Maryland House Bill 654

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Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-3)
Status: Passed on April 28 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-28 - Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]

Authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award certain grants and loans for certain purposes; authorizing the Authority to require matching funds in whatever proportion the Authority considers appropriate; repealing certain requirements for certain grants and loans; decreasing from 10% to 7% or $600,000, whichever amount is greater, of Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund that may be used for certain operating expenses; etc.

Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants

Del. Dylan Behler [D]	Del. Jim Hinebaugh [R]	Del. Nick Allen [D]	Del. Michele Guyton [D]
Del. Marvin Holmes [D]	Del. Jay Jacobs [R]	Del. Robbyn Lewis [D]	Del. Todd Morgan [R]
Del. Darrell Odom [D]	Del. Dana Stein [D]

2026-04-13 - Senate - Third Reading Passed (Y: 46 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-04-09 - House - Third Reading Passed (Y: 125 N: 9 NV: 2 Abs: 5) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-28	House	Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276
2026-04-13	House	Returned Passed
2026-04-13	Senate	Third Reading Passed (46-0)
2026-04-13	Senate	Second Reading Passed
2026-04-13	Senate	Favorable Adopted
2026-04-13	Senate	Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation
2026-04-13	Senate	Rereferred to Budget and Taxation
2026-04-10	Senate	Referred Rules
2026-04-09	House	Third Reading Passed (125-9)
2026-04-09	House	Second Reading Passed with Amendments
2026-04-09	House	Favorable with Amendments {323029/1 Adopted
2026-04-08	House	Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation
2026-02-02	House	Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-30	House	First Reading Environment and Transportation

HB1327 (Carry Over) 2025-04-07 - Second Reading Passed with Amendments
SB638 (Crossfiled) 2026-04-28 - Approved by the Governor - Chapter 277

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
Financial Institutions	13	1113	(n/a)	See Bill Text
Financial Institutions	13	1114	(n/a)	See Bill Text
Natural Resources	5	903	(n/a)	See Bill Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0654?ys=2026RS
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0654f.pdf
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0654t.pdf
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_276_hb0654t.pdf
Amendment	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/amds/bil_0004/hb0654_32302901.pdf
Supplement	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes_comm/hb0654_ent.pdf
Supplement	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes_comm/hb0654_b&t.pdf
Roll Call	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes/House/1252.pdf
Roll Call	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes/Senate/1370.pdf