This bill establishes the Maryland Advanced Manufacturing Grant Program within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support companies specializing in regenerative medicine and other advanced manufacturing sectors. The program will provide grants that recipients can use exclusively for acquiring or renovating manufacturing space, improving infrastructure, and purchasing necessary equipment. A dedicated fund will be created to hold grant money, with interest earnings credited back to the fund rather than the state's general fund. The Corporation will work with the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission to set eligibility criteria, application procedures, and award amounts, with the program taking effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 1033 establishes the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Grant Program within the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. It provides two types of grants: (1) subsidies for underrepresented business individuals (e.g., minorities, women) to join chambers at no cost, and (2) funding for joint events between multiple chambers. Chambers applying for membership grants must demonstrate programming support for new members and fund a full-time staff position, while inter-chamber grants require event plans and budget details. The program receives $100,000 annually from the state budget starting October 2026, with chambers required to submit annual reports on participants and event outcomes.
SB 518 establishes a 3-year pilot program to create a statewide network of free financial empowerment centers across Maryland, operating under the Office of the Comptroller. These centers will provide one-on-one financial counseling in English and Spanish (and other required languages) to help residents increase savings, pay down debt, access banking, and improve credit scores. The program requires counselors to complete specific training and will be funded through state budget appropriations for fiscal years 2028 and 2029, ending September 30, 2029. The pilot targets Maryland residents seeking accessible financial guidance, particularly in underserved communities.
HB 896 establishes a permanent "National Guard State Active Duty Mobilization Fund" within Maryland's Military Department to cover costs for National Guard personnel and equipment during state active duty deployments ordered by the Governor. The fund, administered by the Adjutant General, is separate from regular state budget appropriations and must be replenished to maintain readiness for future mobilizations. It supplements - rather than replaces - existing funding for National Guard state duty, with investment earnings credited to the state's general fund. This bill directly affects the National Guard's ability to mobilize efficiently during state emergencies or operations.
HB 884 requires Maryland to appropriate at least $5 million annually to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2028, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is funded. This addresses a historical funding disparity between UMES (Maryland's 1890 land-grant university for historically Black students) and the University of Maryland, College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution), which received less state funding per student from 1987-2020. Funds must supplement - never replace - existing state budget allocations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty investment, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill mandates annual appropriations that cannot decrease year-over-year, aiming to fully remediate the identified funding gap.
HB 1238 would impose a surtax on the taxable income of Maryland residents with ultra-high net worth and a one-time wealth tax on their net worth exceeding a set threshold. It directly affects Maryland residents whose net worth surpasses the specified amount, requiring them to pay additional taxes based on their income and total assets. The revenue would fund the Maryland Strategic Investment and Stabilization Fund, which must be used to reduce the state’s budget deficit or support education, behavioral health services, affordable housing, and infrastructure - specifically as outlined in the bill’s provisions. The surtax applies to taxable income, while the wealth tax is a single payment calculated using fair market value of assets minus liabilities.
SB 763 establishes the Maryland Growth Initiative within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support early-stage companies transitioning from startup development to scaling. It creates a dedicated $5 million annual fund from state budget appropriations (reinforced by interest earnings and private investment) to provide post-seed funding, helping qualifying companies grow in Maryland without relocating. The initiative must prioritize companies that previously received funding from the corporation or are minority-owned businesses, while maintaining a curated list of eligible firms between startup and scaling phases. The fund operates as a non-lapsing account, with all interest earnings automatically added back to the fund.
SB 587 requires the Governor to include a mandatory $1 million annual appropriation for the Maryland Patient Safety Center Fund in the state budget, starting with fiscal year 2027. This fund subsidizes the designated Patient Safety Center’s costs to develop statewide patient safety initiatives, reduce preventable harm, and improve equitable healthcare. The Center must coordinate with healthcare providers and patients, and the Commission administers the nonlapsing fund, which includes interest earnings and must be reported to legislative committees annually. The bill directly affects the Center, the Governor, and the Commission, ensuring consistent funding for patient safety efforts without replacing other state appropriations.
HB 1176 sets a minimum funding requirement for Howard County's public schools by prohibiting the County Executive from submitting or the County Council from approving a budget that allocates less than 58% of the county's general fund revenue to the Board of Education. The bill directly affects Howard County's annual budget process for public education funding. Key provisions require the budget to meet this 58% threshold unless the school board specifically requests a lower amount, in which case the budget must approve that requested level. This amends Maryland's education code to establish this specific minimum funding rule for Howard County.
HB 1271 establishes the Maryland Reparations Fund as a permanent fund to provide grants to people impacted by historic inequality. It creates a Reparations Board (appointed by legislative leaders and the governor) to study reparations and recommend grant programs. The bill imposes an excise tax on nonpublic institutions (like private universities) with endowments above a set threshold, requiring all tax revenue to fund the Reparations Fund. This directly affects large-endowment institutions through the tax obligation and historically marginalized communities through the grant program. The fund’s interest earnings will also remain within the fund, not flowing to the state general fund.
