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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0960*
HOUSE BILL 960
C8, K3 6lr3071
By: Delegates Roberts, Acevero, Amprey, Patterson, Phillips, Taylor, Turner,
White Holland, Wilkins, Wims, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters and Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Economic Development – Federal Employee–to–Entrepreneur Program – 2
Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Federal Employee –to–Entrepreneur Program in the 4
Department of Commerce to provide former or transitioning federal employees with 5
certain training, tools, and mentorship for successfully transitioning to 6
entrepreneurship; and generally relating to the Federal Employee–to–Entrepreneur 7
Program. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Economic Development 10
Section 3 –701 and 3 –702 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 7. Federal 11
Employee–to–Entrepreneur Program” 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Economic Development 17
SUBTITLE 7. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE–TO–ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM. 18
3–701. 19
IN THIS S UBTITLE, “PROGRAM” MEANS THE FEDERAL 20
EMPLOYEE–TO–ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM. 21
3–702. 22
2 HOUSE BILL 960
(A) THERE IS A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE–TO–ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM IN 1
THE DEPARTMENT. 2
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FORMER OR 3
TRANSITIONING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WITH TRA INING, TOOLS, AND MENTORSHIP 4
NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. 5
(C) (1) EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE PROGRAM SHALL SERVE FOUR COHORTS 6
OF 15 INDIVIDUALS. 7
(2) FOR EACH COHORT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE: 8
(I) SESSIONS ON ENTREPREN EURIAL EXPLORATION A ND 9
BUSINESS AND CAPITAL READINESS; 10
(II) ONE–ON–ONE COACHING FOR EACH PARTICIPANT; 11
(III) TRAINING IN BUSINESS PLANNING, COMPLIANCE, 12
MARKETING, BUDGETING, AND PITCH DEVELOPMENT; AND 13
(IV) TOOLS TO CREATE A BU SINESS PLAN AND A CA PITAL 14
READINESS STRATEGY. 15
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 16
(1) ESTABLISH APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO 17
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM; AND 18
(2) DEVELOP A CURRICULUM FOR THE PROGRAM. 19
(E) FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE 20
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $400,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TO 21
CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24