Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Maryland
Republican
· State Senator
Chris West
Represents District 42 in the State Senate.
Votes with Republicans
63%
on 248 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 94%
Cast a vote
96%
Yea or Nay on 1,194 of 1,244 roll calls · Senate median 96%
Their bills that became law
11 of 24
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 5
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 Chris West 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 Chris West 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. Chris West is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
91 of 248 party-line votes, most recent 10 shown.
HB601 · Montgomery County – Stop Sign Monitoring Systems Pilot Program – Gaithersburg and Rockville MC 5-26
In plain English Allows Gaithersburg and Rockville to use stop sign monitoring systems in school zones under an existing pilot program.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 32–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB274 · Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination – Regulations and Discriminatory Effect
In plain English Allows the state housing department to adopt regulations on fair housing and prohibits actions with discriminatory effects, unless necessary to achieve nondiscriminatory goals.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 33–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB336 · Criminal Procedure – District Court – Issuance of Summonses and Arrest Warrants
In plain English Allows District Court commissioners to issue summonses in certain cases while prohibiting arrest warrants in those cases, and requires referral to the State's Attorney and victim access to information.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 35–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB336 · Criminal Procedure – District Court – Issuance of Summonses and Arrest Warrants
In plain English Allows District Court commissioners to issue summonses in certain cases while prohibiting arrest warrants in those cases, and requires referral to the State's Attorney and victim access to information.
Floor Amendment 593722/1 (Senator Love) Rejected · 2026-04-13 · Failed 12–34 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB594 · Cannabis – Advertising – Alterations
In plain English Requires cannabis businesses to verify ads don't target people under 21, allows dispensary exterior signs for limited purposes, and changes social equity ownership requirements.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 38–8 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB222 · County Boards of Education – Opioid Overdose-Reversing Medications – Policy Requirements (Naloxone Access Act)
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 31–6 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB12 · Residential Rental Apartments – Air-Conditioning Requirement
In plain English Requires landlords to provide air-conditioning in apartment buildings with 10 or more units starting June 2026 for new construction and October 2026 for renovated units with replaced or upgraded electrical or heating systems.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 35–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB573 · Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination – Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect
In plain English Allows the housing department to adopt regulations on fair housing practices, permits discrimination findings without intent, and prohibits actions with discriminatory effects unless necessary for nondiscriminatory purposes.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 33–12 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB141 · State Personnel – Collective Bargaining – Graduate Assistants
In plain English Allows graduate assistants at two University of Maryland campuses to collectively bargain and establishes a separate bargaining unit for them.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 32–11 · most Republicans voted the other way
SB366 · Motor Vehicles – Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program – Establishment
In plain English Requires drivers with suspended or revoked licenses to participate in a pilot program using intelligent speed assistance systems in their vehicles.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 37–8 · most Republicans 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
In plain English Alters required appropriations, authorizes fund uses, changes revenue distribution, and modifies income tax provisions among other changes.
Floor Amendment 673521/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-17 · Failed 20–24
Democrats 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.
Mary-Dulany JamesDemocrat · District 34 · 228 shared contested votes
61%
Ron WatsonDemocrat · District 23 · 257 shared contested votes
49%
Carl JacksonDemocrat · District 8 · 246 shared contested votes
48%
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 (50 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Maryland Delegation
NayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayNayYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Chris West 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.
Introduced24
Out of committee13
Passed one chamber13
Passed both chambers11
Became law11
Never left committee11
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 5 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Penalties and Sentences 7Real Property 6Crimes and Punishments 5Notices 4Criminal Law – Substantive Crimes 4Estates and Trusts 3
Maryland Legal Services Corporation – Board of Directors – Membership
In plain English Increases the Maryland Legal Services Corporation's Board of Directors from 9 to 12 members.
Official synopsis: Increasing the number of members on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation from 9 to 12.
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 660 · 2026-05-26
Criminal Law – Benefits Exploitation
In plain English Prohibits knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining someone to steal their government benefits through deception, coercion, exploitation, or isolation.
Official synopsis: Prohibiting a person from knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining an individual for the purpose of appropriating the government benefits of an individual for the benefit of the person or another through deception, coercion, exploitation, or isolation; prohibiting a person from aiding, abetting, or conspiring…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 663 · 2026-05-26
Residential Rental Apartments – Air-Conditioning Requirement
In plain English Requires landlords to provide air-conditioning in apartment buildings with 10 or more units starting June 2026 for new construction and October 2026 for renovated units with replaced or upgraded electrical or heating systems.
Official synopsis: Requiring a landlord to provide air-conditioning to residential rental units in apartment buildings with 10 or more individual dwelling units in a certain manner beginning June 1, 2026, for newly constructed residential rental units and beginning October 1, 2026, for residential rental units that undergo…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 664 · 2026-05-26
Estates and Trusts – Venue for Administrative and Judicial Probate and Application of Inheritance Tax
In plain English Changes where probate cases can be filed for non-Maryland residents and alters inheritance tax rules for their intangible property.
