When Maryland’s General Assembly leaders cut short their 2020 session in March because of the coronavirus threat, they said they’d come back in May for a special session.

Monday, they announced there would be no special session to take care of unfinished business.

Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson said in a joint statement that they would not call lawmakers back to Annapolis because they should remain with their constituents “to help them through this historic pandemic.”

Jones said they made the decision “after consulting with health experts” who said this is “the best course of action at this time.”

And Ferguson said it is “a matter of balancing the safety of staff, legislators and the public,” while making sure legislators can focus on their constituents and prepare for "a recovery effort.”

Meanwhile, the Joint COVID-19 Legislative Workgroup, a bipartisan group of lawmakers Jones and Ferguson created in March, continues to meet and to work with the administration of Gov. Larry Hogan, federal and local officials, health professionals and business leaders on the COVID-19 response. 

While deciding against a session in May, Jones and Ferguson said they would continue to evaluate the need for a future special session.