Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB524: General Provisions - Commemorative Months - African Heritage Month
Status: In committee, February 16, 2026
Requiring the Governor annually to proclaim the month of September as African Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions that African Americans have made to the State; and requiring the proclamation to urge certain organizations to observe the month with certain programs and activities.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning General Provisions - Commemorative Months - African Heritage Month FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim a certain month as African Heritage Month; requiring the proclamation to urge certain organizations to observe the month with certain programs and activities; and generally relating to African Heritage Month…
From the introduced text, January 27, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning General Provisions - Commemorative Months - African Heritage Month FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim a certain month as African Heritage Month; requiring the proclamation to urge certain organizations to observe the month with certain programs and activities; and generally relating to African Heritage Month. BY renumbering Article - General Provisions Section 7-505 through 7-507 to be Section 7-506 through 7-508, respectively Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - General Provisions Section 7-505 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That Section(s) 7-505 through 7-507 of Article - General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 7-506 through 7-508, respectively. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - General Provisions EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb0524* HOUSE BILL 7-505. (A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHALL PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE STATE. (B) THE PROCLAMATION SHALL URGE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH …
Sponsors
- Bernice Mireku-North (D, 14) · primary sponsor
- Gabriel Acevero (D, 39)
- Adrian Boafo (D, 23)
- Christopher Bouchat (R, HD-005)
- Regina Boyce (D, HD-043)
- Coley, Derrick (D, 24)
- Mark Edelson (D, 46)
- Kris Fair (D, 3)
- Jessica Feldmark (D, 12A)
- David Fraser-Hidalgo (D, 15)
- Marvin Holmes (D, HD-023B)
- Anne Kaiser (D, HD-014)
Latest actions
- : Hearing 3/17 at 1:00 p.m.
- : First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
Common questions
- What is HB524?
- HB524 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): General Provisions - Commemorative Months - African Heritage Month.
- What does HB524 do?
- In its own words: A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning General Provisions - Commemorative Months - African Heritage Month FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim a certain month as African Heritage Month; requiring the proclamation to urge certain organizations to observe the month with certain programs and activities; and generally relating to African Heritage Month…
- What is the status of HB524?
- In committee as of February 16, 2026. Latest action: Hearing 3/17 at 1:00 p.m. (February 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB524?
- Bernice Mireku-North (D, 14), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB524?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0524?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.