Economic Development - Maryland Stadium Authority - Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and Facility

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1078*

HOUSE BILL 1078
C8 6lr3348
CF SB 883
By: Delegate Edelson
Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2026
Assigned to: Appropriations

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Economic Development – Maryland Stadium Authority – Carroll Park Soccer 2
Stadium and Facility 3

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Maryland Stadium Authority to review certain matters 4
and make certain recommendations relating to the Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and 5
Facility; authorizing the Authority to acquire by certain means a Carroll Park Soccer 6
Stadium and Facility site or an interest in the site; requiring the Authority to 7
transfer certain lease payments to the Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and Facility 8
Fund under certain circumstances; requiring the Authority to submit a certain 9
annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly; prohibiting the Board of 10
Public Works from approving an issuance by the Authority of certain bonds under 11
certain circumstances; requiring the Authority, with certain exceptions, to comply 12
with certain requirements to finance certain site acquisition, design, and 13
construction activities; requiring the Authority to obtain the approval of the Board 14
of Public Works for certain matters; establishing the Carroll Park Soccer Stadium 15
and Facility Fund as a continuing, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to 16
financing the Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and Facility. 17

BY renumbering 18
Article – Economic Development 19
Section 10–601(p) through (hhh) 20
to be Section 10–601(r) through (jjj), respectively 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23

BY adding to 24
Article – Economic Development 25
Section 10–601(p) and (q), 10–646.5, and 10–657.7 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 28

2 HOUSE BILL 1078

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Economic Development 2
Section 10–601(u) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Economic Development 8
Section 10 –613(b), 10 –618(b), 10 –620(d) and (e), 10 –625(a)(2), 10 –628(c)(1), and 9
10–634 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
Article – State Finance and Procurement 14
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – State Finance and Procurement 19
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22

BY adding to 23
Article – State Finance and Procurement 24
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 25
Annotated Code of Maryland 26
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 27

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 28
Article – State Government 29
Section 9–1E–12(a) 30
Annotated Code of Maryland 31
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 32

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 33
Article – State Government 34
Section 9–1E–12(b) 35
Annotated Code of Maryland 36
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 37

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 38
Chapter 717 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2024, as amended by Chapters 39
237, 409, and 410 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2025 40
HOUSE BILL 1078 3

Section 8(87) and (88) 1

BY adding to 2
Chapter 717 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2024, as amended by Cha pters 3
237, 409, and 410 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2025 4
Section 8(89) 5

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That Section(s) 10 –601(p) through (hhh) of Article – Economic Development of the 7
Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 10 –601(r) through (jjj), 8
respectively. 9

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 10
as follows: 11

Article – Economic Development 12

10–601. 13

(P) “CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY” MEANS A SOCCE R 14
STADIUM AND FACILITY LOCATED IN BALTIMORE CITY THAT IS USED PRI MARILY 15
FOR PROFESSIONAL SOCCER AND AS A SOCCER ACADEMY AND SCHOOL. 16

(Q) “CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND” MEANS THE 17
CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND ESTABLISHED UNDE R § 18
10–657.7 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 19

(u) “Facility” means: 20

(1) a structure or other improvement developed at Camden Yards; 21

(2) a convention facility; 22

(3) the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility; 23

(4) a sports facility; 24

(5) a Baltimore City public school facility; 25

(6) a racing facility; 26

(7) a training facility for thoroughbred horses; 27

(8) a public school facility; 28

(9) the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility; 29
4 HOUSE BILL 1078

(10) a sports entertainment facility; [or] 1

(11) a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility; OR 2

(12) THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY. 3

10–613. 4

(b) The Authority may review and make recommendations on proposed 5
convention center facilities, the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility, the Hagerstown 6
Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility, [and] a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor 7
facility, AND THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY, including the 8
expansion and enhancement of the Baltimore City Convention Center and the Ocean City 9
Convention Center and the development and construction of the Montgomery County 10
Conference Center, the Hippodrome Per forming Arts Center, the Hagerstown Multi –Use 11
Sports and Events Facility, [and] a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility , 12
AND THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY with respect to location, 13
purpose, design, function, capacity, parking, c osts, funding mechanisms, and revenue 14
alternatives, with specific recommendations on: 15

