# Maryland HB 0238: Maryland Heritage Area Authority and Heritage Areas - Alterations Maryland HB 0238, Maryland Heritage Area Authority and Heritage Areas - Alterations, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 123) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0238-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland HB 0238 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Maryland Heritage Area Authority and Heritage Areas - Alterations - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-09-16 - Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 123 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Financial Institutions, State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Agriculture, Department of, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Boundaries, Education, State Department of, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Grants, Historical Matters -see also- Archives; Monumts; Museum; etc, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Maps and Charts, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Plans and Proposals, Public Officials -see also- Atty Gen; Compt; Coun Admin; etc, Voting -see also- Absentee and Mail-In Voting - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (148 yes, 30 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Simpler handling of heritage area maps: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Authority no longer has to file each boundary map with county clerks. This removes an extra paperwork step for the state and counties. - State agencies must back heritage areas: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, state officials must support planning, development, and education work in certified heritage areas. Agencies must consult and coordinate with the local management entity and follow the approved plan when practical. During historic‑preservation reviews, they must avoid har… - Heritage Area Authority adds members, higher quorum: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Superintendent of Schools join the Authority. One public appointee must have strong natural resource or climate resiliency expertise. The quorum to vote rises from nine to ten voting members. The first new public member serves th… - More grants and new loans for heritage areas: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Authority can make loans and give more types of grants for heritage projects. Recognized heritage areas qualify for plan grant help, and grants can fund plans and revitalization work. The law removes old 50% caps on some grants. The Authority can set any matching shar… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - (none) ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | 1 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 103 | 30 | 2 | ## Actions (12) - 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 123 - 2026-04-07: Returned Passed (House) - 2026-04-06: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Referred Finance (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (103-30) (House) - 2026-03-17: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-03-16: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-01-19: Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) (House) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Economic Matters and Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2025-09-16: Pre-filed (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_123_hb0238t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0238t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0238f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_123_hb0238t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0238t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0238f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0238-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).