Jeff Ghrist is a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 36 who was first elected in 2014 and has served since 2015, and he is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]A real estate agent and former Caroline County commissioner, he serves on the Appropriations Committee and is the House Minority Parliamentarian.[1]
Jeff Ghrist was born on March 14, 1975, and attended North Caroline High School in Ridgely and Chesapeake College before earning a B.A. in economics from Salisbury State University in 1997, according to his General Assembly biography.[1]He is a real estate agent and a former assistant store manager at The Home Depot.[1]Ghrist served on the Caroline County Board of County Commissioners from 2006 to 2014, as its president in 2010 to 2012 and in 2014 and as vice president in 2013 to 2014.[1]
Ghrist has served on the Appropriations Committee since 2015, including its Capital Budget Subcommittee, and also sits on the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and the Spending Affordability Committee.[1]He has been Minority Parliamentarian since 2022, was Deputy Minority Whip from 2019 to 2021, and in 2026 is a co-chair of the House Rural Caucus.[1]Ballotpedia reports that he advanced from the June 23, 2026 Republican primary.[2]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living416 with · 36 against453 votes
On the version voted Mar 30, 2026: Adjusts state finances for the fiscal 2027 budget by cutting or delaying mandated spending, shifting some teacher pension costs to counties, limiting certain federal depreciation tax breaks, and moving money among state funds, among other changes.
Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 40–86 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 7, 2025: Adjusts state finances for the fiscal 2026 budget: adds higher top income tax brackets, raises the standard deduction, imposes a 2% capital gains surtax for incomes over $350,000 and a 3% sales tax on data and IT services, raises vehicle excise and cannabis taxes, and cuts mandated spending.
Mar 25, 2025 · Passed 85–48 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Mar 13, 2026: Bars private schools that take part in state-funded programs from withholding transcripts, charging more for them, or otherwise using them to collect debts owed by current or former students, starting July 1, 2026.
Mar 12, 2026 · Failed 39–93 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 13, 2026: Bars local jails, with exceptions, from certain cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, requires state prisons to notify federal authorities within 48 hours before releasing people with immigration detainers, and limits police sharing of information with immigration authorities without a court order.
Apr 11, 2026 · Failed 40–84 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Feb 10, 2026: Bars county and municipal election methods that dilute the voting strength of race, color or language minority groups where voting is polarized; lets the Attorney General or others sue, and lets courts order remedies. Statewide elections are excluded.
Apr 11, 2026 · Failed 37–88 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lets people who have served at least 20 years for a crime committed at ages 18 to 24 ask a court to reduce their sentence, excluding those sentenced to life without parole and sex offenders.
Mar 15, 2025 · Failed 44–77 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Repeals the misdemeanor ban on selling contraceptives or contraceptive devices from vending machines at kindergarten, nursery, elementary, and secondary schools.
Feb 21, 2025 · Passed 89–41 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 8, 2026: Requires the Secretary of Health to publish recommendations for immunizations, screenings and preventive services. Lets pharmacists give recommended vaccines to anyone age 7 or older, and changes health insurance coverage requirements for these services, applying to plans from January 1, 2027.
Mar 20, 2026 · Failed 37–94 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lets the Maryland Department of the Environment require companies accredited for lead paint abatement to carry a performance bond or liability insurance.
On the version voted Apr 1, 2026: Extends the current low-income student count method for compensatory education and concentration of poverty grants through fiscal 2028, adds teacher certification options, and delays the National Board Certification requirement for licensed principals from 2029 to 2034.
On the version voted Mar 13, 2026: Bars private schools that take part in state-funded programs from withholding transcripts, charging more for them, or otherwise using them to collect debts owed by current or former students, starting July 1, 2026.
Mar 12, 2026 · Failed 39–93 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Repeals the misdemeanor ban on selling contraceptives or contraceptive devices from vending machines at kindergarten, nursery, elementary, and secondary schools.
Feb 21, 2025 · Passed 89–41 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Department of Natural Resources to mandate nonlead ammunition for hunting all game by July 1, 2030, except where nonlead ammunition is not commercially available for a specific firearm. Sets a civil fine up to $750 for a first offense.
Mar 23, 2026 · Passed 91–42 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 10, 2026: Requires the Department of Natural Resources to create and maintain a list of vernal pools, seasonal water-filled depressions that provide wildlife habitat, and to train designated state environment department staff to identify possible vernal pools and report them for the list.
