Maryland Community Action Agencies - Funding

SB 666 requires Maryland's Governor to include specific annual funding amounts in the state budget for community action agencies (CAAs) serving low-income residents, for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. The bill mandates $500,000 for 2027-2028, $1 million for 2029, $3 million for 2030, $5 million for 2031, and $7 million for 2032, distributed as operating grants through the Department of Housing and Community Development. CAAs - defined as governmental units or private nonprofits meeting federal designation criteria - directly benefit from this funding to support poverty-alleviation services like employment programs and closing service gaps. The bill modifies existing housing law to establish these mandatory funding levels, which expire after June 30, 2032.