MarylandHB 02432026 Regular SessionHouse

Land Use - Comprehensive and General Plans - Alteration of Elements

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Local Government - GenerallyAdministrative AgenciesAgriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc.Air PollutionAirportsAnimals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; LivestkAnnotated Code of MarylandApplicants and ApplicationsBicyclesBoats and ShipsBoundariesCensusChartered Counties -see also- AACo; BCo; CecilCo; etc.Civil Rights and Social EquityClimate ResiliencyCommerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc.Committees and CommissionsCommunity DevelopmentCommunity Facilities and ServicesCommutersConservation -see also- Soil ConservationCorrectional Institutions -see also- Patuxent InstitutionData -see also- Census; DemographicsDemographics -see also- Census; DataEducation -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc.Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqdEmergencies -see also- PandemicsEnvironment, Department of theEnvironmental HealthEnvironmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; PollutFire ProtectionFish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&DevFlood ControlForests and Parks -see also- MdNatlCapPkPlnCm; Plants; etc.Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.HighwaysHistorical Matters -see also- Archives; Monumts; Museum; etcHospitals -see also- Clinics; State HospitalsHousing and Community Development, Department ofHousing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf HomesHuman Infrastructure -see also- WLEIndustry and ManufacturingIntergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc.Labor, Department ofLaw Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State PoliceLegislative Services, Department ofLibraries -see also- ArchivesLocal Government MandatesLow-IncomeMaps and ChartsMass Transit -see also- Buses; RailroadsMunicipal Corporations -see also- Annap; BaltNatural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc.Natural Resources, Department ofPedestriansPlaces of Worship -see also- ReligionPlanning, Department ofPlans and ProposalsPrivate Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary SchPublic Buildings and Facilities -see also- Stadiums; St HsePublic Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary SchRacial Matters -see also- Ethnic Affairs; MinoritiesRailroadsReportsRevenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax)Rules and RegulationsSalaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. RatesSmart Growth -see also- Zoning and PlanningSports and RecreationStandards and Best PracticesState Highway AdministrationStudentsThreatsTransportation, Department ofTransportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etcWastewaterWater -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc.Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.Zoning and Planning

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

19 provisions identified: 18 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

State help and best practices for plans

Beginning October 1, 2026, a county planning commission can ask the Planning Department to coordinate state data and analysis help. The Department must issue guidelines and identify best practices for all required plan elements.

Equity and environmental justice in plans

Beginning October 1, 2026, local plans must address needs in overburdened and underserved communities. They must consider people who have been left out of planning and use the Commission on Environmental Justice’s annual report. The Planning Department provides demographic data, and the Environment Department provides environmental justice data. Plans may add strategies to grow civic engagement, cut health and environmental harms, and target improvements.

Local disaster and resilience planning

Beginning October 1, 2026, local plans must coordinate preparedness and identify threats. They must set long‑term ways to avoid, reduce, and recover from disasters and address mutual aid with state and local partners. Plans follow the State Resilience Strategy and the Maryland Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Planning Department provides population, economic, and housing data and helps share other data.

Planning better public spaces and places

Beginning October 1, 2026, local plans must design new or renewed public spaces. Goals include stronger community ties, better health, and cultural connections. Plans must also conserve resources, boost resilience, and support the local economy. The Planning Department provides population, economic, and housing data and helps share other data.

Stronger local transportation planning and data

Beginning October 1, 2026, local plans must build safe, balanced systems to move people and goods. Plans must cover roads, transit, rail, air, water, and terminals, and include bike and walking access. They must map where and when improvements are needed and estimate use, and they must align with land use. The Transportation Department provides the best state data and helps get federal data for this work.

Cities must consult counties on growth

Beginning October 1, 2026, a city must share its municipal growth section with its county before approval. The county has 30 days to comment. The parties must meet within 30 days after comments close. On request, they use mediation or conflict resolution. They may sign a joint planning agreement.

Ecology element protects air and water

Local plans must include an Ecology section that protects water, air, forests, farms, and mineral resources. It must protect historic and cultural sites and prime farmland, and be compatible with agriculture and forestry. Plans must identify a reliable water supply and any limits and aim to prevent resource damage from future development. They must consider greenhouse gases from added driving. Starting October 1, 2026, the state provides population, housing, and economic data and helps share other Ecology data to support this work.

