SENATE
STANDING COMMITTEES

Having fewer members than the House of Dele-
gates, the Senate in the eighteenth century often
met as a whole body, rather than in committee, to
review proposed laws. Nonetheless, although Sen-
ate committees functioned earlier, by the nine-
teenth century, standing (or continuing)
committees were formed, beginning in December
1823. At that time, the Senate President appointed
standing committees on Ways and Means, Internal
Improvements, and Pensions and Revolutionary
[War] Claims. While names of standing committees
have changed over the years, their purpose remains
the same—to review proposed legislation.
Presently, the Senate has four standing commit-
tees to review bills: Budget and Taxation, Eco-
nomic and Environmental Affairs, Finance, and
Judicial Proceedings. Two additional standing
committees are Executive Nominations, and Rules.

BUDGET & TAXATION COMMITTEE
Barbara A. Hoffman, Chair
William H. Amoss, Vice-Chair

James Senate Office Building, Room 100
110 College Ave
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3690

Functions of the Budget and Taxation Committee
began when the Finance Committee was created in
1831. Responsibility for reviewing bills concerned
with the budget of State government and tax matters
was reassigned to the Budget and Taxation Commit-
tee when it was established in 1975.
The Committee considers legislation relating to
State operating and capital budgets, including reve-
nues, expenditures, and supplementary appropria-
tions, legislative budgetary procedures, State and
county bond authorizations, taxation and assessments,
education financing, and pension and retirement mat-
ters. The Committee consists of thirteen members.
Under the Budget and Taxation Committee are
five subcommittees: Capital Budget, Health, Edu-
cation, and Human Resources; Pensions, Public
Safety, Transportation, Economic Development,
and Natural Resources; and Revenue and Taxes.

ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Clarence W. Blount, Chair
Paula C. Hollinger, Vice-Chair

James Senate Office Building, Room 200
110 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3661

Because the concerns of the Economic and En-
vironmental Affairs Committee cover a broad range
of legislation, the Committee's origins trace to

many earlier committees. Among these were stand-
ing committees concerned with agriculture, educa-
tion, natural resources, and economic affairs.
The Standing Committee on Agriculture and
Manufactors was created in March of 1839 and by
December of that year renamed the Standing Com-
mittee on Agriculture. In 1880, it was reorganized
as the Standing Committee on Agriculture and
Labor. The Committee was renamed the Standing
Committee on Agriculture in 1945. Its responsi-
bilities later would devolve on the Economic and
Environmental Affairs Committee.
In 1900, the Standing Committee on Fish and
Game was formed and continued until 1943. Con-
cerns of that committee were assumed in 1945 by
the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. In
1951, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and
the Standing Committee on Natural Resources
merged to become the Agricultural and Natural
Resources Committee. Responsibilities of the
Committee were reassigned in 1967 to the newly
formed Economic Affairs Committee from which
the Economic and Environmental Affairs Commit-
tee was created in 1984.
Duties of other earlier committees were as-
sumed by the Economic and Environmental Affairs
Committee. Among these were the Standing Com-
mittee on Education (1856-1966) and the Stand-
ing Committee on Chesapeake Bay and its
Tributaries (1860-1966). Responsibilities of both
Committees fell to the Economic Affairs Commit-
tee in 1967 and were assigned to the Economic and
Environmental Affairs Committee in 1984.
The Economic and Environmental Affairs Com-
mittee reviews legislation relating to agriculture and
land preservation, alcoholic beverages, licensing and
regulation of businesses and labor, including business,
health and related occupations and professions, edu-
cation, elections, energy, environment, fire preven-
tion, local government, natural resources,
procurement, State government organization, proce
dures, and administrative law, and veterans affairs<.BR> Eleven senators serve on this committee.
Under the Economic and Environmental Affairs
Committee are three subcommittees: Education,
Environment, and Health.

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Larry Young, Chair
Philip C. Jimeno, Vice-Chair

James Senate Office Building, Room 209
110 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3707

The Executive Nominations Committee was
formed in January 1845. The Committee reviews
and interviews gubernatorial appointees whose ap-
pointment requires Senate advice and consent. The
Committee then reports its recommendations on