The Senate of Maryland met in a pro forma session and referred newly introduced bills and bond initiatives to standing committees before adjourning until Monday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.

In the session the presiding officer (Mister President) directed the clerk to call the roll and oversee readings of newly introduced measures. The clerk read a message from the House (House Bill 36) and multiple Senate introductions, including "Senate Bill 992, Senator West, corporations and associations revisions," which the clerk said would be referred to the Rules Committee. The clerk also read several bond initiatives, which the presiding officer directed to the capital budget subcommittee.

The introductions named sponsors for several bond initiatives, including Senator McCray's Darlene Park blight-elimination project and the Guilford Hill commercial training kitchen, and Senator Bailey's Marie sculpture garden and arts center. The clerk listed the measures on the calendar and the presiding officer indicated they would be sent to the appropriate standing committees for further consideration.

During brief remarks, the Senate's minority leader recognized Bruce Berriano on his 80th birthday, asking colleagues and viewers to extend birthday wishes. The presiding officer also thanked Senate pages for their service during the week.

Deputy Majority Leader moved that the Senate stand in recess until Monday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.; the presiding officer announced "without objection, so ordered," and the Senate recessed. A quorum call preceded the recess.

The pro forma session was procedural: no debates on the merits of bills or bond initiatives were recorded, and no floor votes on legislation were taken. The referrals to committees set the next steps for the listed measures: committee assignment and future committee action or scheduling will determine whether any bill receives hearings or votes.

Items referenced but not discussed in detail include House Bill 36 (described in the clerk's message as involving the Department of Aging and program consolidation and finance) and the bond initiatives sent to the capital budget subcommittee. Specific bill texts, committee report dates, or committee hearing schedules were not provided in the floor remarks.

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene in regular legislative business on Monday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m., per the recess motion.