# Maryland HB 1598: Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations Maryland HB 1598, Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Aletheia McCaskill (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 382) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1598-2026RS - 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 1598 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Horse Racing - Racetrack Facility Renewal Account Grants - Alterations - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-16 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 382 - Sponsor: Aletheia McCaskill (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Horse Racing, Certifications, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Construction, Grants, Horses, Racing, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax) - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (173 yes, 6 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Funds shift if a track closes: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, if Rosecroft or Ocean Downs closes and stops live racing, 75% of that track’s unencumbered fund balance, including interest, moves to the other track’s share. This protects available money for the remaining live racing operation. - Racetrack upgrade grants with new rules: mixed, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland racing licensees can get grants for capital construction and track upgrades. To qualify, you must submit a capital construction plan and a multiyear plan with goals, timelines, marketing steps, and a master plan that updates spending since January 1, 2018. In each y… - Tougher oversight and payback on grants: mixed, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, the State Racing Commission monitors approved construction plans with the Department of General Services and, on request, certifies when a plan is complete. The Commission issues rules on eligible improvements, how funds are split between Rosecroft and Ocean Downs, and how g… - Operating help and Rosecroft worker rules: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Ocean Downs and Rosecroft licensees may apply to the Secretary of Labor to be reimbursed for costs to run their annual live racing schedule. For Rosecroft, operating assistance comes with worker rules: the licensee must rehire workers who were employed before June 27, 2008,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Aletheia McCaskill (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 | 46 | 0 | 1 | | 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 127 | 6 | 3 | ## Actions (17) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 382 - 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 (127-6) (House) - 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments {863526/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations (House) - 2026-03-18: Hearing 3/18 at 12:45 p.m. (House) - 2026-03-18: Hearing canceled (House) - 2026-03-10: Hearing 3/18 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-03-10: Rereferred to Appropriations (House) - 2026-02-16: First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_382_hb1598t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1598t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-16: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1598f.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_382_hb1598t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1598t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1598f.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-HB1598-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).