# Maryland HB 0898: Economic Development - Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act Maryland HB 0898, Economic Development - Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Nick Allen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 352); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0898-2026RS - 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 0898 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Economic Development - Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-04 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 352 - Sponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 41 - Subjects: Economic Development, Taxes - Income, Taxes - Property, Allegany County, Annotated Code of Maryland, Appropriations, Armed Forces and Uniformed Services, Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Auditors and Audits, Biotechnology, Bonds -see also- County & Baltimore City Bonds; State Bonds, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Commerce, Department of, Community Development, Comptroller, Corporations -see also- Municipal Corps; Public Corps & Inst, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Digital Products -see also- Digital Images, Disabilities, Disclosure, Dorchester County, Electronic Government, Enterprise Zones, Evaluations and Reviews, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Financial Institutions -see also- Banks; Credit Unions; etc., Forms, Garrett County, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, Goods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGds, Governor, Grants, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Income Tax, Information Technology, Interest, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Investments -see also- Securities, Legislative Policy Committee, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Minority Business Enterprises, Minorities, Names, Nonprofit Organizations, Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Pilot Programs, Plans and Proposals, Procurement, Public Corporations and Instrumentalities -see also- HBE, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Small Business, Somerset County, Sunset, Tax Credits, Technology -see also- AeroT; BioT; EnergyT; InfoT; MedT; etc, Treasurers, Women -see also- Gender, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (277 yes, 34 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 22 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - RISE zone property credit and fee waiver: benefit, high. Starting July 1, 2026, certified businesses in a RISE zone can stack the zone’s property credit with an enterprise‑zone or focus‑area credit. Your total credits cannot be more than 100% of the property tax that would otherwise be due, and normal credit time limits still apply. Beginning in fiscal y… - Hiring and income tax credits in RISE zones: benefit, high. Certified businesses in RISE zones can qualify for tax credits. Standard wage credits are up to $3,000 per economically disadvantaged employee and up to $1,000 per other qualified employee. Enhanced wage credits in focus areas are up to $4,500 and $1,500 per employee. Do not count hires who replace… - Security facility and clearance tax credits: benefit, high. For tax years starting after December 31, 2022 and before January 1, 2033, employers with 500 or fewer employees can claim State credits for security costs. You can claim up to $200,000 for security‑clearance administrative costs. You can claim up to $200,000 for first‑year rent if your small busin… - Sales tax break for affiliated companies: benefit, high. Sales and use tax does not apply when a vendor and buyer are in the same affiliated group for certain listed taxable services and for digital codes or digital products. The law uses federal affiliated‑group rules (Internal Revenue Code §1504 and related party rules), including treatment for S corpo… - More capital for small, minority businesses: benefit, medium. Commerce gives grants to experienced fund managers to invest in small, minority, and women‑owned businesses. Help can be a loan or a grant up to $10,000 when paired with a loan. At least 50% of Account funds (not SEIF money) go to businesses near video lottery facilities. The Department must approv… - New state small business financing hub: benefit, medium. The law creates the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority to run financing programs for small firms. It sets up a special, nonlapsing Fund that the State Treasurer invests and that keeps its earnings. The Fund can receive fees, loan repayments, collateral sale proceeds, State and… - RISE zones: help for new businesses: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, a qualified institution and a local government can apply to designate a RISE zone up to 500 acres; the Corporation decides within 120 days and must notify lawmakers 45 days before the decision. A zone lasts 10 years and can be renewed for another 10 years. Businesses in RISE… - Bigger MEDA help and faster approvals: benefit, medium. The MEDA Fund can make larger awards. Loans or investments can be up to $7,500,000. Grants can be up to $5,000,000. Local government or Corporation projects can get up to $5,000,000. For Tier I county projects, the Department sets the amount. The Secretary can approve awards up to $5,000,000, and m… - Public database on jobs and incentives: benefit, low. Commerce maintains a public, downloadable database updated each year on economic development programs. It lists jobs created and kept, pay ranges, benefits, training, State revenue estimates, fund statuses, minority‑business assistance, and recapture actions. By December 1, 2029, the Department rep… - R&D tax credit approvals end after 2030: cost, high. The Department stops approving R&D tax credits for taxable years that begin after December 31, 2030. If you use a fiscal year, you may apply only for a prorated credit for the part of your year in 2030. - Cap on RISE zones per county: cost, medium. A county or municipal corporation can have up to 3 RISE zones. Baltimore City can have up to 4. One extra extraordinary zone may be approved for a jurisdiction if the Secretary decides it promotes quantum computing. - Property tax breaks in RISE and enterprise zones: mixed, high. Starting July 1, 2026, zone property credits follow clear rules. In enterprise zones, the credit is 80% of the tax on the eligible assessment for years 1–5. In focus areas, the credit is 100% for years 1–5. If a RISE zone is renewed, properties get at least 10% for years 6–10. A property can claim… - Build Our Future grants require big match: mixed, high. The Corporation runs Build Our Future grants for innovation infrastructure in sectors like advanced manufacturing, AI, biotech, quantum, cyber, and more. Awards can be up to $2,000,000 per entity each fiscal year. You must match at least 200% for grants up to $1,000,000, and 400% for grants over $1… - More capital and bonds for small