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6d ago

Peña-Melnyk Elected Maryland House Speaker as Lawmakers Override Moore Vetoes

The rapid moves signal a legislature asserting control over studies and policy direction.

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The Maryland State House in Annapolis is decorated for the holiday season. Lawmakers return Tuesday for a special session to elect a new House speaker. (Zackary Lang / Spotlight on Maryland)
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk laughs during the special session where she is nominated and elected Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. (Kim Hairston/staff)
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, a Democrat who represents Prince George’s County, has been elected for House speaker. (Tinashe Chingarande/Staff)

Overview

  • The House unanimously elected Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk as the 109th speaker, making her the first immigrant and Afro-Latina to lead the chamber.
  • The General Assembly overrode dozens of Gov. Wes Moore’s vetoes, including creating a Maryland Reparations Commission, with votes of 93-35 in the House and 31-14 in the Senate.
  • Lawmakers restored mandates to study data-center impacts and the costs of greenhouse-gas pollution, even after Moore and Comptroller Brooke Lierman announced $500,000 in existing funds for the emissions study.
  • Moore said he disagreed with some overrides but respected the General Assembly’s authority, reiterating concerns over unfunded mandates and multi-year analyses.
  • Redistricting was deferred pending recommendations from the governor’s commission, as House turnover continued with Del. Vanessa Atterbeary and Majority Whip Jazz Lewis announcing resignations.