SB 35 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

State Designations and Commemorative Days - State Shark, State Natural Sciences Museum, and Purple Lights Night

SB 35 designates the Natural History Society of Maryland as Maryland's official State Natural Science Museum. This bill formally recognizes the Society's role through a change in state law (renumbering sections and adding Section 7-326), effective October 1, 2026, with no new funding or policy requirements.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Sep 15, 2025 Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - State Designations - State Natural Sciences Museum - The Natural History Society of Maryland Enrolled - State Designations and Commemorative Days - State Shark, State Natural Sciences Museum, and Purple Lights Night · 4 edits · May 12, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a draft proposal to an enrolled, final version. Substantively, the scope expanded to include designating the megalodon as the State Shark and establishing Purple Lights Night to honor domestic violence victims, while retaining the original designation of the Natural History Society of Maryland as the State Natural Sciences Museum. The bill also updated the specific code sections being renumbered to reflect these new additions.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a single museum designation to include a state shark designation and a new commemorative day.
SCOPE

Added a designation for the megalodon as the State Shark.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Governor to annually proclaim October 1 as Purple Lights Night to honor domestic violence victims.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of Annotated Code of Maryland sections to be renumbered to accommodate the new shark and commemorative day provisions.

Changed the document status from a pre-filed draft to an enrolled bill ready for the Governor's signature.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 1, 2026

How they voted

450
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 27, 2026
D Democratic36
33 Yea 3
91% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 505
executive
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Apr 1, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)
house of delegates
Mar 27, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (45-0-4)
senate
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Sep 15, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Carl Jackson
Carl Jackson
DDemocratic
MD
8