Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB461: Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Establishing the Rural Readiness Program administered by the Rural Maryland Council to provide assistance to rural communities to enhance their capacity for economic development; requiring priority to be given when making certain grants to entities that have completed the Rural Readiness Program; and establishing the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to be administered by the Council to provide grants to support collaborative planning and capacity building initiatives that address the needs of rural communities.
What the bill says
An act concerning Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment FOR the purpose of establishing the Rural Readiness Program administered by the Rural Maryland Council to provide assistance to rural communities to enhance their capacity for economic development; requiring priority to be given when making certain grants to entities that have completed the Rural Readiness Program…
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment FOR the purpose of establishing the Rural Readiness Program administered by the Rural Maryland Council to provide assistance to rural communities to enhance their capacity for economic development; requiring priority to be given when making certain grants to entities that have completed the Rural Readiness Program; establishing the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to be administered by the Council to provide grants to support certain planning and capacity building initiatives; and generally relating to rural communities. BY renumbering Article - Economic Development Section 13-416 to be Section 13-417 Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Economic Development Section 13-401 Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Economic Development Section 13-416 Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 2-206(e)(1) and 2-207(c)(1) and (g)(2)(i) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 2-206(e)(5) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) Ch. 543 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND BY …
Sponsors
- Natalie Ziegler (D, 9A) · primary sponsor
- Christopher Adams (R, HD-037B)
- Dylan Behler (D, 30A)
- Kris Fair (D, 3)
- Linda Foley (D, 15)
- Jeff Ghrist (R, HD-036)
- Michele Guyton (D, 42B)
- Ken Kerr (D, HD-003B)
- Edith Patterson (D, HD-028)
- Lily Qi (D, 15)
- Pamela Queen (D, 14)
- Sheree Sample-Hughes (D, 37A)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543
- : Returned Passed
- : Third Reading Passed (46-0)
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Finance
- : Referred Finance
- : Third Reading Passed (127-6)
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Economic Matters
- : Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (46-0) (April 6, 2026): 46 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (127-6) (March 12, 2026): 127 yea, 6 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB461?
- HB461 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment.
- What does HB461 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment FOR the purpose of establishing the Rural Readiness Program administered by the Rural Maryland Council to provide assistance to rural communities to enhance their capacity for economic development; requiring priority to be given when making certain grants to entities that have completed the Rural Readiness Program…
- What is the status of HB461?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543 (May 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB461?
- Natalie Ziegler (D, 9A), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB461?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0461?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.