# Maryland HB 1581: Economic Development - Horse Racing Facilities, Prince George's County Blue Line Corridor Facilities, and Bus Rapid Transit - Alterations

Maryland HB 1581, Economic Development - Horse Racing Facilities, Prince George's County Blue Line Corridor Facilities, and Bus Rapid Transit - Alterations, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Barry Beauchamp (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 376) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1581-2026RS
- 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 1581
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Economic Development - Horse Racing Facilities, Prince George's County Blue Line Corridor Facilities, and Bus Rapid Transit - Alterations
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-13
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 376
- Sponsor: Barry Beauchamp (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: Horse Racing, Gaming, Economic Development, Annotated Code of Maryland, Appropriations, Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Bonds -see also- County & Baltimore City Bonds; State Bonds, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Buses -see also- School Buses, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Commercial Rehabilitation -see also- EnterprZon; UrbRen, Committees and Commissions, Community Development, Comptroller, Construction, Corporations -see also- Municipal Corps; Public Corps & Inst, Disclosure, Enterprise Zones, Ethics, Grants, Horses, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Howard County, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Mass Transit -see also- Buses; Railroads, Montgomery County, Nonprofit Organizations, Notices, Prince George's County, Public Buildings and Facilities -see also- Stadiums; St Hse, Racing, Railroads, Retail Sales, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Sports and Recreation, Stadium Authority, Technology -see also- AeroT; BioT; EnergyT; InfoT; MedT; etc, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc, Zoning and Planning
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (244 yes, 64 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More rapid bus funding for two counties: benefit, medium. The law creates a Bus Rapid Transit Fund for Montgomery and Howard Counties. The Governor provides $10 million in FY2026 and $12 million in FY2027 and every year after. Starting in FY2027, the State also pays yearly grants of $27 million to Montgomery County and $2 million to Howard County when mon…
- Racing money: community share and backstop: benefit, medium. Starting with the first full year at the rebuilt Pimlico, the operator must pay 10% of its annual net income to the Pimlico Community Development Authority. The 10% is figured after subtracting purse‑account contributions and any past losses carried forward. If the operator reports an annual operat…
- Backstretch housing upgrades at Laurel Park: benefit, low. For FY2028, the Governor provides $5 million for backstretch housing at Laurel Park. The Stadium Authority must use it to buy, build, fix, and equip the housing. This funding targets racetrack workers who live on the backstretch.
- Maryland Sports office and event foundations: benefit, low. The law creates a Maryland Sports office inside the Stadium Authority. The Authority may set up affiliated nonprofit foundations to recruit and promote events, get sponsors, and do research. The Authority may grant up to $500,000 a year in its nonbudgeted money to these foundations after budget com…
- Blue Line Corridor projects and debt cap: mixed, medium. The law updates where the Blue Line Corridor can be set and which parcels qualify. It adds market halls, sports‑related sites, mixed‑use, tech centers, and parking as eligible projects. Starting in FY2027 and while corridor bonds are unpaid, the Comptroller deposits up to $29 million a year from th…
- New rules to run Pimlico racing: mixed, low. The Maryland Stadium Authority takes over racetrack duties and assets within 45 days of the law taking effect. The racetrack operator must be a Maryland not‑for‑profit and pay for a full‑time auditor. The long‑term deal must keep the Preakness at Pimlico after the rebuild and require first‑class op…
- When these changes take effect: mixed, low. Most of the law takes effect July 1, 2026. Sections 2 and 3 take effect July 1, 2027.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Barry Beauchamp (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrea Fletcher Harrison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julian Ivey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Malcolm P. Ruff (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Emily Shetty (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Karen Toles (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 103 | 33 | 4 |
| 2026-03-21 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 94 | 31 | 8 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 376
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (103-33) (House)
- 2026-04-13: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (47-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {833521/1 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. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-03-21: Third Reading Passed (94-31) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {983027/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations (House)
- 2026-02-13: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-13: First Reading Appropriations (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_376_hb1581e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1581e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1581t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1581f.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_376_hb1581e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1581e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1581t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1581f.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-HB1581-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).