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SB 626

Election Laws - As enacted, revises present law relative to voting and county election commissions, such as requiring the commission to publish a notice of the location of the provisional counting board, prohibiting the commission from tabulating any marked ballots submitted via the internet, prohibiting voting machines from being connected to the internet, and making other changes. - Amends TCA Title 2.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Richard Briggs

Sets the Frederick County Sheriff's 2025 pay at $187,313 and, from 2026 on, links future sheriff salaries to 82.5% of the State's Attorney pay, with mid-term protections.

Pub. Ch. 371
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Bill Summary · SB 626

SB 626 — Frederick County — Sheriff — Salary

Status: Hearing scheduled 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Judicial Proceedings)
Introduced: 2025 (cross‑file HB 1197, Frederick County delegation)

Purpose

To change how the annual salary of the Frederick County Sheriff is set: first, to set a specific 2025 salary level, and then to peg future sheriff salaries to a percentage of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s salary (with certain constitutional timing protections).

Key provisions

  • 2025 salary: Establishes the sheriff’s salary at $187,313 for calendar year 2025.
  • 2026 and beyond: Sets the sheriff’s annual salary at 82.5% of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s annual salary (this includes any increments and salary adjustments given to the State’s Attorney).
  • Timing / term protection:
    • Any change in the State’s Attorney’s salary that occurs during a sheriff’s current term does not apply to that incumbent sheriff until the beginning of the sheriff’s next term of office.
    • Conforms to Article III, §35 of the Maryland Constitution: the new salary structure may not be applied to reduce/increase a current sheriff’s pay mid‑term; it takes effect at the start of the next term (except for persons appointed/elected after the act’s effective date to fill out an unexpired term).
  • Effective date language in bill text: salary provisions take effect at the beginning of the next term of office; one bill version states an October 1, 2025 effective date for the Act overall.

Who is affected

  • Directly: The Frederick County Sheriff (salary level and future adjustments).
  • Indirectly: Frederick County government finances/budget (higher salary costs compared to the prior statutory amount), county taxpayers; the State’s Attorney’s salary becomes the index that determines future sheriff pay.
  • No direct State fiscal impact is expected.

Fiscal impact (per Department of Legislative Services fiscal note)

  • Current sheriff salary (pre‑bill): $125,000.
  • Current Frederick County State’s Attorney salary (baseline used): $227,047.
  • Estimated county cost:
    • About $56,600 increase in fiscal 2027 (first full fiscal year affected after the constitutional timing delay and term start assumptions).
    • At least $102,900 annually thereafter under assumptions in the fiscal note (which include a projected 3.5% annual increase in the State’s Attorney’s salary and inclusion of fringe benefits).
  • County revenues not affected.

Procedural notes / related bills

  • Cross‑file / companion: HB 1197 (Frederick County Delegation).
  • Committee assignment indicated to Judicial Proceedings (and related procedural actions in provided materials).
  • Constitutional constraint: the Maryland Constitution forbids salary changes for a public officer during that officer’s term; the bill is written to comply by implementing changes at the next term start.

Practical effect

The bill raises the sheriff’s pay substantially from the current fixed statutory level and creates a continuing link between the sheriff’s salary and a percentage of the State’s Attorney’s salary. That design automatically increases the sheriff’s pay as the State’s Attorney’s compensation rises (subject to the constitutional timing rule), increasing long‑term personnel costs for Frederick County.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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