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SB 226MARYLANDSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Maryland Reorganizes Heritage Area Authority and Flexes Grant Rules

Original title: Maryland Heritage Area Authority and Heritage Areas - Alterations

Last action · April 14, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 124

Companion · HB 238same policy, House version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Maryland expands the voting membership and of the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, adds new requirements for State agencies to support , and removes statutory funding caps on grants and loans. The legislation takes effect October 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Local governments, heritage areas, and community organizations can now apply for grants and loans without rigid statutory percentage caps on project costs, while state agencies face direct mandates to align their activities with local heritage management plans.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Maryland Heritage Area Authority

The Authority gains two new ex officio members, a higher quorum requirement of 10 members, and flexible rulemaking authority over grant matching proportions.

Directly affected

Local jurisdictions and heritage area management entities

Eligible entities can apply for heritage area grants and loans under flexible matching requirements determined by the Authority rather than a fixed 50% statutory ceiling.

Directly affected

State government units and departments

Departments such as Agriculture and Education join existing agencies in being statutorily required to support activities in certified heritage areas and align their actions with approved management plans.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the new members added to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority?
The bill adds the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Superintendent of Schools, and replaces a Maryland Greenways Commission public member seat with a public member specializing in natural resource stewardship or climate resiliency.
Can the Authority still require matching funds for grants and loans?
Yes. The bill removes the rigid 50% statutory cap on various grants but explicitly allows the Authority to require matching funds in whatever proportion it considers appropriate.
Do local county clerks still receive physical boundary maps?
No. The requirement that the Authority send copies of boundary maps to county clerk offices has been repealed.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

15 actions
  1. Apr 14, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolled
    Approved by the Governor - Chapter 124
  2. Apr 10, 2026SenateFloor
    Returned Passed
  3. Apr 10, 2026HouseFloor
    Third Reading Passed (105-30)
  4. Apr 8, 2026HouseFloor
    Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
  5. Apr 8, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable Report by Economic Matters
  6. Mar 30, 2026House
    Hearing canceled (Government, Labor, and Elections)
Show 9 earlier actions
  1. Mar 26, 2026House
    Hearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m. (Government, Labor, and Elections)
  2. Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred Economic Matters Government, Labor, and Elections
  3. Feb 12, 2026SenateFloor
    Third Reading Passed (44-0)
  4. Feb 10, 2026SenateFloor
    Second Reading Passed
  5. Feb 10, 2026SenateFloor
    Favorable Adopted
  6. Feb 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable Report by Finance
  7. Jan 20, 2026Senate
    Hearing 1/29 at 3:00 p.m.
  8. Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
    First Reading Finance
  9. Sep 16, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Pre-filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Transition from Rigid Caps to Discretionary Grant Matching

The legislation systematically removes fixed 50% project cost caps across multiple grant categories, shifting authority to set matching proportions entirely to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.

Maryland Heritage Area Authority

Connected Entities

Maryland Heritage Area Authority, Secretary of Higher Education, Secretary of Commerce and 10 more
OrganizationMaryland Heritage Area Authority“The state authority responsible for recognizing and supporting heritage areas.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Higher Education“Ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Commerce“Ex officio voting members of the Authority.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Housing and Community Development“Ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Natural Resources“Ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Agriculture“Newly added ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
PersonState Superintendent of Schools“Newly added ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
PersonState Historic Preservation Officer“Ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
OrganizationMaryland Tourism Development Board“Represented by a public member on the Authority.”Map →
locationMaryland“State jurisdiction where the bill applies.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Transportation“Ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →
OrganizationMaryland Greenways Commission“Previously represented by a public member on the Authority.”Map →
PersonSecretary of Planning“Ex officio voting member of the Authority.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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