State Capital Program - Covered Projects - Public Engagement and Community Outreach Requirements (Community Engagement and Outreach Act of 2026)

HB 1125 requires Maryland state agencies planning major capital projects (over $2 million in cost or exceeding 75 feet in height) to develop community engagement plans and conduct outreach within a 1-mile radius of the project site. Agencies must provide plain-language project summaries, hold public meetings with virtual options, mail notices 45 days before key decisions, and allow 30-day public comment periods. They must submit annual reports detailing outreach efforts and public feedback to the Department of Budget by October 1, with the Department compiling and sharing these reports with lawmakers and impacted communities by December 1. This applies to projects on state-owned property or funded with state money, excluding certain grant programs and local legislative initiatives.