Bill > SB963

This bill establishes the Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries Fund to provide care, preservation, maintenance, and restoration of abandoned and neglected cemeteries in Maryland. The bill defines "abandoned cemetery" as a cemetery where the managing organization has ceased to exist, no property owner is listed, the property has been condemned, or legal ownership cannot be determined. Similarly, a "neglected cemetery" is one that has received multiple maintenance citations, fallen into disrepair, been subject to vandalism, or experienced physical deterioration. The fund will be administered by the Secretary of Labor and can receive money through state budget appropriations, interest earnings, and other sources. The Governor may include an annual appropriation of $250,000 to the fund, and the fund's money can be used for cemetery preservation, administrative costs, and promotional efforts (with no more than 5% used for promotion). The Secretary is required to submit an annual report to the General Assembly by September 30, detailing donations, promotional efforts, and a detailed accounting of the fund's use. The bill also removes previous provisions for an income tax checkoff system for the fund and ensures that any interest earned on the fund will not be diverted to the General Fund during fiscal years 2024-2028.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0963?ys=2025RS