Senate orders bills to committees, previews heavy committee day and adjourns to Feb. 19

On Feb. 18 the Senate of Maryland conducted routine floor business: reading introduced bills and bond initiatives, referring measures to committees and announcing an extensive committee schedule for the afternoon, before adjourning until Feb. 19.

The clerk read newly introduced measures, including Senate Bill 961 (sponsored by Senator Salling) which was ordered to the rules committee. The clerk also read a set of Senate bond initiatives, including a workforce development academy proposal tied to artificial intelligence and manufacturing by Senator McCray; those initiatives were ordered to the capital budget subcommittee.

Senate committee chairs previewed a busy afternoon: the Finance Committee reported "9 bills, 51 witnesses meeting at 1:00," the Education, Energy and Environment Committee scheduled hearings on 18 bills at 1:00 followed by a voting session, and the Judicial Proceedings Committee also scheduled hearings at 1:00. Members announced local delegation and caucus meetings, including an Anne Arundel delegation meeting immediately after the floor and a Prince George's County delegation meeting at 5:00 PM.

Before adjournment, a senator moved that the Senate stand adjourned until Thursday, Feb. 19 at 10:00 AM; the motion was adopted 'Without objection' and the Senate adjourned.

The Senate will reconvene Feb. 19 at 10:00 AM to continue floor consideration and committee activity.