HB 461 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment

HB 461 establishes the Rural Readiness Program, administered by the Rural Maryland Council, to help rural communities improve their capacity for economic development. It also creates a permanent Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to provide grants for planning and capacity-building initiatives. The program assists eligible applicants - including local governments, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and regional planning agencies - with grant applications and project development. Successful participants receive a completion certificate that grants them priority for three specific state grant programs focused on rural economic growth.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment → Third - Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was advanced from its first reading to adoption, adding a committee report and house action status. Substantively, the bill's legal instructions were modified to repeal and reenact existing sections of the State Finance and Procurement article without amendments, whereas the previous version included amendments. The bill continues to establish the Rural Readiness Program and define eligible applicants for the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the specific statutes being amended was altered; it now targets sections 2-206(e)(1) and 2-207(c)(1) and (g)(2)(i) without amendments, replacing a prior instruction to amend section 2-206(e)(5).

REQUIREMENT

The instructions for repealing and reenacting State Finance and Procurement sections were changed to remove the requirement for amendments and updated to include specific new sections (2-207(c)(1) and (g)(2)(i)).

TECHNICAL

New procedural lines were added indicating the bill has a favorable committee report, was adopted by the House, and was read a second time on February 27, 2026.

The header indicating the bill was read for the first time on January 23, 2026 was removed, consistent with the bill's progression to a later stage.

The explanatory note regarding formatting symbols was updated to include underlining and strike-through indicators for amendments.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 543

executive

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Economic Matters

lower

Feb 28, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (128-6-8)

house of delegates

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

First Reading Economic Matters

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors