Maryland Port Administration - Acquisition of Land in Anne Arundel County - Notice of Public Hearing, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                  Ch. 497

Chapter 497

                   (Senate Bill 53)

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Port Administration – Acquisition of Land in Anne Arundel County –
                                          Notice of Public Hearing

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Port Administration to provide written notice
         to the Anne Arundel County Delegation to the General Assembly prior to a public
         hearing on the acquisition of land or improvements on land in Anne Arundel County
         if the Administration makes a certain written request of Anne Arundel County; and
         generally relating to land acquisition by the Maryland Port Administration in Anne
         Arundel County.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
         Article – Transportation
         Section 6–309(a)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
         Article – Transportation
         Section 6–309(b)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

                   Article – Transportation

6–309.

         (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, this section controls as to
Anne Arundel County.

        (b) (1) (I) The Administration may not acquire any interest in land or
improvements on land in Anne Arundel County without the prior approval of the county,
given after a public hearing.

                         (II) AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A
PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE
ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE HEARING TO THE ANNE
ARUNDEL COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

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Ch. 497  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

                  (2) This subsection does not affect the right of the Administration to
acquire an option for later acquisition of the property or improvements once the approval
required by this subsection is obtained.

                (3) (I) If the Administration makes a written request for approval of the
county, the approval required by this subsection is deemed to be given unless the
Administration is notified in writing to the contrary within 90 days after it makes the
request.

                         (II) THE ADMINISTRATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF A
REQUEST UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH TO THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY DELEGATION
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, May 12, 2026.

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