SB 538 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Baltimore City - Raffles - Organizations Affiliated With Professional Baseball and Football Teams

SB 538 modifies Baltimore City's raffle laws to allow organizations affiliated with both Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) teams based in Baltimore to conduct raffles. Specifically, it removes a sunset date for MLB-affiliated organizations and explicitly adds NFL-affiliated organizations to the list of eligible groups. The bill requires these organizations to operate within Baltimore City and spend most funds locally on charitable, civic, or youth athletic purposes. This change expands existing raffle authorization under Maryland law without altering permit requirements or prize limits.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Baltimore City - Raffles - Organizations Affiliated With Professional Baseball and Football Teams Enrolled - Baltimore City - Raffles - Organizations Affiliated With Professional Baseball and Football Teams · 3 edits · May 12, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for the Governor's signature, adding formal certification details and a new section repealing a 2025 act. Substantively, the bill's scope was expanded to include a new section repealing and reenacting Section 13-505.1 of the Criminal Law, which governs raffles for organizations affiliated with professional baseball and football teams. The existing definitions and permit requirements for general charitable raffles remained unchanged.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by adding a new section (repealing and reenacting Section 13-505.1) that specifically addresses raffles for organizations affiliated with professional baseball and football teams, while the general raffle provisions for other organizations remained the same.
SCOPE

Added a new section repealing and reenacting Section 13-505.1 to include specific provisions for raffles conducted by organizations affiliated with professional baseball and football teams.

TECHNICAL

Added formal enrollment markings, including space for the Governor's signature, proofreader certifications, and chapter designation, indicating the bill has passed both legislative chambers.

Removed draft metadata such as the introduction date, committee assignment, and 'read first time' status, as these are no longer relevant to the final enrolled bill.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 1, 2026

How they voted

460
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Mar 27, 2026
D Democratic36
34 Yea 2
94% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
15
Committee
8
Amendments
2
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 484
executive
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
lower
Apr 1, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-10)
house of delegates
Mar 27, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0-3)
senate
Mar 11, 2026
Committee
Referred Ways and Means
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until 3/5 (Senator Hayes) Adopted
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator McCray) Adopted
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until 3/4 (Senator McCray) Adopted
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
First Reading Budget and Taxation
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Cory McCray
Cory McCray
DDemocratic
MD
45