# Maryland HB 0461: Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment Maryland HB 0461, Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Natalie Ziegler (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0461-2026RS - 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 0461 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-23 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543 - Sponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 11 - Subjects: Economic Development, Applicants and Applications, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Certifications, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Community Development, Disparity, Energy Technology and Infrastructure, Grants, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Interest, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Internet Access, Plans and Proposals, Procurement, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Rural Areas, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc, Treasurers, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Zoning and Planning - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (173 yes, 6 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Rural Maryland groups get training, priority: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, the Rural Maryland Council runs the Rural Readiness Program. Eligible groups include nonprofits, local governments, State‑recognized tribes, Maryland colleges, regional planning agencies, and economic or workforce groups. State government entities cannot apply. The Council se… - New rural Maryland planning grants, with limits: mixed, medium. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, the state creates a dedicated, nonlapsing Fund for rural planning grants run by the Rural Maryland Council. To apply, your organization must complete the Rural Readiness Program. Awards are competitive, and the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Christopher T. Adams (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kris Fair (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jefferson L. Ghrist (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kenneth Kerr (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Edith J. Patterson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lily Qi (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Pam Queen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sheree Sample-Hughes (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 | | | 2026-03-12 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 127 | 6 | 3 | ## Actions (11) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543 - 2026-04-07: Returned Passed (House) - 2026-04-06: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Referred Finance (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (127-6) (House) - 2026-03-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-03-10: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-01-28: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-01-23: First Reading Economic Matters (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_543_hb0461t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0461t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-23: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0461f.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_543_hb0461t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0461t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0461f.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-HB0461-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).