Official synopsis: Altering certain criteria for determining the venue for administrative or judicial probate of decedents who were not domiciled in the State; providing that, for purposes of the application of the Maryland inheritance tax, the situs of intangible personal property is the domicile of the decedent;…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 503 · 2026-05-12
Criminal Law – Third-Degree Sexual Offense – Burglary
In plain English Establishes that non-consensual sexual contact during a burglary constitutes third-degree sexual offense and updates sex offender tier definitions accordingly.
Official synopsis: Establishing that engaging in sexual contact with another without the consent of the other in connection with a first-, second-, or third- degree burglary constitutes sexual offense in the third degree; and altering the definitions of "tier I sex offender", "tier II sex offender", and…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 499 · 2026-05-12
Criminal Law – Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs – Prohibition
In plain English Prohibits using force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with or injure someone exercising religious beliefs at a place of worship, with penalties up to 90 days in jail or $1,000 fine.
Official synopsis: Prohibiting a person from using force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to interfere with or physically injure another while the other is lawfully exercising or attempting to lawfully exercise religious beliefs at a place of religious worship; and establishing that a violation of the…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 425 · 2026-05-12
Criminal Procedure – Motion to Reduce Duration of Sentence – Repeal of Sentencing Date Limitation
In plain English Allows individuals convicted as adults of crimes committed when they were minors to file motions to reduce their sentences without a deadline.
Official synopsis: Repealing the sentencing date limitation of October 1, 2021, for an individual convicted as an adult of an offense committed when the individual was a minor to file a motion to reduce the duration of the sentence.
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 498 · 2026-05-12
Estates and Trusts – Fiduciaries – Attorney-Client Privilege
In plain English Clarifies that attorney-client privilege applies to communications between an attorney and a fiduciary client even when fiduciary funds pay for the attorney's services.
Official synopsis: Clarifying that a communication between an attorney and a client that acts as a fiduciary is subject to the attorney-client privilege even if fiduciary funds are used to compensate the attorney for services rendered to the client.
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 500 · 2026-05-12
Corporations and Associations – Revisions
In plain English Requires the state to notify filers when charter documents are rejected and allows certain corporate governing bodies to act without meetings under specified conditions.
Official synopsis: Requiring the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to notify a person who files a charter document if the Department does not accept the document; requiring the Department to accept a corrected charter document under a certain circumstance; authorizing certain governing bodies of certain corporations…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 314 · 2026-04-28
Income Tax – Addition Modification for Federal Tax-Exempt Income – Study
In plain English Requires the Office of the Comptroller to study and report by December 1, 2026, on how Maryland taxes certain federally tax-exempt income.
Official synopsis: Requiring the Office of the Comptroller, by December 1, 2026, to study and report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding certain matters related to an addition modification under the Maryland income tax for certain income exempt from federal tax by federal law or…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 315 · 2026-04-28
Motor Vehicles and Marine Vessels – Transfer-on-Death Designations
Authorizing an individual who is the sole owner of a marine vessel or multiple individuals who jointly co-own a marine vessel to apply to the Department of Natural Resources to designate a beneficiary to take ownership of the marine vessel on the death of the…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 73 · 2026-04-14
Vehicle Laws – Bus Obstruction Monitoring Systems and Bus Stop Zones
In plain English Prohibits stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle in a bus stop zone when a transit vehicle is present, with certain exceptions.
Official synopsis: Replacing references to a bus lane monitoring system with references to a bus obstruction monitoring system; and prohibiting a person from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle in a bus stop zone if a transit vehicle is present, subject to certain exceptions.
Passed one chamberFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed · 2026-04-13
State Government – State Elected Officials – Protection of Personal Information
Establishing the Office of State Elected Officials Information Privacy in the Department of Legislative Services; authorizing a certain protected individual or the Office to request that a governmental entity or person not publish personal information of the protected individual on the Internet, social media, or…
Passed one chamberHearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-03-26
Common Ownership Communities – Reserve Accounts and Reserve Studies – Alterations
Requiring the governing bodies of certain cooperative housing corporations, condominiums, or homeowners associations to adopt an annual budget that includes certain calculations for the cost to repair or replace capital components that are the responsibility of the common ownership community; providing that a certain portion…
Not out of committeeWithdrawn by Sponsor · 2026-03-02
Overhead Transmission Lines and Eminent Domain – Property Value – Damages
Authorizing the owner of property used for residential purposes to bring an action to recover damages incurred as a result of the value of the property being diminished from the use of eminent domain to take property and construct an overhead transmission line within 300…
Not out of committeeHearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (Judicial Proceedings) and Hearing canceled (Education, Energy, and the Environment) · 2026-02-17
“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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