# Maryland HB 0654: Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants

Maryland HB 0654, Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dylan Behler (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0654-2026RS
- 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 0654
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276
- Sponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Committees and Commissions, Community Facilities and Services, Financial Institutions -see also- Banks; Credit Unions; etc., Grants, Historical Matters -see also- Archives; Monumts; Museum; etc, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Program Open Space, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax)
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (171 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Higher funding cap for heritage projects: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland raises a heritage funding transfer cap from $3 million to $9 million. This money comes from the State’s share of recreation and open-space funds. A separate transfer of up to $3 million remains available. Transfers require approval through the State budget or a budg…
- Heritage management projects lose funding eligibility: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority cannot award grants or loans for standalone certified heritage area management projects. Grants to develop management plans in recognized heritage areas remain allowed. Awards must be authorized in the State budget and follow the Authori…
- Preservation grants lose one funding source: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law ends one funding route for Maryland Historical Trust grants that do not fund construction or property purchases. Previously, up to $300,000 could come from Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. This removes that funding source…
- Flexible heritage grants with possible matching: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law removes statutory grant limits for management plans, property purchases or development, and interpretation or revitalization projects. This includes the 50% cost limit for management-plan grants. Property purchase and development grants no longer must follow an appro…
- New limits on heritage agency overhead: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the operating-cost limit changes for Program Open Space money transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. The old limit was 10% of transferred funds. The new limit is 7% or $600,000, whichever is greater. Depending on the transfer amount, this allows more or less o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jim Hinebaugh (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jay A. Jacobs (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Stein (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Todd B. Morgan (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 125 | 9 | 2 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Rereferred to Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Referred Rules (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (125-9) (House)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments {323029/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-02: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_276_hb0654t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0654t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0654f.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_276_hb0654t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0654t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0654f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0654-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).