Maryland HB1598: Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations

What the bill says

An act concerning Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations FOR the purpose of authorizing, rather than requiring, a certain racing licensee to receive a grant for a capital construction plan from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account without providing and expending a matching fund; requiring the racing licensee that receives the grant without providing and expending a matching fund to conduct live racing in the State for a certain number of years…

From the enrolled text, May 18, 2026:

AN ACT concerning Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations FOR the purpose of authorizing, rather than requiring, a certain racing licensee to receive a grant for a capital construction plan from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account without providing and expending a matching fund; requiring the racing licensee that receives the grant without providing and expending a matching fund to conduct live racing in the State for a certain number of years; requiring the State Racing Commission to recapture certain grant funds under certain circumstances and in a certain manner; altering the amount of the balance in the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account that is required to be made available to certain racing licensees if certain racetracks are closed and no longer used for live racing; and generally relating to grants from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account. BY renumbering Article - State Government Section 9-1A-01(w-1) and (w-2) to be Section 9-1A-01(w-2) and (w-3), respectively Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - State Government Section 9-1A-01(a) and 9-1A-29(a) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - State Government Section 9-1A-01(w-1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - State Government Section …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Aletheia McCaskill (D, 44B) · primary sponsor
• Karen Toles (D, 25)

Latest actions

1. May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 382
2. April 13, 2026: Returned Passed
3. April 13, 2026: Third Reading Passed (46-0)
4. April 13, 2026: Second Reading Passed
5. April 13, 2026: Favorable Adopted
6. April 13, 2026: Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation
7. April 13, 2026: Rereferred to Budget and Taxation
8. April 10, 2026: Referred Rules
9. April 9, 2026: Third Reading Passed (127-6)
10. April 9, 2026: Second Reading Passed with Amendments

Votes

• Third Reading Passed (46-0) (April 13, 2026): 46 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Third Reading Passed (127-6) (April 9, 2026): 127 yea, 6 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB1598?

HB1598 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations.

What does HB1598 do?

In its own words: An act concerning Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations FOR the purpose of authorizing, rather than requiring, a certain racing licensee to receive a grant for a capital construction plan from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account without providing and expending a matching fund; requiring the racing licensee that receives the grant without providing and expending a matching fund to conduct live racing in the State for a certain number of years…

What is the status of HB1598?

Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 382 (May 12, 2026).

Who sponsored HB1598?

Aletheia McCaskill (D, 44B), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for HB1598?

On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1598?ys=2026RS