KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Maryland

HB0703 • 2026

Dorchester County - County Property Leases - Notice Exemptions

Dorchester County - County Property Leases - Notice Exemptions

Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Dorchester County Delegation
Last action
2026-02-20
Official status
In the House - Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Dorchester County - County Property Leases - Notice Exemptions

Exempting a lease of county property for a term of 5 years or less and with an annual rent of not greater than $750 made by Dorchester County from certain notice requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Exempting a lease of county property for a term of 5 years or less and with an annual rent of not greater than $750 made by Dorchester County from certain notice requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-20 House

    Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.

  2. 2026-02-02 House

    First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

  3. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Dorchester County - County Property Leases - Notice Exemptions

Official Summary Text

Exempting a lease of county property for a term of 5 years or less and with an annual rent of not greater than $750 made by Dorchester County from certain notice requirements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0703*

HOUSE BILL 703
L2 6lr2766
CF SB 391
By: Dorchester County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Dorchester County – County Property Leases – Notice Exemptions 2

FOR the purpose of exempting a lease of county property for a certain duration and with a 3
certain rent made by Dorchester County from certain notice requirements; and 4
generally relating to notice requirements for leases of county property in Dorchester 5
County. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Local Government 8
Section 10–312(f) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Local Government 14

10–312. 15

(f) (1) Except as provided in [paragraph] PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) of this 16
subsection, before the county makes any disposition, grant, or lease of county property, the 17
county shall publish notice of the disposition, grant, or lease once a week for 3 successive 18
weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall include the 19
terms and the compensation to be received and give opportunity for objections. 20

(2) A county may grant an easement for a public utility without giving 21
notice under this subsection. 22

2 HOUSE BILL 703

(3) DORCHESTER COUNTY MAY ENTER INTO A LEASE OF COUNTY 1
PROPERTY WITHOUT GIVING NOTICE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION IF THE LEASE HAS A 2
TERM OF 5 YEARS OR LESS AND AN ANNUAL RENT OF NOT GREATER THAN $750. 3

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
October 1, 2026. 5