# Chapter 6 – Committees

Current through 2024. Source: DLR publication. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## Rule 6-1 Scope

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-1 (2026)

This Chapter applies to all committees of the Council, except as otherwise:

(1) specified by law or these Rules, or

(2) specifically directed by the Council.

## Rule 6-2 Establishment and appointment

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-2 (2026)

(a) Establishment – Standing committees.

  (1) At the start of each elective term of the Council, the President shall establish the various standing committees that the President finds necessary or appropriate to assist the Council in its operations.

  (2) Each standing committee shall comprise at least 3 members, as determined by the President.

  (3) The President, with approval of the City Council, shall appoint the five members of the Committee on Legislative Investigations at the start of the term and select a Chair and Vice-Chair, as prescribed by City Code Article 1, Section 1-4 {“Committee on Legislative Investigations”}, even if the Committee does not intend to regularly meet.

(b) Establishment – Select committees.

  (1) From time to time, the President may establish 1 or more select committees that the President finds necessary or appropriate.

  (2) Each select committee shall comprise at least 3 members, as determined by the President.

(c) Appointment.

  (1) In general. The chair, vice-chair, and members of all committees are appointed by the President.

  (2) Change of committee composition – Committee on Legislative Investigations. The president may change the composition of the Committee on Legislative Investigations or change the members designated as Chair and Vice-Chair at any time if approved by a majority vote of the City Council as per Article 1, § 1-4(b) of the Baltimore City Code.

  (3) Change of committee composition – all other committees For all other committees, The President may add, remove, or replace a committee chair, vice-chair, or member at any time.

(d) Entry on Journal. All actions taken and appointments made under this Rule shall be entered on the Journal.

## Rule 6-3 Powers of committees

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-3 (2026)

(a) In general. The actions of a committee are purely advisory and are subject to review by the Council for approval or rejection.

(b) Reports. A committee may make a report concerning any bill in its possession.

(c) Amendments.

  (1) In general. A committee may only propose amendments to a bill as bills are amended only by the full Council at a meeting.

  (2) Effectiveness of amendments. An amendment recommended by a committee becomes effective when adopted by the Council.

## Rule 6-4 Committee of the Whole

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-4 (2026)

(a) Convening Committee. The City Council may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole if:

  (1) the Council adopts a motion specifying the subject matter for consideration; or

  (2) the President calls for the Council to meet as a Committee of the Whole and specifies the subject matter for consideration.

(b) Chair.

  (1) In general. Unless these Rules direct otherwise, when the Committee of the Whole is formed, the President may act as chair or appoint another member to act as chair.

  (2) Report recommendations. The chair of the Committee of the Whole shall select a designee other than the President to report the recommendations of the Committee of the Whole.

## Rule 6-5 Duties of committee chair

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-5 (2026)

(a) In general. The chair of a committee:

  (1) presides at and conducts the hearings and other meetings of the committee; and

  (2) is responsible for reporting the recommendations of the committee to the Council.

(b) Vice-chair. The vice-chair acts in the chair’s place whenever the chair is absent.

## Rule 6-6 Committee quorum

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-6 (2026)

A majority of the full membership of a committee constitutes a quorum of that committee.

## Rule 6-7 Meeting times

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-7 (2026)

(a) In general.

  (1) The chair of each committee sets the time and place for meeting.

  (2) A meeting of the committee may be called by a petition of the majority of the committee’s membership. The petition shall be submitted to the chair of the committee and the Office of Council Services and suggest a time and date for the meeting.

(b) On Council meeting days. No committee may conduct or continue a meeting after 3 p.m. on a regular Council meeting day without the President’s consent.

## Rule 6-8 Open meetings

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-8 (2026)

(a) Committee as “public body”. Each committee established under these Rules, under any other law, rule, or resolution, or otherwise is a “public body”, as that term is defined and used in the State Open Meetings Act.

(b) Actions to be public. All meetings, deliberations, votes, decisions, and other actions of a committee shall be conducted in sessions open to the public, with reasonable advance public notice of those sessions, as provided in the State Open Meetings Act.

## Rule 6-9 Order and decorum

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-9 (2026)

(a) Chair to maintain. A committee chair shall preserve order and decorum during all meetings of a committee.

(b) Disturbances, etc.

  (1) In the event of any disturbance or disorderly conduct during a meeting, the chair shall ask the person responsible to stop.

  (2) If the person persists, the chair may:

    (i) order the person to be removed;

    (ii) request police assistance to restore order; and

    (iii) until order is restored: (A) recess any meeting then in session; and (B) order the meeting place cleared.

## Rule 6-10 Committee Votes

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-10 (2026)

(a) Location. All votes of a committee must be conducted in person in the Council Chambers.

(b) Recommendations: passage of bill, resolution, or amendment. A bill, resolution, or amendment is recommended by a committee for passage by the Council with an affirmative vote of a majority of Councilmembers present at the committee hearing.

(c) Inclusion in bill file. A record of all committee votes shall be included in the corresponding bill file.

## Rule 6-11 Oaths and witnesses

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-11 (2026)

As per Article III, § 14(d) {“Oaths and witnesses”} of the Charter, the City Council, by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the Council (8), may authorize any standing or special committee to administer oaths and to summon witnesses as to any matters relevant to its investigation of any municipal agency.

## Rule 6-12 Committee on Legislative Investigations

Balt., Md., Council Rules r. 6-12 (2026)

(a) In general. As per § 1-4(c) of the Baltimore City Code, on its own motion or at the request of any member of the Committee on Legislative Investigations, the Committee may:

  (1) study the continuing operations, efficiency, and functions of the several departments, bureaus, commissions, boards, and agencies of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; and

  (2) investigate complaints or allegations of faulty operations, inefficiency, or malfunctioning in any of these departments, bureaus, commissions, boards, and agencies.

(b) Committee rules.

  (1) In general. Section 1-4(g) of the City Code authorizes the Committee to adopt rules to govern its procedures under this section, including the conduct of hearings under this section, provided that the rules are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section or of any other applicable law.

  (2) Posting requirements. Any rules adopted by the Committee under this subsection (b) shall be posted to the Legislative Public Information Portal within 24 hours from the date of adoption.

(c) Reports and recommendations. As per § 1-4(h) of the Baltimore City Code, on completion of a study or investigation under this section, the Committee shall report to the members of the City Council, the Mayor, and the Board of Estimates:

  (1) the results of that study or investigation; and

  (2) any recommendations it may have for:

    (i) the more effective operation of any of these departments, bureaus, commissions, boards, and agencies;

    (ii) legislative, administrative, and budgetary improvements; and

    (iii) if the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offense has been committed, referral to the appropriate prosecuting authority.