businesses: mixed, high. The law raises help for small businesses. Loans and guaranties can go up to $3,000,000 each. Equity investments can be up to $3,000,000, with recovery expected within seven years. Surety guarantees can cover up to 90% of a loss or $3,000,000, and individual bonds can be up to $5,000,000. You no lon… - Film tax credit: flexible filings, $30M cap: mixed, high. A film production can amend its credit application if an independent auditor confirms the budget changed by 50% or more. The Secretary reviews the amended filing and any award depends on credits available that year. For fiscal years 2027–2030, a single production can receive at most $30 million in… - Rules for small business loans and guarantees: mixed, medium. The Authority can guarantee up to 80% of principal and interest on long‑term loans. An investor’s equity guaranty is capped at the lesser of 10% of their investment or $250,000. To qualify, an individual must be a Maryland resident or have their main business here, be of good character, and be unab… - Reserve fund reshaped, earnings shifted: mixed, medium. The State Reserve Fund now includes the Dedicated Purpose, Revenue Stabilization, Strategic Closing, and Catastrophic Event accounts. Investment earnings from the Strategic Closing Fund go to the State General Fund, and the Fund is invested like other State funds. This can add money to the General… - Key program start and end dates: mixed, medium. The RISE Part ends on January 1, 2030. Existing businesses keep benefits only until their zone’s original end date. The Build Our Future Grant Program ends on June 30, 2030. A separate tax subtitle and its credit now end on January 1, 2032, with carryforward and recapture rules. Section 4 applies t… - Strategic Closing Fund aid and oversight: mixed, medium. The Fund can loan, grant, or invest to retain, expand, or attract businesses and institutions, or to fill gaps other programs cannot. Before money goes out, Commerce must submit detailed plans, job and wage estimates, and a net‑benefits analysis; the Legislative Policy Committee has 60 days and mus… - Strategic Closing Fund refocused with guardrails: mixed, medium. The law creates the Strategic Closing Fund as a nonlapsing fund at Commerce. The Governor can put money into it and loan repayments stay in the fund. To qualify, an applicant must be financially strong, low credit risk, able to get other financing, fit the State’s plan, and create or keep many jobs… - Program start dates and leadership setup: mixed, low. The Executive Director is the Authority’s chief administrator and runs daily operations with the Secretary’s approval. Duties include supervising operations, attending meetings, keeping minutes, and approving payroll and allowable expenses. Most of the Act takes effect June 1, 2026, except Sections… - New tools and admin updates at Commerce: mixed, low. Commerce now shares the economic development block grant program with Housing. The Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program is removed from Commerce’s list. MEDC can use money meant for grants to buy equity in qualified businesses. This gives the state another way to back companies. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Marlon Amprey (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Harry Bhandari (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Adrian Boafo (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Derrick Coley (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mark Edelson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Diana M. Fennell (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mike Griffith (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Andrea Fletcher Harrison (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Terri L. Hill (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kevin B. Hornberger (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Julian Ivey (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Gabriel M. Moreno (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Cheryl E. Pasteur (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Edith J. Patterson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: N. Scott Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Andrew C. Pruski (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lily Qi (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Denise Roberts (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mike Rogers (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kim Ross (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Malcolm P. Ruff (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Gary Simmons (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jared Solomon (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ryan Spiegel (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Deni Taveras (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kym Taylor (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chris Tomlinson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Veronica Turner (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Courtney Watson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Greg Wims (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chao Wu (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 1 | | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 113 | 23 | 4 | | 2026-03-21 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 118 | 10 | 7 | ## Actions (17) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 352 - 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (House) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (113-23) (House) - 2026-04-13: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (46-1) (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Favorable with Amendments {353620/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (Budget and Taxation) (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Referred Budget and Taxation Finance (Senate) - 2026-03-21: Third Reading Passed (118-10) (House) - 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {663424/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means (House) - 2026-02-06: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means) (House) - 2026-02-06: Reassigned to Ways and Means Economic Matters (House) - 2026-02-04: First Reading Economic Matters (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_352_hb0898e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0898e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0898t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0898f.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_352_hb0898e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0898e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0898t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0898f.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-HB0898-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).