Bill > SB226

This bill makes several changes to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, which is responsible for designating and supporting heritage areas across the state. Key provisions include increasing the number of voting members required for a quorum from nine to ten, thereby requiring more members to be present for official business to be conducted. It also expands the composition of the Authority by adding the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Superintendent of Schools as voting members, and introduces a new appointed member with expertise in natural resource stewardship or climate resiliency, while removing a member who was previously a public member of the Maryland Greenways Commission. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for the Authority to send copies of heritage area boundary maps to county clerks, as these maps will now be kept on file at the Authority itself. The bill also clarifies that the Authority may award grants and loans for various purposes related to heritage areas, including the development of management plans and the encouragement of revitalization and reinvestment, and allows the Authority to require matching funds for these grants. Finally, it specifies that the initial term for the new member with natural resource stewardship or climate resiliency expertise will align with the remainder of the term of the former Maryland Greenways Commission member.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Finance (Senate)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0226?ys=2026RS