HB 654 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants

HB 654 modifies funding rules for Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority, directly affecting local jurisdictions and entities managing certified heritage areas. It removes previous 50% limits on grant coverage for project costs (allowing full funding for eligible activities like preservation and marketing) and adjusts how Program Open Space funds are used. Specifically, it increases the allowable percentage for operating expenses from 10% to 7% or $600,000 (whichever is greater), and raises the maximum funding transfer to the Authority's Financing Fund. These changes aim to provide greater flexibility for heritage area management while maintaining oversight of fund usage.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants → Third - Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its progression from the first to the third reading, adding committee approval and adoption dates. Substantively, the act's purpose was broadened to include encouraging revitalization and reinvestment in heritage areas, and the Authority was granted new flexibility to waive matching fund requirements. The text also removed specific dollar limits and percentage caps on operating expenses for fiscal year 2026, replacing them with general language that allows the Authority to use funds for operating costs without the previous strict constraints.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include encouraging revitalization and reinvestment in certified heritage areas as a grant purpose.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the Authority to mandate matching funds from applicants was removed, giving the Authority discretion to require them only if appropriate.

FISCAL

Specific dollar amounts and percentage caps on using Program Open Space funds for operating expenses in fiscal year 2026 were deleted, removing previous restrictions on how much could be used for operations.

SCOPE

A new grant purpose was added to encourage the revitalization of and reinvestment in certified heritage area resources.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to include additional sponsors and to reflect that the bill was adopted and read a second time.

Minor formatting and citation updates were made to the sections of the Annotated Code of Maryland being repealed and reenacted.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

How they voted

48–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 49

Mar 27, 2026

D Democratic36

35 Yea 1

97% 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

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Rereferred to Budget and Taxation

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (48-0-1)

senate

Mar 24, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (125-9-8)

house of delegates

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors