HB 1300 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

African American Heritage Preservation Program and Maryland Commission for Women - Renaming and Alterations

HB 1300 updates Maryland's Commission for Women by changing how its executive director is appointed and clarifying the Commission's responsibilities. It removes the Secretary of Human Services' authority to appoint the director, stating the director will be a regular state employee (not a "special appointee") and receive standard state compensation. The bill revises the Commission's duties to focus on conducting studies, supporting programs, and advocating for policies that promote equality for women, including career development, violence prevention, and economic opportunities. These changes directly affect the Commission's operations and its executive director, effective October 1, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Maryland Commission for Women - Alterations → Enrolled - African American Heritage Preservation Program and Maryland Commission for Women - Renaming and Alterations · 2 edits · May 26, 2026

MINOR

The bill was renamed from focusing solely on the Maryland Commission for Women to also include the African American Heritage Preservation Program. A new provision was added to rename the Heritage Program in honor of Speaker Adrienne A. Jones. The core provisions regarding the Commission for Women, such as the appointment process and duties, remain substantively unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include the renaming of the African American Heritage Preservation Program, while the applicability to the Maryland Commission for Women remains the same.

SCOPE

Added a new provision to rename the African American Heritage Preservation Program to the 'Speaker Adrienne A. Jones African American Heritage Preservation Program'.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and introductory text to reflect the inclusion of the renamed Heritage Program alongside the Commission for Women.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 28, 2026

How they voted

45–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 49

Mar 21, 2026

D Democratic36

32 Yea 4

88% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 792

executive

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 28, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (125-5-12)

house of delegates

Mar 21, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-0-4)

senate

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

44 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

Party

State

District