Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard

HB 228 expands the Maryland Veterans Trust to provide monetary assistance - including grants and loans - to members of the Maryland National Guard and their families, who were previously excluded from the program. The bill amends existing law (Sections 9-913(b)(ii) and 9-914.2(a)(3) of the Maryland Annotated Code) to explicitly include National Guard members under the Trust’s purpose. This allows the Trust to use existing funds from the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund to support these members and their families through direct financial aid. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2025, without creating new funding sources. It directly affects current and future Maryland National Guard members seeking financial assistance for themselves or their families.