42/Maryland Manual

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON STATUS OF
BILLS
Elected Officials. A constituent's State Senator or
Delegate or the bill's sponsor often are the most
effective source of information on the status of a bill.
Department of Legislative Reference. The Library
and Information Services Division of the Depart-
ment of Legislative Reference answers any request
for information about the status of a bill.

Library 841-3810
DC area: 85 8-3810
Other areas: 1-800-492-7122, exr. 3810
TDD for Deaf: 841/858-3814

Information Desk
State House (ground floor) 841-3886
DC area: 858-3886
Other areas: 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3886
TDD for Deaf: 841/858-3814

During the legislative session, the Department
of Legislative Reference publishes the daily floor
proceedings for both the Senate and the House of
Delegates, as well as daily synopses of legislation
introduced. The proceedings list all actions taken on
bills and joint resolutions in either chamber each
day The synopses summarize legislation introduced
each day, and note the primary sponsor(s), the
committee assignment, and the section of the Aw-
notated Code affected by the legislation. As with
printed bills, the Senate proceedings and synopses
are on white paper, the House on blue. The Depart-
ment also publishes a weekly public hearing
schedule specifying the times and places for all
legislative committee meetings. The hearing
schedule is published weekly all year, but is especial-
ly useful during the legislative session because it lists
what bills will be heard each day
A limited number of synopses, proceedings, and
hearing schedules are available to the public at the
Information Desk of the State House (ground
floor) or the Information Desk in the Legislative
Services Building (basement level). Copies of
printed bills and joint resolutions may be obtained
from the Bill Room in the Legislative Services
Building.

The Department of Legislative Reference offers
a subscription service to persons or organizations
with a broad continuing need for bill information.

Legislative Sales
Legislative Services Building, Room G-17
90 Stare Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401 841-3883
DC area: 858-3883
other areas: 1-800-492-7122

Pickedup in Annapolis—$100 for bills (1st & 3rd
readers, enrolled); $25 for synopses,
proceedings, hearing schedules.

Mailed Out—$500 for bills; $275 for 1st reader
copies only; $225 for 3rd reader copies only;
$75 for enrolled bills only; $200 for synopses;
$100 for proceedings; $50 for hearing
schedules.

Online Bill Status System Subscription 841-3900

Newspapers. Newspapers often publish public
hearing schedules of General Assembly committees
and articles about bills introduced.
Every April, immediately after the adjournment
of the General Assembly the Department of Legis-
lative Reference compiles Session Review. This
volume contains an overview of the issues and an
account of legislation passed that session by the
General Assembly, as well as significant bills that
failed. Copies may be obtained from the Depart-
ment for a fee.
The Department of Legislative Reference also
publishes legislative committee reports, various in-
dexes to bills, Final Status Report of Proposed Legisla-
tion, Synopsis of Laws Enacted, journals of both
Senate and House, and Laws of Maryland.