Local Government - Municipal Annexation - Petition and Referendum

HB 532 amends Maryland's annexation laws to allow redevelopment authorities in charter counties to initiate annexation petitions and vote in referendums under specific conditions. These authorities must be statutorily created, own state-funded redevelopment property, and have a competitive solicitation contract with a for-profit entity. The bill also changes petition requirements: if fewer than 20 residents in an annexation area qualify to sign, property owners (including joint owners) may sign instead. This directly affects redevelopment projects and property owners in municipal annexation processes across Maryland.