Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB638: Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants
Status: Signed into law, April 28, 2026
Authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award grants and loans to local jurisdictions to develop certain management plans and encourage revitalization of and reinvestment in certified heritage area resources; decreasing from 10% to 7% or $600,000, whichever is greater, of Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund that may be used for certain operating expenses; and increasing from $3,000,000 to $9,000,000 the maximum amount of funding that may be transferred to the Fund.
What the bill says
An act concerning Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants FOR the purpose of authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award certain grants and loans to certain entities for the management of certified heritage areas under certain circumstances; repealing limits on the percentage of project costs that may be covered by certain grants made by the Authority for certain purposes in a certain manner; repealing certain requirements for certain grants and loans…
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants FOR the purpose of authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award certain grants and loans to certain entities for the management of certified heritage areas under certain circumstances; repealing limits on the percentage of project costs that may be covered by certain grants made by the Authority for certain purposes in a certain manner; repealing certain requirements for certain grants and loans; decreasing the percentage of Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund that may be used for certain operating expenses; repealing a provision of law authorizing the distribution of certain money to the Maryland Historical Trust; increasing the maximum amount of certain funding available to the State that may be transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund; and generally relating to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Financial Institutions Section 13-1113 and 13-1114 Annotated Code of Maryland (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 5-903(a)(1) and (2)(i) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 5-903(a)(1) and (2)(i) and (iv) Section 5-903(a)(2)(iv) Annotated Code of Maryland …