Maryland2026Active
HB0047
Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law creates a new independent group to find state or local government property with names related to the Confederacy, recommend changes to those names, and report its findings by October 1, 2033.
What it does
- Creates an independent commission within the executive branch of state government.
- Requires the commission to develop a plan for finding streets, buildings, parks, or other land owned by the State or local governments that have names related to the Confederacy.
- Directs the commission to recommend which of these places should be renamed.
- Sets a deadline of October 1, 2033, for the commission to send its report and recommendations to government leaders including the Governor, Baltimore City officials, county governments, and the General Assembly.
- Allows the commission to hire an archivist from the State Archives to help with research.
Who it affects
- The Governor
- Baltimore City Mayor and Council
- County governing bodies in Maryland
- School districts, municipalities, towns, special districts, and other local government units
Limits and unknowns
- The commission can only make recommendations; it does not have the power to actually rename any property.
- This law will stop working on June 30, 2034, unless new action is taken by lawmakers.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Confederate Name
- Any name that commemorates or references any aspect of the States in Rebellion operating as the Confederate States of America from 1861 through 1865, or any person or entity that served voluntarily with or on behalf of them.
- Political Subdivision
- Local government groups such as counties, municipalities (cities), unincorporated towns, school districts, special districts, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
- Real Property
- Physical land or structures including streets, buildings, parks, and subdivisions.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Establishing the Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names to develop and implement a framework to identify real property owned by the State or a political subdivision that bears a Confederate name; and requiring the Commission to make recommendations regarding the real property that should be renamed and report its findings to the Governor, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, the governing body of each county, and the General Assembly by October 1, 2033.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.