2026 April 26
Opened 6:00, Adjourned 7:49

Attending

Officers Brian Bittner, Renaud Brown, Mary Rooker, Tim Willard; Delegates Dana Polson, David Alan Tibbetts; Others:  Andy Ellis, Bill Barry (Bill had to leave the assembly at 6:41 pm.)

#2 & #7: Passed unanimously
Amendment #2: In Section 5.2.6 (Elections), replace "three weeks" with "two weeks".
Amendment #7: In Section 10.6 (Primary Process), replace "three weeks" with "two weeks". 

#1: Passed unanimously
Amendment #1: Delete the entirety of Section 5.2.3 (Unfilled Seats). 

#3 &#4: Passed unanimously
Amendment #3: In Section 5.2.8 (Party Affiliation), replace "voters must affiliate with the Green Party” with "voters must fulfill the membership requirements set in Section 3.1 of these Bylaws".

Amendment #4: Delete Sections 5.2.9, 5.2.10, and 5.2.11 in their entirety. 

Amendment #5: Passed unanimously
Delete the entirety of Section 8.9 (Rotation, Term Limits)

Amendment #6: Passed unanimously
Delete the entirety of Section 10.5 (1) (Statewide Office)  

[Bill Barry had to leave the meeting, excused himself.] 

Amendment #8: Passed unanimously
In Section 10.6 (Primary Process), delete "The Electoral Committee is responsible for preparing specific timetables and procedures for the primary. Those processes must be approved by the MGP-CC no later than January of the year of the Primary."

Amendment #10: Passed unanimously
In Section 11.1 (Affirmative Action), delete "The Outreach Subcommittee shall submit monthly reports detailing and evaluating its outreach and recruitment efforts to implement this policy, as provided in Section 9.3(2)." 

Amendment #9: WITHDRAWN. Author (BBittner) withdrew in response to opposition from A. Ellis and D.A. Tibbetts; (it’s a good requirement but one year might be too much)
In Section 10.7 (Local and Regional Candidates), delete "All local endorsement processes should be published on the state party website and on local party websites (if applicable) at least one year in advance of the filing deadline." (Note: includes local, county, and state delegate contests.)

Amendment #11: Passed unanimously
In Section 6.2 (Annual Meeting), replace "The MGP shall hold an MGP Assembly at least once a year, in May or June" with "The MGP shall hold an Assembly at least once a year, in May, June, or July".

Amendment #12: Passed unanimously
In Section 5.2.4 (Membership Notification), delete “All registered greens and all green party locals must be notified of calls for nominations and elections” and replace with “The MGP shall make its best effort to notify all registered members of calls for nominations and elections” and delete “The internal elections committee shall determine the timing and method of the communication with members, as well as the forum for candidates.”

Amendment #13: Passed unanimously
Concern: this is a good change for this year, to be worked on next time.
Replace Section 5.2.7 (Ad-Hoc Elections Committee) with: “An election administrator will be responsible for recommending to the coordinating committee a set of procedures, to include times, dates, software method of requesting and casting a ballot, ballot wording, ballot design, and tabulation procedures. The administrator will be appointed and overseen by the Coordinating Council.”
*Note: in any applicable location, replace references to the Ad-Hoc Elections Committee with reference to the election administrator

Amendment #14: Passed unanimously
In Section 6.2 (Annual Meeting), delete the historical artifacts “with the exception of MGP Meetings called before November 15, 2000, which shall require 14 days notice”, “excepting those called before November 15, 2000, where 14 days shall suffice”, and “excepting those called before November 15, 2000, where 17 days shall suffice”.

Amendment #15 & 16: Passed unanimously, as amended
#15 - In Section 6.3 (Special Assemblies), delete “necessary to gain or maintain political party status or ballot access under Maryland election law” and “and business will be limited to matters relating to gaining or maintaining political party status or ballot access under Maryland election law” and add “Special Assemblies may be called by three (3) Locals or by the petition of 25 members.”
Friendly amendment (from A. Ellis) accepted by sponsor: change three (3) locals to two (2).

#16:
Delete the entirety of Section 6.4 (Emergency Assemblies).

Amendment #17: Passed unanimously
In Section 8.2 (Appointment of Non Voting Officers), replace “September meeting of the MGP-CC” with “the first MGP-CC meeting following the Annual Assembly”.

Amendment #18: Passed unanimously
In Section 8.3 (Co-Chairs), delete “in consultation with the Press and Publicity Committee”

Amendment #19: Passed unanimously
In Section 9.1 (Standing Committees) delete “Committees shall have one representative from each Local that chooses to elect such a representative. Each delegate shall serve on at least one committee.” 

Amendment 21: Passed unanimously
Delete Section 9.3.a Electoral Committee) in its entirety.
*Note: delete references to the Electoral Committee in any other applicable locations.

Amendment #20 & 22:  WITHDRAWN and REPLACED. Author withdrew both 20 and 22; added a proposal to move Bylaws Committee from Standing to Seasonal.
#20 - Delete Section 9.2.c (Bylaws Review and Rules Committee) in its entirety.
*Note: delete references to the Bylaws Review and Rules Committee in any other applicable locations.
#22 - Add Section 14.2 (Adoption of Bylaws and Amendments): The Coordinating Council shall be responsible for any review of Bylaws amendments necessary to provide clarity, resolve conflicting proposals or maintain continuity with other existing rules or practices.