Abandoned or Sunken Vessels and Waterway Improvement Fund Grants

This bill updates Maryland laws regarding abandoned or sunken vessels and increases funding for maritime heritage preservation. It requires boat owners to provide emergency contact information when applying for vessel numbers and mandates that the Department of Natural Resources notify owners before seizing abandoned boats. Additionally, the bill establishes a voluntary turn-in program for these vessels and allocates at least $250,000 annually from the Waterway Improvement Fund to a nonprofit organization that distributes grants for preserving Maryland's maritime history.