Requires local governments, starting July 1, 2026, to notify the Department of the Environment within 10 business days of accepting a permit application for a new building of 35,000 square feet or more, listing its address, type and planned energy sources.
Mar 19, 2026 · Passed 92–37 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 6, 2026: Lets counties pass laws barring landlords who own six or more rental units from declining to renew a lease or ending a holdover tenancy without good cause, such as habitually late rent, serious lease violations or illegal activity.
On the version voted Apr 8, 2026: Replaces the separate lists of required elements in county and municipal comprehensive plans with one list of eight elements for all local governments, including land, transportation, housing, economy, equity, resilience, place and ecology, and directs state agencies to provide planning data and help.
Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 94–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 7, 2025: Requires landlords to give tenants written notice at least six days before a scheduled eviction, by mail, door posting and email or text when known, bars sheriffs from evicting without court approval if they believe notice was not given, and lets tenants sue over violations.
Mar 15, 2025 · Failed 41–90 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Maryland Department of Transportation to assess greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled for major highway expansion projects and to carry out multimodal programs and other activities to offset the emissions, starting July 1, 2026.
Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 93–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Repeals the notarized bill of sale used to base the vehicle titling excise tax on the actual price of a used vehicle sold $500 or more below retail value; the published valuation is used instead.
On the version voted Apr 10, 2026: Makes it a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, to knowingly or recklessly use deepfakes to spread materially false election information that harms or is meant to harm voters, and requires officials to correct election misinformation.
Requires county school superintendents to let children of service members relocating to Maryland on military orders apply for advance enrollment through a remote process with no fee or in-person visit, gives them access to all courses and activities they qualify for, and requires published information on the process.
Bars people not accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from charging for help with veterans benefits claims, taking referral fees, or guaranteeing benefit outcomes, and treats violations as unfair trade practices under consumer protection law.
Mar 17, 2025 · Passed 127–11 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 13, 2026: Creates a special fund in the Military Department to pay for personnel and equipment when the Governor orders the National Guard to state active duty, financed by state budget money and other accepted funds, starting July 1, 2026.
Voted against most of their party on 29 of 866 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (12), Education & families (9), Rights & public safety (3)
Task Force on Legislator Employment
What it does: Creates a temporary Task Force on Legislator Employment, including ethics committee chairs, local government groups and public members, to study rules on state lawmakers working for state or local governments and repo…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 99–0, Republicans 3–35
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026
What it does: Sets a neutral-arbitrator process for State employee collective bargaining, ending in a binding award of one side's last offer, with wage and funding terms subject to budget and legislative approval. Takes effect only…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 97–0, Republicans 2–34
Sales and Use Tax - Precious Metal Bullion or Coins - Exemption
What it does: On the version voted Apr 13, 2026: Exempts all sales of precious metal bullion or coins priced over $1,000 from the state sales tax, instead of only such sales at the Baltimore Convention Center. Takes effect July 1,…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–94, Republicans 18–17
Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances - Extension and Membership
What it does: Extends the state Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for another year, requires an updated report by October 31, 2026, and adds a representative of a historically Black college or universi…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 95–0, Republicans 14–24
What it does: On the version voted Apr 2, 2026: Authorizes about $1.85 billion in state general obligation bonds to pay for state construction, renovation and equipment projects and grants to local governments and organizations, an…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–98, Republicans 21–4
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 2100 · MD HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
NoVOTED
Motion: Third Reading (HB) Calendar No.150 · On Third Reading
On the version voted Aug 3, 2026: Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026 - Withdraw and Repeal of Duplicate Proposed Constitutional Amendment
NoVOTED
Motion: Third Reading (HB) Calendar No.149 · On Third Reading
Repeals a duplicate proposed constitutional amendment on collective bargaining for State employees, so only one copy appears on the November 2026 ballot. An identical amendment in another act stays on the ballot. Takes effect immediately as an emergency.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Morgan, M. /283424/1
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Nawrocki /963724/1
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
NoVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Arikan /933322/1
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
NoVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Schmidt /413029/1 Ruled out of order Decision of the Chair
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Grammer /423321/1
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Arikan /623323/1
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
NoVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Buckel /133323/1 Ruled out of order Decision of the Chair
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
YesVOTED
Motion: Government, Labor, and Elections Report No. 55 · FWA adp - ON 2ND RDG (Rules Suspended) · FLA Del. Long, R. /703123/1
Proposes a constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot stating that the Maryland Constitution sets no criteria for congressional district lines, that its districting standards apply only to legislative districts, and that lawmakers may give the state Supreme Court original review of congressional maps.
