Read the full stored bill text
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.
*hb0972*
HOUSE BILL 972
M4 6lr3548
HB 650/25 – ENT
By: Delegates Miller, Buckel, Pippy, Jacobs, Bouchat, Ciliberti, Fair, Hornberger,
Rose, Simpson, Tomlinson, Valentine, and Wivell Wivell, Adams, Anderson,
Arentz, Arikan, Baker, Beauchamp, Chisholm, Ghrist, Griffith, Hartman,
Hinebaugh, Howard, Hutchinson, Kipke, R. Long, Mangione, McComas,
Metzgar, M. Morgan, T. Morgan, Nkongolo, Reilly, Schmidt, S tonko, Fair,
Simpson, Allen, Behler, Boyce, Foley, Fraser –Hidalgo, Guyton, Healey,
Holmes, J. Long, Korman, Lewis, Odom, Stein, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund – Establishment 2
(Maryland Fair and Charles J. Otto Agricultural Education Promise Act) 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise 4
Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to provide grants that advance agricultural fairs 5
and education in the State; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to 6
the Fund; requiring a certain amount of proceeds from the State lottery, before being 7
allocated to the General Fund of the State, to be allocated to the Fund; repealing the 8
requirement that a certain amount of annual proceeds from the State horse racing 9
Special Fund be used to promote State agricultural fairs and education; and 10
generally relating to the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund. 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Agriculture 13
Section 10 –2201 through 10 –2203 to be under the new subtitle “ Subtitle 22. 14
Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund” 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
2 HOUSE BILL 972
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Business Regulation 2
Section 11–403 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – State Finance and Procurement 7
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – State Finance and Procurement 12
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – State Finance and Procurement 17
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
Article – State Government 22
Section 9–120(a) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 25
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 26
Article – State Government 27
Section 9–120(b)(1)(xiv) and (xv) 28
Annotated Code of Maryland 29
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 30
BY adding to 31
Article – State Government 32
Section 9–120(b)(1)(xv) 33
Annotated Code of Maryland 34
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 35
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 36
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 37
Article – Agriculture 38
HOUSE BILL 972 3
SUBTITLE 22. MARYLAND FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROMISE FUND. 1
10–2201. 2
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “FUND” MEANS THE MARYLAND FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL 3
EDUCATION PROMISE FUND. 4
10–2202. 5
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 6
PROMISE FUND. 7
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS THAT ADVANCE 8
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND EDUCATION IN THE STATE. 9
(C) THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 10
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 11
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 12
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 13
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 14
(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 15
(1) REVENUE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND UNDER § 9–120(B)(1)(XV) 16
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; 17
(2) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 18
(3) (2) INTEREST EARNINGS; AND 19
(4) (3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 20
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 21
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY: 22
(1) TO PROVIDE ANNUAL GRA NTS IN ACCORDANCE WI TH § 10–2203 23
OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 24
(2) FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EX PENSES OF THE COMPTROLLER IN 25
CARRYING OUT THIS SUBTITLE. 26
4 HOUSE BILL 972
(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND 1
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 2
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO 3
THE FUND. 4
(H) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 5
WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 6
(I) FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE 7
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 TO THE FUND. 8
10–2203. 9
EACH YEAR , THE COMPTROLLER SHALL PAY FROM THE FUND AN ANNUAL 10
GRANT OF: 11
(1) $825,000 TO THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL FAIR BOARD TO 12
PROMOTE AND ENHANCE STATE AND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITS; 13
(2) (1) $75,000 $100,000 TO THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL 14
EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC., TO PROMOTE AND ENHAN CE STATEWIDE 15
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION; AND 16
(3) $550,000 TO THE MARYLAND STATE FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL 17
SOCIETY, INC., TO: 18
(I) PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE STATE AGRICULTURAL FAIR; 19
AND 20
(II) MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP YOUTH AGRICULTURAL 21
PROGRAMS, WITH SUBSTANTIAL FUN DING PROVIDED TO ORG ANIZATIONS, 22
INCLUDING 4–H CLUBS AND THE MARYLAND FFA ASSOCIATION, FOR THE 23
PROVISION OF RECOGNITION AND AWARDS; AND 24
(4) (2) $50,000 $100,000 TO THE MARYLAND FFA ASSOCIATION 25
FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. 26
Article – Business Regulation 27
11–403. 28
(a) The Comptroller shall pay from the Special Fund an annual grant of: 29
