SB242 · 2026-04-13
Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act (Third Reading Passed)
HB1387 · 2026-04-13
Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund – Fund Producer Commission Rate (Third Reading Passed)
HB611 · 2026-04-13
Prince George’s County – Alcoholic Beverages – Fees PG 317–26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB583 · 2026-04-13
Prince George’s County – Alcoholic Beverages – Notice of Issuance of Class C Per Diem Beer, Wine, and Liquor License PG 319–26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB246 · 2026-04-13
Video Tolls – Class G (Trailer) Vehicles – Liability (Third Reading Passed)
HB870 · 2026-04-13
Environment – Permit Applications for New Buildings – Notice (Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB1196 · 2026-04-13
Environment – Water Quality Testing – Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan (Third Reading Passed)
HB750 · 2026-04-13
Criminal Law – Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs – Prohibition (Third Reading Passed)
HB640 · 2026-04-13
Mandated Reports, Boards, and Commissions – Revisions (Third Reading Passed)
HB618 · 2026-04-13
Commercial Law – Self-Service Storage Facilities – Alterations (Third Reading Passed)
HB855 · 2026-04-13
Common Ownership Communities – Candidate or Proposition Signs – Display Period (Third Reading Passed)
HB357 · 2026-04-13
Municipalities – Election Dates – Reporting Requirements (Third Reading Passed)
SB18 · 2026-04-13
State Board of Social Work Examiners – Provisional License to Practice Social Work – Established (Third Reading Passed)
SB504 · 2026-04-13
Data Privacy – Consumer Data, Public Records, and Message Switching System (Data Privacy Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB1530 · 2026-04-13
Higher Education – Undocumented Students – Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Eligibility (Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Ready) Rejected)
HB1530 · 2026-04-13
Higher Education – Undocumented Students – Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Eligibility (Third Reading Passed)
HB663 · 2026-04-13
Department of the Environment – Federal Environmental Policy – Reporting (Third Reading Passed)
HB850 · 2026-04-13
Home Builders – Open House – Sales Representative Disclosure Requirements (Third Reading Passed)
HB1587 · 2026-04-13
Gaming – Operation of Electronic Instant Bingo Machines and Report by State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (Third Reading Passed)
HB1563 · 2026-04-13
Emergency Room Services and Post-Acute Care – Coverage and Facility Studies (Third Reading Passed)
HB1286 · 2026-04-13
Anne Arundel County – Alcoholic Beverages – Barbershop and Beauty Salon License (Third Reading Passed)
HB328 · 2026-04-13
Bicounty Commissions – Public Ethics – Financial Disclosure Statements PG/MC 105-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB282 · 2026-04-13
Adult Protective Services – Modifications (Third Reading Passed)
HB732 · 2026-04-13
Baltimore County Code of Public Local Laws – 2025 Edition – Legalization (Third Reading Passed)
SB311 · 2026-04-13
Education – The Blueprint for Maryland's Future – Revisions (Third Reading Passed)
HB625 · 2026-04-13
Human-Relevant Research Fund – Collection of Contributions – Responsible Entity (Third Reading Passed)
HB1149 · 2026-04-13
State Finance – Claims of the State – Settlement (Third Reading Passed)
HB833 · 2026-04-13
Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland – Reestablishment (Third Reading Passed)
HB456 · 2026-04-13
Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Gift Basket Permit Ho. Co. 2-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB406 · 2026-04-13
Prince George's County – Alcoholic Beverages – Multiple Licenses Prohibition – Exceptions PG 313-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB684 · 2026-04-13
Health Insurance – Material Changes to Provider Networks – Notification and Special Enrollment Period (Third Reading Passed)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 1244 total roll-call votes this session).
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