Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Maryland
Democratic
· State Senator
Cheryl Kagan
Represents District 17 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
99%
on 246 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 98%
Cast a vote
96%
Yea or Nay on 1,200 of 1,244 roll calls · Senate median 96%
Their bills that became law
10 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 4, 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 Cheryl Kagan 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 Cheryl Kagan 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. Cheryl Kagan is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
2 of 246 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
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
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
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)
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
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 243822/1 (Senator Salling) Rejected · 2026-04-10 · Failed 18–24
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 · 255 shared contested votes
42%
Mike McKayRepublican · District 1 · 256 shared contested votes
32%
Bryan SimonaireRepublican · District 31 · 207 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 (44 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Maryland Delegation
YeaNayNayNayNayNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Cheryl Kagan 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 committee17
Passed one chamber17
Passed both chambers10
Became law10
Never left committee10
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Elections 12Rules and Regulations 9Notices 7Reports 7Standards and Best Practices 7Committees and Commissions 6
Income Tax – Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act)
In plain English Allows a tax credit for retirement income from employment as a 9-1-1 specialist and requires reporting on participating retirees and current vested specialists.
Official synopsis: Allowing a credit against the State income tax for certain retirement income attributable to an individual's employment as a 9-1-1 specialist; and requiring the Department of Emergency Management to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2028, on the number of…
Became lawEnacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution – Chapter 877 · 2026-05-31
Higher Education Institutions – Over-the-Counter Contraception – Access and Reporting
In plain English Requires public colleges and community colleges to provide students access to over-the-counter contraception and submit annual reports on contraception access.
Official synopsis: Requiring each public senior higher education institution and community college to submit a report on contraception access to the Maryland Higher Education Commission each year by September 1; requiring the Commission to submit a report on contraception access to the General Assembly by October 1…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 675 · 2026-05-26
Public Schools – Maryland Civic Excellence Program – Established
In plain English Establishes a Maryland Civic Excellence Program to recognize high school students' civic readiness and engagement, with regulations required by the 2027-2028 school year.
Official synopsis: Establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program that recognizes the civic readiness and civic engagement of public high school students in the State; requiring that a certain capstone project be included in the Program; authorizing a local school system to participate in the Program to recognize…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 677 · 2026-05-26
Election Law – Absentee Ballots – State and Federal Requirements
In plain English Requires election boards to call Internet-delivered absentee ballots "print-at-home ballots" and establishes rules for counting timely absentee ballots under state and federal requirements.
Official synopsis: Requiring the State Board of Elections and each local board of elections to refer to absentee ballots that are delivered to a voter by the Internet as "print-at-home ballots" in all communications with voters and the general public; providing that absentee ballots are considered timely…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 440 · 2026-05-12
Election Law – Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers – Revisions
In plain English Requires police officers on duty at polling places to obey election administrators and allows election officials to maintain order and authorize arrests at polling places.
Official synopsis: Requiring a police officer who is on duty at a polling place to obey the authority of the State Administrator, the Deputy State Administrator, or a local election director; providing that in a polling place certain individuals have the authority to keep the peace and…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 468 · 2026-05-12
Business Regulation – Charitable Organizations – Audit and Review Thresholds
In plain English Increases the income thresholds at which charitable organizations must submit audits or reviews with registration statements.
Official synopsis: Increasing the minimum gross income amounts from charitable contributions at which a charitable organization must include a certain audit or a certain review with a registration statement; increasing the amount of cash receipts from charitable contributions the Secretary of State may accept an affidavit attesting…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 394 · 2026-05-12
Election Law – Presidential Electors – Selection and Voting
In plain English Requires the State Administrator of Elections to oversee a presidential elector meeting and changes procedures for selecting electors and transmitting election certificates.
Official synopsis: Altering the procedures for the selection of presidential elector nominees and alternate presidential elector nominees; requiring the State Administrator of Elections to preside and serve as secretary at a certain meeting of certain presidential electors; altering the procedures for the meeting of presidential electors; and…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 469 · 2026-05-12
Election Law – Petitions and Ballot Questions – Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures
In plain English Requires ballot measure petitions and statements to use plain language and mandates election boards post ballot measure text for at least 90 days before elections.
Official synopsis: Altering the information that is required to be included on the signature page of a petition seeking to place a question on the ballot and with a question on the ballot; requiring that a certain summary included on the signature page of a petition seeking…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 439 · 2026-05-12
3-1-1 Systems – Expansion Program and Oversight Board – Establishment
In plain English Creates a Maryland 3-1-1 Oversight Board and establishes a program using artificial intelligence to answer questions and route calls in certain counties, with expansion to all counties planned.
Official synopsis: Establishing the Maryland 3-1-1 Oversight Board in the Maryland Information Network to oversee the expansion of 3-1-1 systems in Maryland; establishing the 3-1-1 Program to use certain artificial intelligence to answer certain questions and route certain calls in certain counties; and requiring creation and implementation…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 434 · 2026-05-12
State Board of Architects – Grounds for Discipline and Anonymous Complaints
In plain English Requires the Board of Architects to deny, reprimand, or suspend licenses under certain circumstances and allows anonymous reporting of suspected violations.
Official synopsis: Requiring instead of authorizing the Board of Architects to deny, reprimand, or suspend a license to practice architecture or a permit to operate a business through which an individual may practice architecture under certain circumstances; authorizing the Board to establish an electronic portal to allow…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 245 · 2026-04-28
Election Law – Campaign Finance – Exploratory Committees
Applying certain campaign finance requirements for a political committee to exploratory committees; establishing requirements and prohibitions for exploratory committees relating to the establishment of the committees, receipt of funds, and permissible disbursements; requiring an authorized candidate campaign committee that results from the exploratory committee to…
Passed one chamberThird Reading Passed (99-35) · 2026-04-13
Open Meetings Act – County Boards of Education – Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act)
Establishing enhanced requirements under the Open Meetings Act for county boards of education and the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners; requiring the county boards and the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners to maintain on their respective websites archived video recording of each open…
Passed one chamberMotion Special Order until 4/13 (Senator Ready) Adopted · 2026-04-10
Charitable Organizations – Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status – Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026)
Prohibiting certain charitable organizations, including certain private foundations, from participating in or intervening in a political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for public office; authorizing the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to order a 2-year revocation of certain…
Passed one chamberRereferred to Economic Matters · 2026-04-09
General Assembly – Special Election to Fill a Vacancy in Office
Proposing a constitutional amendment to require that a special election be held at the same time as the regular statewide primary and general elections that are held in the second year of a term to fill a vacancy in the office of Delegate or Senator…
Passed one chamberThird Reading Passed (93-33) · 2026-03-27
Nonprofit Organizations Navigator – Termination Provision – Repeal
Repealing a termination provision relating to provisions of law establishing a nonprofit organizations navigator within the Department of Commerce; etc.
Passed one chamberHearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-03-26
“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).
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