(1) the level of support from the private sector; 16

(2) the type of support from the private sector; 17

(3) special taxing sources; 18

(4) projected revenues; 19

(5) bonding authority and the source of debt service; and 20

(6) the fiscal impact on the State of any revenue alternatives. 21

10–618. 22

(b) The Authority may: 23

(1) acquire by any of the means specified in § 10–620(a) of this subtitle: 24

(i) a site at Camden Yards for a facility; 25

(ii) a Baltimore Convention site or an interest in the site; 26

(iii) an Ocean City Convention site or an interest in the site; 27

(iv) a Montgomery County Conference site or an interest in the site; 28
HOUSE BILL 1078 5

(v) a Hippodrome Performing Arts site or an interest in the site; 1

(vi) a Hagerstown Multi –Use Sports and Events Facility site or an 2
interest in the site; 3

(vii) a sports entertainment facility site or an interest in the site; 4
[and] 5

(viii) a Prince George’s Count y Blue Line Corridor facility site or an 6
interest in the site; and 7

(IX) THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY SITE 8
OR AN INTEREST IN THE SITE; AND 9

(2) construct or enter into a contract to construct a facility on a site it 10
acquires under this subsection. 11

10–620. 12

(d) (1) The exercise of authority under this subsection is subject to the prior 13
approval of the Board of Public Works. 14

(2) On request of the Authority, the State, a unit of the State, or a political 15
subdivision may lease, lend, g rant, or otherwise convey to the Authority, property, 16
including property devoted to public use, as necessary or convenient for the purposes of this 17
subtitle. 18

(3) The State may lease or sublease a facility, or an interest in a facility, 19
from or to the Authority, whether or not constructed or usable. 20

(4) Lease payments to the Authority appropriated by the State shall be 21
transferred to: 22

(i) the Baltimore Convention Fund if appropriated for a Baltimore 23
Convention facility; 24

(ii) the Camden Yards Fund if appropriated for a sports facility or 25
other facility at Camden Yards; 26

(iii) the Hippodrome Performing Arts Fund if appropriated for a 27
Hippodrome Performing Arts facility; 28

(iv) the Montgomery County Conference Fund if appropriated for a 29
Montgomery County Conference facility; 30

6 HOUSE BILL 1078

(v) the Ocean City Convention Fund if appropriated for an Ocean 1
City Convention facility; 2

(vi) the Hagerstown Multi –Use Sports and Events Facility Fund if 3
appropriated for a Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility; 4

(vii) the Sports Entertainment Facilities Financing Fund if 5
appropriated for a sports entertainment facility; [or] 6

(viii) the Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor Facility Fund if 7
appropriated for a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility; OR 8

(IX) THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY 9
FUND IF APPROPRIATED FOR THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND 10
FACILITY. 11

(e) (1) This subsection does not apply to the Camden Yards site, Baltimore 12
Convention site, Ocean City Conve ntion site, Hippodrome Performing Arts site, any 13
Baltimore City public school site, any racing facility, the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and 14
Events Facility site, any supplemental facility site, any public school site, a sports 15
entertainment facility, [or] a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility site , OR 16
THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY SITE. 17

(2) The Authority and any Authority affiliate are subject to applicable 18
planning, zoning, and development regulations to the same extent as a private commercial 19
or industrial enterprise. 20

10–625. 21

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Authority shall submit: 22

(2) annual reports on the additional tax revenues generated by each of the 23
following facilities: 24

(i) the Baltimore Convention facility; 25

(ii) the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility; 26

(iii) the Montgomery County Conference facility; 27

(iv) the Ocean City Convention facility; 28

(v) the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility; 29

(vi) a sports entertainment facility; [and] 30

HOUSE BILL 1078 7

(vii) a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility site; AND 1

(VIII) THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY. 2

10–628. 3

(c) (1) Unless authorized by the General Assembly, the Board of Public Works 4
may not approve an issuance by the Authority of bonds, whether taxable or tax exempt, 5
that constitute tax supported debt or nontax supported debt if, after issuance, there would 6
be outstanding and unpaid more than the following face amounts of the bonds for the 7
purpose of financing acquisition, construction, renovation, and related expenses for 8
construction management, professional fees, and contingencies in connection with: 9

(i) the Baltimore Convention facility – $55,000,000; 10

(ii) the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility – $20,250,000; 11

