The House voted overwhelmingly Friday to allow introduction of a resolution calling for the expulsion of an absentee Republican delegate, only to see it assigned to the House Rules Committee where it is likely to die without a hearing.

Three women speakers share the limelight in the House, three women legislators are recognized with the First Citizen Award, more women are inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame -- but it's still tough to be a woman legislator, in political notes.

Sen. Joanne C. Benson and Del. Adrienne Jones -- two of the state's most respected legislators, who have been mostly absent for the 2026 session -- were showered with praise and affection Monday as they returned to be honored by their colleagues.

As debate on some of the most consequential issues has raged in the legislature, two seasoned veterans have conspicuous in their absence: Del. Adrienne Jones and Sen. Joanne C. Benson have already missed more than a third of the legislative session.

The dominoes continue to fall from Rep. Steny Hoyer's (D-5th) decision not to seek reelection, with Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) planning to run for the seat of state Sen. Arthur Ellis' (D-Charles), who is weighing a run for Hoyer's seat.