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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0681*
HOUSE BILL 681
L2 6lr1494
CF SB 290
By: Delegate Lewis (By Request – Baltimore City Administration) and Delegates
Addison, Embry, Ruff, and Stinnett
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 7, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Baltimore City – Ordinance Enforcement – Amount of Fines and Penalties 2
FOR the purpose of increasing removing the maximum amount that Baltimore City is 3
authorized to establish for civil and criminal fines and penalties for violating certain 4
ordinances, rules, or regulations; and generally relating to civil and criminal fines 5
and penalties for the enforcement of o rdinances, rules, or regulations in Baltimore 6
City. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
The Charter of Baltimore City 9
Article II – General Powers 10
Section (48) 11
(2007 Replacement Volume, as amended) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL A SSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
The Charter of Baltimore City 15
Article II – General Powers 16
The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall have full power and authority to 17
exercise all of the powers heretofore or hereafter granted to it by the Constitution of 18
Maryland or by any Public General or Public Local Laws of the State of Maryland; and in 19
2 HOUSE BILL 681
particular, without limitation upon the foregoing, shall have power by ordinance, or such 1
other method as may be provided for in it s Charter, subject to the provisions of said 2
Constitution and Public General Laws: 3
(48) 4
To provide civil and criminal fines and penalties for the violation of any ordinance, 5
rule or regulations established by the City under or in the execution of any po wer granted 6
by this Article II; provided that no fine or penalty shall exceed [$1000.00] $5,000.00 and 7
no imprisonment shall be for a longer period than 12 months. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.