Maryland House Bill 461

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Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)
Status: Passed on May 12 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-05-12 - Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]

Establishing the Rural Readiness Program administered by the Rural Maryland Council to provide assistance to rural communities to enhance their capacity for economic development; requiring priority to be given when making certain grants to entities that have completed the Rural Readiness Program; and establishing the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to be administered by the Council to provide grants to support collaborative planning and capacity building initiatives that address the needs of rural communities.

Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment

Del. Natalie Ziegler [D]	Del. Christopher Adams [R]	Del. Dylan Behler [D]	Del. Kris Fair [D]
Del. Linda Foley [D]	Del. Jeff Ghrist [R]	Del. Michele Guyton [D]	Del. Ken Kerr [D]
Del. Edith Patterson [D]	Del. Lily Qi [D]	Del. Pamela Queen [D]	Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes [D]

2026-04-06 - Senate - Third Reading Passed (Y: 46 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-12 - House - Third Reading Passed (Y: 127 N: 6 NV: 3 Abs: 5) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-05-12	House	Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543
2026-04-07	House	Returned Passed
2026-04-06	Senate	Third Reading Passed (46-0)
2026-03-31	Senate	Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-03-30	Senate	Favorable Report by Finance
2026-03-13	Senate	Referred Finance
2026-03-12	House	Third Reading Passed (127-6)
2026-03-11	House	Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-03-10	House	Favorable Report by Economic Matters
2026-01-28	House	Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-23	House	First Reading Economic Matters

SB300 (Crossfiled) 2026-04-08 - Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
Economic Development	13	401	(n/a)	See Bill Text
Economic Development	13	416	(n/a)	See Bill Text
State Finance and Procurement	2	206	(n/a)	See Bill Text
State Finance and Procurement	2	207	(n/a)	See Bill Text
State Finance and Procurement	2	207.1	(n/a)	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0461?ys=2026RS
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0461f.pdf
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0461t.pdf
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_543_hb0461t.pdf
Supplement	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes_comm/hb0461_ecm.pdf
Supplement	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes_comm/hb0461_fin.pdf
Roll Call	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes/House/0354.pdf
Roll Call	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes/Senate/0807.pdf