Maryland's Special Session Concludes with New House Speaker and Veto Overrides

Maryland General Assembly Holds Special Session to Elect New Speaker and Override Vetoes

The Maryland General Assembly convened in Annapolis for a special session on Tuesday, focusing on two key objectives: electing a new speaker of the House of Delegates and overriding several bills that Governor Wes Moore had vetoed during the previous legislative session. The day-long session concluded with significant outcomes, including the election of a new leader for the House and the passage of multiple overridden vetoes.

Election of New House Speaker

By the end of the session, Prince George’s County Democrat Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk was elected as the new House speaker. She described her first day presiding over the chamber as “blessed.” Peña-Melnyk expressed appreciation for the support she received from her colleagues, stating, “The body was wonderful. They were prepared with their bills. Everybody was respectful.” She emphasized that she felt the love in the room and was enjoying the experience.

Veto Overrides in the House

One of the most notable actions taken by the House was the override of dozens of Moore’s vetoes from the 2025 legislative session. Among these was the veto of a bill to create a commission that would make recommendations on how to compensate descendants of people formerly enslaved in Maryland and victims of racially discriminatory government policies. This override passed with a vote of 93-35.

Before the vote, delegates took to the floor to express their views on the reparations bill. Republican Del. Mark Fisher drew criticism from Democrats when he claimed that the Democratic Party has controlled the state legislature for 100 years and has done nothing to address the issue of slavery. He suggested that improving public school education was a better solution than funding reparations. Peña-Melnyk cut Fisher off mid-speech, asking him to focus on policy arguments rather than political jabs. Despite this, Fisher continued his opposition to the bill.

Peña-Melnyk addressed the question of how she felt about dealing with an incendiary delegate on her first day as speaker. She reaffirmed her commitment to leading the House with respect and grace, echoing the values she demonstrated while presiding over the Health and Government Operations Committee.

Senate Veto Overrides

In the Senate, lawmakers also worked to override several of Moore’s vetoes. The most high-profile override was the Maryland Reparations Commission Bill, which passed with a vote of 31-14 along party lines. Before the vote, Baltimore County state Sen. Charles Sydnor III, a Democrat, emphasized that reparations are not a national abstraction but a government remedy grounded in specific evidence of state action and responsibility.

The Senate also voted unanimously on 10 of its overrides, including a bill requiring state agencies to study the impact of data centers. Lawmakers such as Sydnor and Frederick County Sen. William Folden, a Republican, noted that cross-party unanimity is rare in the chamber but underscored the importance of addressing the economic and environmental effects of data centers on the state.

Governor Moore's Response

Governor Moore responded to the veto overrides in a statement, acknowledging that he disagrees with some of the decisions but respects the General Assembly’s constitutional authority. He reiterated his concerns about certain bills being unfunded mandates or requiring multi-year analyses. Moore also criticized the Trump Administration for advancing a full-scale assault on Maryland and emphasized the need to prioritize policies that protect residents amid ongoing challenges.

Leadership Changes

The special session marked the last day for at least two members of the House of Delegates. Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced her resignation to run for Howard County Executive. Additionally, Maryland House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis resigned during the session for what he described as a “phenomenal opportunity” that emerged in the past few months.