# Maryland HB 1267: Patuxent Research Refuge and Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - Zoning Classification (Protecting Patuxent Research Refuge Act)

Maryland HB 1267, Patuxent Research Refuge and Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - Zoning Classification (Protecting Patuxent Research Refuge Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mary A. Lehman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 541) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1267-2026RS
- 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 1267
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Patuxent Research Refuge and Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - Zoning Classification (Protecting Patuxent Research Refuge Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-12
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 541
- Sponsor: Mary A. Lehman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Subjects: Local Government - Generally, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Anne Arundel County, Boundaries, Chartered Counties -see also- AACo; BCo; CecilCo; etc., Classifications and Designations, Conservation -see also- Soil Conservation, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., County Councils, Environment, Department of the, Federal Government, Forests and Parks -see also- MdNatlCapPkPlnCm; Plants; etc., Hearings, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Leases and Rent, Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Prince George's County, Program Open Space, Real Estate -see also- Agents and Brokers, Wetlands, Zoning and Planning
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (170 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Conservation zoning for Beltsville USDA land: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, the district council keeps the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and nearby USDA land zoned as open space. Commercial, industrial, and residential uses are not allowed, even after a sale, lease, or other transfer. Central natural areas cannot be converted to farming, a…
- Stronger open-space rules at Patuxent: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, local zoning keeps all Patuxent Research Refuge land in open‑space or resource‑conservation zones. Commercial, industrial, and residential uses are not allowed, even after a sale, lease, or other transfer. Central natural areas cannot be converted to farming, active recreati…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mary A. Lehman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ben Barnes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: J. Sandy Bartlett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian Boafo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mark S. Chang (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Rogers (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kym Taylor (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 123 | 7 | 6 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 541
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (47-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-24: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (123-7) (House)
- 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments {773926/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-02-17: Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) (House)
- 2026-02-12: First Reading Economic Matters and Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_541_hb1267t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1267t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1267f.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_541_hb1267t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1267t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1267f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1267-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).