# Maryland HB 0243: Land Use - Comprehensive and General Plans - Alteration of Elements Maryland HB 0243, Land Use - Comprehensive and General Plans - Alteration of Elements, 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 110) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0243-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland HB 0243 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Land Use - Comprehensive and General Plans - Alteration of Elements - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-09-16 - Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 110 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Local Government - Generally, Administrative Agencies, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Air Pollution, Airports, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Annotated Code of Maryland, Applicants and Applications, Bicycles, Boats and Ships, Boundaries, Census, Chartered Counties -see also- AACo; BCo; CecilCo; etc., Civil Rights and Social Equity, Climate Resiliency, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Community Development, Community Facilities and Services, Commuters, Conservation -see also- Soil Conservation, Correctional Institutions -see also- Patuxent Institution, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Demographics -see also- Census; Data, Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqd, Emergencies -see also- Pandemics, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Health, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Fire Protection, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, Flood Control, Forests and Parks -see also- MdNatlCapPkPlnCm; Plants; etc., Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Highways, Historical Matters -see also- Archives; Monumts; Museum; etc, Hospitals -see also- Clinics; State Hospitals, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Human Infrastructure -see also- WLE, Industry and Manufacturing, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Labor, Department of, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Legislative Services, Department of, Libraries -see also- Archives, Local Government Mandates, Low-Income, Maps and Charts, Mass Transit -see also- Buses; Railroads, Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Pedestrians, Places of Worship -see also- Religion, Planning, Department of, Plans and Proposals, Private Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Public Buildings and Facilities -see also- Stadiums; St Hse, Public Schools -see also- Primary Schools; Secondary Sch, Racial Matters -see also- Ethnic Affairs; Minorities, Railroads, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Rules and Regulations, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Smart Growth -see also- Zoning and Planning, Sports and Recreation, Standards and Best Practices, State Highway Administration, Students, Threats, Transportation, Department of, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc, Wastewater, Water -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc., Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Zoning and Planning - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (131 yes, 46 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 19 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - State help and best practices for plans: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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… - Local disaster and resilience planning: benefit, low. 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 Pla… - Planning better public spaces and places: benefit, low. 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… - Stronger local transportation planning and data: benefit, low. 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 l… - Cities must consult counties on growth: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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… - Housing plans and fair housing checks: benefit, low. 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… - Localities must adopt modern plans: benefit, low. 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 forma… - New rules apply to future plans: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 tech… - Plan where growth and services go: benefit, low. 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 grow… - Protect sensitive areas and wildlife: benefit, low. 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… - Protect working waterfronts for fisheries: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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, publ… - Transportation plans with safe choices: benefit, low. 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 provid… - Updated ecology planning options in 2026: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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… - Plan for mineral extraction areas: mixed, low. 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 bef… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - (none) ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 37 | 7 | 1 | | 2026-03-12 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 94 | 39 | 3 | ## Actions (14) - 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 110 - 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (37-7) (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-03: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (94-39) (House) - 2026-03-11: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-11: Favorable with Amendments {153929/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-01-19: Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Economic Matters (House) - 2025-09-16: Pre-filed (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_110_hb0243t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0243t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0243f.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_110_hb0243t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0243t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0243f.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-HB0243-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).