Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB300: Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment
Status: Passed one chamber, April 8, 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 engrossed text, March 3, 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) EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. Underlining indicates amendments to bill. Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by amendment. *sb0300* SENATE BILL 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 …
Sponsors
- Katie Hester (D, SD-009) · primary sponsor
- Jason Gallion (R, SD-035)
- Dawn Gile (D, 33)
- Chris West (R, 42)
- Shaneka Henson (D, 30)
- Benjamin Brooks (D, 10)
- Mary Carozza (R, SD-038)
- Stephen Hershey (R, SD-036)
Latest actions
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Economic Matters
- : Referred Economic Matters
- : Third Reading Passed (43-0)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {953929/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
- : Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m.
- : First Reading Finance
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (43-0) (March 5, 2026): 43 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB300?
- SB300 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment.
- What does SB300 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 SB300?
- Passed one chamber as of April 8, 2026. Latest action: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (April 8, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB300?
- Katie Hester (D, SD-009), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB300?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0300?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.