Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Maryland
Democratic
· State Senator
Bill Ferguson
Represents District 46 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
99%
on 251 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 98%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 1,227 of 1,244 roll calls · Senate median 96%
Their bills that became law
5 of 7
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 Bill Ferguson 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 Bill Ferguson 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. Bill Ferguson is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
1 of 251 party-line votes.
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 · 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
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)
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 · 260 shared contested votes
40%
Mike McKayRepublican · District 1 · 261 shared contested votes
32%
Bryan SimonaireRepublican · District 31 · 210 shared contested votes
21%
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 (17 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Maryland Delegation
YeaNayNayNayNayNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaAbsentYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAbsentYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Bill Ferguson 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.
Introduced7
Out of committee5
Passed one chamber5
Passed both chambers5
Became law5
Never left committee2
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Revenue and Taxes 4Work, Labor, and Employment 4Baltimore City 3Sunset 3Applicants and Applications 3Rules and Regulations 3
Property Tax – Credit for Commercial Buildings Rented to Small Businesses
In plain English Allows Baltimore and other local governments to offer property tax credits for commercial buildings rented to small businesses in designated arts, entertainment, or business districts.
Official synopsis: Authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City and the governing body of a county or municipal corporation to grant, by law, a credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on a commercial building that is rented or rented to own…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 603 · 2026-05-26
Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – 46th Alcoholic Beverages District
In plain English Allows Baltimore's liquor board to issue a micro-brewery license to certain license holders in the 46th district and requires establishing a template for agreements by January 1, 2027.
Official synopsis: Authorizing the Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore City to issue a Class 7 micro-brewery license to the holder of a Class B-D-7 license in the 46th alcoholic beverages district, subject to a certain limitation; requiring the Board to establish a standard template for certain…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 845 · 2026-05-26
Economic Development – Maryland's Future Board – Establishment
In plain English Creates the Maryland's Future Board to develop a plan for Maryland's future and recommend projects, and establishes a fund to support those projects.
Official synopsis: Establishing the Maryland's Future Board under the Department of Commerce to develop, evaluate, and revise a visionary plan for the future of Maryland by January 1, 2027, and make recommendations for projects based on the plan to the Governor and the General Assembly; establishing the…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 377 · 2026-05-12
Labor Law – Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards
In plain English Increases penalties for child labor violations, restricts employer interference with employee organizing, allows private employees to petition a labor board for dispute resolution, and prohibits state agencies from seeking federal wage law waivers.
Official synopsis: Establishing certain civil penalties for violations of law involving the employment of minors; prohibiting employers from allowing the formation of a certain organization or entity under certain circumstances; authorizing certain private employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board to resolve certain matters under certain…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 167 · 2026-04-28
Maryland Department of Health – Employment Training and Opportunity Database
In plain English Requires the Maryland Department of Health to create a database of employment training and opportunities to help people find programs that may make them eligible for medical assistance and food assistance programs.
Official synopsis: Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to establish an employment training and opportunity database for the purpose of assisting individuals in the State in finding employment training and other opportunities that may enable the individuals to become eligible and maintain eligibility for the Maryland Medical…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 166 · 2026-04-28
Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Construction of Data Centers
Expanding the application of certain requirements for the construction of certain overhead transmission lines to include certain other transmission lines; requiring the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations to establish specific criteria for making the determination to waive, for good cause, the requirement to obtain…
Not out of committeeFirst Reading Senate Rules · 2026-02-23
Human Services – Energy Assistance Programs – Administration and Funding
Transferring the administration of the electric universal service program from the Public Service Commission to the Office of Home Energy Programs in the Department of Human Services; and altering the authorized uses of the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to include fuel assistance programs.
Not out of committeeHearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-16
“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.
Loading committees…
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).
Primary Office
Sources:
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