Housing plans and fair housing checks

Local plans must show how they will provide enough housing now and in the future. They must describe the housing stock, address substandard homes, and set sites for future housing, including affordable, workforce, and low‑income homes. State Planning and Housing agencies provide the best available housing data. Any housing element enacted or updated on or after January 1, 2023 must include a fair housing assessment; county housing elements adopted or changed on or after January 1, 2025 must do the same. On request, the state gives technical help to write these housing sections.

Localities must adopt modern plans

Beginning October 1, 2026, every local government must keep a comprehensive plan with eight core parts: land, housing, transportation, economy, equity, resilience, place, and ecology. Plans must state goals, policies, standards, and the steps to carry them out. Planning commissions choose the format but must cover all required topics. In growth areas, plans must support flexible site design and speed up permit and subdivision reviews. A city can join a county plan by passing a resolution that the county approves.

New rules apply to future plans

Beginning October 1, 2026, the law applies only to plan work that starts on or after that date. If a county or city began changing its comprehensive plan before October 1, 2026, this law does not affect that pending process.

Plan for drinking water and wastewater

Starting October 1, 2026, plans must include a Water Resources section. It identifies drinking water for existing and future growth and names waters and land for stormwater and wastewater treatment and disposal. The section uses data from the Department of the Environment. The Department gives technical help on request and reviews this section for consistency before adoption.

Plan where growth and services go

The land section maps where homes, jobs, farms, parks, and public buildings go. It must include a future schedule for community facilities like schools, police, fire, parks, libraries, and other services. If a plan covers a city or town, it must add a municipal growth section that shows future growth areas, needed water and sewer, school capacity, and stormwater to protect water quality. It must list how growth will be paid for and which burdens fall on the municipality. The Department of Planning provides population and land‑use data to support this work.

Protect sensitive areas and wildlife

Starting October 1, 2026, plans must include a Sensitive Areas section with goals and standards to protect these lands and waters. Local governments must consider wildlife movement and habitat connections when making or changing plans. The state provides a statewide forest inventory at least every five years. Planning, Natural Resources, and the State Highway Administration share updated maps of habitat links and wildlife crossings. Before a plan is adopted, Environment and Natural Resources review the Sensitive Areas section for consistency with state programs.

Protect working waterfronts for fisheries

In jurisdictions on tidal waters, plans must add a Fisheries section. It designates areas to load, process, dock, and moor commercial fishing boats near the water. Sites must support harvesting and keep reasonable access for commercial watermen.

Smarter land use and faster reviews

Beginning October 1, 2026, plans must show where homes, jobs, farms, parks, and public buildings belong. They set growth patterns that protect natural and historic resources and support service delivery. A community facilities section maps sites and service areas for schools, parks, libraries, public safety, and more. Plans promote flexible rules and innovative, cost‑saving site design. In growth areas, they promote economic development and streamline permit and subdivision reviews. The Planning Department provides Census population and demographic data and helps share other land‑use data.

Transportation plans with safe choices

The Transportation section plans a safe, balanced system for people and goods. It includes roads, transit, bike and pedestrian routes, and estimates how improvements will be used. It must fit with the Land section to serve existing and planned development. The state Transportation Department provides data and helps share other needed information.

Updated ecology planning options in 2026

Beginning October 1, 2026, the Ecology section may list natural and historic resources. It may explain issues and opportunities for those resources. It may include strategies and policies to use, preserve, and protect them.

Better local economy and jobs planning

Beginning October 1, 2026, local plans must analyze the economic base and workforce. They must list the types of businesses they want and link jobs with housing, transport, population, land use, and services. The Planning Department provides Census economic data and helps share other data. Commerce provides state economic data, and the Labor Department provides state labor force data.

Plan for mineral extraction areas

When current geological data exists, plans must include a Mineral Resources section. It marks land to keep undeveloped to protect mineral supply and suggests post‑excavation uses. It sets policies to balance extraction with other land uses. The Department of the Environment reviews this section before the plan is adopted.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 131 • No: 46

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 37 • No: 7 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/12/2026