HOUSE BILL 972 5
(1) [$825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board to promote State 1
and county agricultural fairs and exhibits; 2
(2)] $100,000 to Prince George’s County to replace money formerly received 3
from the admissions and amusement tax; 4
[(3)] (2) $40,000 to the Great Freder ick Fair to support exhibition 5
harness racing with money for construction and maintenance of new stalls, track 6
maintenance, and purses; 7
[(4)] (3) $50 to the City of Bowie for each day that the training facilities 8
are open at the Bowie Race Course Training Center; 9
[(5) $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc., to 10
promote and enhance statewide agricultural education;] 11
[(6)] (4) (5) an amount not to exceed $30,000 in fiscal year 1998 and $20,000 12
in each fiscal year thereafter to the Great Pocomoke Fair, Inc. to support exhibition harness 13
racing with money for construction and maintenance of new stalls, track maintenance, and 14
purses; 15
[(7)] (5) (6) $500,000 to the Maryland Million, Ltd. to support and promote 16
the running of Maryland Million races; 17
[(8)] (6) (7) $350,000 to the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund for the Sire 18
Stakes Program; and 19
[(9)] (7) (8) beginning July 1, 2017, from the money distributed under § 20
9–120(b) of the State Government Article up to $500,000 to a purse for the Maryland 21
International thoroughbred race under § 11–522.1 of this title. 22
(b) (1) In fiscal year 2017, the Comptroller shall pay, from the money 23
distributed to the Special Fund, $500,000 to the Maryland Racing Commission to be used, 24
in a manner determined by the Maryland Racing Commission, for a bonus award program 25
for Maryland–bred or Maryland–sired horses running in the Preakness Stakes. 26
(2) The Maryland Racing Commission shall consult with representatives of 27
the thoroughbred racing industry prior to establishing the rules and criteria for the bonus 28
award program. 29
(3) If, under the rules of the bonus award program, funds remain in the 30
program after the Preakness Stakes is conducted on one or more occasions, remaining funds 31
shall carry over to the next fiscal year and may not revert to the General Fund. 32
(c) [If the Maryland State Fair remains at the Timonium Fair Grounds, the 33
Comptroller shall pay from the Special Fund an annual grant of: 34
6 HOUSE BILL 972
(1) $500,000 to the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, Inc., to: 1
(i) promote and enhance the Maryland State Fair; and 2
(ii) maintain and develop youth programs, with premium money 3
provided to organizations, such as 4 –H Clubs and the Future Farmers of America, for 4
recognition and awards; and 5
(2) $50,000 to Baltimore County to replace the money formerly received by 6
the county under this subtitle. 7
(d)] Any amounts paid by the Comptroller for the purposes specified under 8
subsections [(a)(9)] (A)(7) (A)(8) and (b) of this section shall remain available for those 9
purposes and may not be used for any other purpose. 10
Article – State Finance and Procurement 11
6–226. 12
(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 13
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 14
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 15
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 16
State Treasurer under this se ction to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 17
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 18
Fund of the State. 19
(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph do not 20
apply to the following funds: 21
212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 22
Fund; [and] 23
213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 24
214. THE MARYLAND FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL 25
EDUCATION PROMISE FUND. 26
Article – State Government 27
9–120. 28
(a) The Comptroller shall distribute, or cause to be distributed, the State Lottery 29
Fund to pay: 30
HOUSE BILL 972 7
(1) on a pro rata basis for the daily and nondaily State lottery games, the 1
expenses of administering and operating the State lottery, as authorized under this subtitle 2
and the State budget; and 3
(2) then, except as provided in § 10 –113.1 of the Family Law Article, § 4
11–618 of the Criminal Procedure Article, and § 3 –307 of the State Finance and 5
Procurement Article, the holder of each winning ticket or share. 6
(b) (1) By the end of the month following collection, the Comptroller shall 7
deposit, cause to be deposited, or pay: 8
(xiv) subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection after June 30, 2025, 9
supplemental local impact aid of $250,000 each fiscal year from the proceeds of the Racetrax 10
lottery game to Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and the City of Laurel in proportion 11
to each j urisdiction’s share of the money required to be paid under § 11 –404(d) of the 12
Business Regulation Article to be used in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection; 13
[and] 14
(XV) AFTER JUNE 30, 2026, INTO THE MARYLAND FAIR AND 15
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROMISE FUND ESTABLISHED UNDE R § 10–2202 OF 16
THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE FROM THE MONE Y THAT REMAINS IN TH E STATE 17
LOTTERY FUND FROM THE PROCEED S OF ALL LOTTERIES A FTER THE 18
DISTRIBUTIONS UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AND ITEMS (I) THROUGH 19
(XIV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO $1,450,000 IN EACH FISCAL YEAR; 20
AND 21
[(xv)] (XVI) into the General Fund of the State the money that remains 22
in the State Lottery Fund from the proceeds of all lotteries after the distributions under 23
subsection (a) of this section and items (i) through [(xiv)] (XV) of this paragraph. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 25
1, 2026. 26
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.