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SB 877

Queen Anne's County - Circuit Court Judgeships

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Hershey

Queen Anne’s County would add a second resident circuit court judge, expanding capacity and access to the circuit court.

Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 877

Summary — SB 877: Queen Anne’s County — Circuit Court Judgeships

Status: Hearing scheduled 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
Introduced: January 22, 2025
Sponsor (Senate file): Sen. (Hershey) — Cross‑file: HB 975 (Delegate Arentz)

Note: The file provided contained unrelated text from other states’ bills (Hawaii, Illinois). The summary below focuses only on the Maryland bill titled “Queen Anne’s County – Circuit Court Judgeships.”

Purpose / Intent

To increase the number of resident circuit court judges in Queen Anne’s County from one to two, with the aim of improving judicial capacity and access to the circuit court in that county.

Key Provisions

  • Amends Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings, to change the table of resident circuit court judges (Section 1–503) by increasing Queen Anne’s County’s allocation from 1 to 2 judges.
  • Repeals and reenacts the relevant statutory section(s) to reflect the new judgeship count.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Fiscal and Operational Impact

State (General Fund)
- One additional circuit judge plus two support positions (one courtroom clerk and one law clerk) are funded.
- Estimated general fund expenditures:
- FY 2026: $358,285 (reflects a 90‑day start-up delay from the July 1 effective date)
- FY 2027: $472,000
- FY 2028: $479,000
- FY 2029: $486,400
- FY 2030: $493,900
- Judicial salary increases beyond FY2026 are not reflected (statutory salary settings and future adjustments may change costs).

Local (Queen Anne’s County)
- Estimated increased county expenditures of at least $168,000 in FY 2026 (start‑up/operating costs) and a minimum of $235,000 annually thereafter to support the additional judgeship (office, staff, operations).

Other
- Revenues: No direct revenue impact anticipated.
- Small Business: No effect noted.

Who Is Affected

  • Judiciary/Administrative Office of the Courts (personnel, facilities, budget).
  • Queen Anne’s County government (operating support and local costs).
  • Residents and litigants in Queen Anne’s County (potentially improved access, reduced backlog, faster case processing).
  • State general fund budget (increased ongoing expenditures).

Procedural / Timeline Notes

  • Introduced January 22, 2025; first reading and referral followed (committee actions listed in bill file).
  • Public hearing scheduled for February 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
  • Cross‑filed companion: HB 975.

Additional Context

  • The fiscal estimate assumes hiring of one judge, one courtroom clerk, and one law clerk. The bill’s effective date (July 1, 2025) drives the FY 2026 start‑up timing.
  • No similar legislation on this specific judgeship was identified in the most recent three years (per the fiscal note).

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

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