University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Land-Grant Institution - Funding (Land-Grant Equity and Accountability Act)

SB 1016 requires Maryland's Governor to include at least $5 million annually in the state budget for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting fiscal year 2027. This funding must continue each year until a total of $321,181,312 is appropriated to UMES, directly addressing a historical funding disparity between UMES (Maryland's 1890 land-grant institution) and the University of Maryland, College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution). The bill specifies that these funds must be supplemental (not replacing existing funding) and can be used for infrastructure, faculty investment, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The legislation aims to remediate a documented funding gap that existed from 1987 through 2020.