SB 818 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group

SB 818 amends Maryland law to establish new requirements for developing the 28-acre State Center property in Baltimore City. It requires all new or modified development contracts to include an enforceable community benefits agreement with the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, a local hiring plan with job goals, and an economic improvement plan prioritizing minority- and women-owned businesses. The bill also creates a State Center Advisory Group composed of neighborhood associations, anchor institutions, and community organizations within a 1-mile radius to provide community input, leverage neighborhood benefits, and ensure transparency. This directly affects the developer of the State Center project and surrounding Baltimore neighborhoods.

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 6, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group → Third - State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group · 5 edits

MODERATE

This revision updates the bill's metadata to reflect its progression to the third reading and adds a reference to a companion House bill. The core policy requirements for the State Center project, including the need for a community benefits agreement, local hiring plan, and economic improvement plan, remain substantively unchanged. The composition of the advisory group was modified by adding new community entities and institutions while removing several others from the list of required members.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the specific 28-acre State Center property in Baltimore City remains unchanged; however, the list of required advisory group members was expanded to include new organizations and institutions.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill header metadata to indicate the bill was adopted with substitute amendments and added a reference to companion bill HB 1619.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the advisory group to identify potential community benefits in the immediate surrounding neighborhoods.

Modified the definition of the advisory group's purpose to include informing the identification of potential community benefits.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Maryland Institute College of Art, Midtown Development Corporation, Mt. Royal Improvement Association, Mt. Vernon Belvedere Association, Pennsylvania Ave Redevelopment Collaborative, Seton Hill Association, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland Medical System Midtown Campus, Upton Planning Committee, and Urban League Baltimore to the list of required advisory group members.

Removed Baltimore Alumni Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Bolton Hill Community Association, and Heritage Crossing Residents Association from the list of required advisory group members.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

41–0

Passed · 8 other

Total votes 49

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic36

30 Yea 6

83% Yea

R Republican13

11 Yea 2

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 390

executive

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Economic Matters

lower

Mar 25, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (128-7-7)

house of delegates

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Economic Matters Appropriations

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Substitute Committee Amendment {

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment {

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Reconsider Favorable with Amendments (Senator Guzzone) Adopted

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/20 (Senator Guzzone) Adopted

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/19 (Senator Guzzone) Adopted

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/17 (Senator Guzzone) Adopted

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (41-0-8)

senate

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Budget and Taxation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors