The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland expands Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners from three to five members
Last action · May 26, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 831
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What This Bill Does
Maryland enacts Senate Bill 398 to expand the Anne Arundel County from three to five members, require appointment lists from county legislative delegations, and mandate a published ethics policy beginning July 1, 2026.
Changes the governance structure of local liquor licensing by altering board composition, partisan limits, and regional representation requirements while setting the initial terms for the two new seats to start on May 2, 2027.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Board of License Commissioners members
Board members face new political party limits, district residency caps, and mandatory conflict of interest and recusal policies.
Anne Arundel County House and Senate delegations
Legislative delegations are required to provide lists of recommended individuals for the Governor to appoint to the Board.
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
How many members will serve on the Board of License Commissioners after this law takes effect?
Where does the Governor get the list of candidates to appoint to the Board?
What new policy must the Board adopt and publish?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
12 actions- May 26, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 831
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (135-0)
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
- Mar 26, 2026HouseHearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m.
Show 6 earlier actions
- Mar 6, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Government, Labor, and Elections
- Mar 5, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (42-0)
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Mar 2, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable Report by Finance
- Feb 11, 2026SenateHearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 28, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Finance
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.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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