Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB383: Municipalities - Limiting Access to Beaches - Prohibition
Status: Failed, March 9, 2026
Prohibiting a municipality from limiting access to the area of a beach that is above the mean high tide, affected by the regular rise and fall of the tide, to residents of the municipality; and applying the Act only to a beach in the State that is owned by a municipality.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Municipalities - Limiting Access to Beaches - Prohibition FOR the purpose of prohibiting a municipality from limiting access to a certain area of a beach to residents of the municipality; and generally relating to restricting access to municipal beaches. BY adding to Article - Local Government Section 4-112 Annotated Code of Maryland (2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement).
From the introduced text, January 21, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Municipalities - Limiting Access to Beaches - Prohibition FOR the purpose of prohibiting a municipality from limiting access to a certain area of a beach to residents of the municipality; and generally relating to restricting access to municipal beaches. BY adding to Article - Local Government Section 4-112 Annotated Code of Maryland (2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Local Government 4-112. (A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A BEACH IN THE STATE THAT IS OWNED BY A MUNICIPALITY. (B) A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT LIMIT ACCESS TO THE AREA OF A BEACH THAT IS ABOVE THE MEAN HIGH TIDE, AFFECTED BY THE REGULAR RISE AND FALL OF THE TIDE, SOLELY TO RESIDENTS OF THE MUNICIPALITY. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2026. EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb0383*
Sponsors
- Jeffrie Long (D, HD-027) · primary sponsor
- Tiffany Alston (D, HD-024)
- Marc Korman (D, 16)
Latest actions
- : Withdrawn by Sponsor
- : First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
Common questions
- What is HB383?
- HB383 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Municipalities - Limiting Access to Beaches - Prohibition.
- What does HB383 do?
- In its own words: A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Municipalities - Limiting Access to Beaches - Prohibition FOR the purpose of prohibiting a municipality from limiting access to a certain area of a beach to residents of the municipality; and generally relating to restricting access to municipal beaches. BY adding to Article - Local Government Section 4-112 Annotated Code of Maryland (2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement).
- What is the status of HB383?
- Failed as of March 9, 2026. Latest action: Withdrawn by Sponsor (March 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB383?
- Jeffrie Long (D, HD-027), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB383?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0383?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.