(iii) the Montgomery County Conference facility – $23,185,000; 12

(iv) the Ocean City Convention facility – $24,500,000; 13

(v) Baltimore City public school facilities – $1,100,000,000; 14

(vi) supplemental facilities – $25,000,000; 15

(vii) racing facilities – $400,000,000; 16

(viii) public school facilities in the State – $2,200,000,000; 17

(ix) the Hagerstown Multi –Use Sports and Events Facility – 18
$59,500,000; 19

(x) sports entertainment facilities – $220,000,000; [and] 20

(xi) Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facilities – 21
$400,000,000; AND 22

(XII) THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY – 23
$216,600,000. 24

10–634. 25

(a) A pledge by the Authority of revenues or money deposited in the Balti more 26
City Public School Construction Financing Fund [or], the Supplemental Public School 27
Construction Financing Fund , OR THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND 28
8 HOUSE BILL 1078

FACILITY FUND as security for an issue of bonds is valid and binding from when the pledge 1
is made. 2

(b) (1) The revenues or money deposited in the Baltimore City Public School 3
Construction Financing Fund [or], the Supplemental Public School Construction Financing 4
Fund, OR THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND that are 5
pledged are immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery or 6
further act. 7

(2) The lien of any pledge is valid and binding against any person having a 8
claim against the Authority in tort, contract, or otherwise, regardless of whether the person 9
has notice of the lien. 10

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to perfect a lien on 11
pledged revenues or money deposited in the Baltimore City Public School Construction 12
Financing Fund [or], the Supplemental Public School Construction Fin ancing Fund, OR 13
THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND against a third person, 14
it is not necessary to file or record any document adopted or entered into by the Authority 15
in any public record other than in the records of the Authority. 16

10–646.5. 17

(A) EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY § 10–639 OF THIS SUBTITLE , TO FINANCE 18
SITE ACQUISITION , DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF ANY SEGMENT OF THE 19
CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY, THE AUTHORITY SHALL COMPLY 20
WITH THIS SECTION. 21

(B) AT LEAST 45 DAYS BE FORE SEEKING APPROVA L OF THE BOARD OF 22
PUBLIC WORKS FOR EACH BOND I SSUE OR OTHER BORROW ING, THE AUTHORITY 23
SHALL PROVIDE TO THE FISCAL COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN 24
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, A 25
COMPREHENSIVE FINANCING PLAN FOR THE RELEVANT SEGMENT OF THE FACILITY. 26

(C) THE AUTHORITY SHALL OBTAI N THE APPROVAL OF TH E BOARD OF 27
PUBLIC WORKS OF THE PROPOSED BOND ISSUE AND THE FINANCING PLAN. 28

(D) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, UNTIL 29
THE BONDS THAT HA VE BEEN ISSUED TO FI NANCE THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER 30
STADIUM AND FACILITY ARE NO LONGE R OUTSTANDING AND UN PAID, THE 31
COMPTROLLER SHALL DEPOSIT INTO THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND 32
FACILITY FUND THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PAY PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE 33
BONDS FOR THAT FISCAL YE AR AS REQUIRED UNDER § 9–1E–12(B)(2)(III) OF THE 34
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 35

HOUSE BILL 1078 9

(E) THE AUTHORITY MAY NOT ISS UE BONDS TO FINANCE THE CARROLL 1
PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY UNTIL THE AUTHORITY AND UNITED 2
PARTNERSHIP SECURE A WRITTEN OPERATING AGREEMENT. 3

10–657.7. 4

(A) IN THIS SECTION , “FUND” MEANS THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER 5
STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND. 6

(B) THERE IS A CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND. 7

(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO: 8

(1) USE THE FUND AS A REVOLVING FU ND FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS 9
SUBTITLE AS IT RELATES TO THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY; 10
AND 11

(2) PAY ANY EXPENSES INC URRED BY THE AUTHORITY THAT ARE 12
RELATED TO THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY. 13

(D) THE AUTHORITY SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 14

(E) (1) THE FUND IS A CONTINUING , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 15
SUBJECT TO REVERSION UNDER § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 16
PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 17

(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 18
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 19

(F) (1) TO THE EXTENT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE BY THE AUTHORITY, 20
THE RECEIPTS OF THE FUND SHALL BE PLEDGED TO AND CHARGED WITH THE 21
FOLLOWING RELATING TO THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY: 22

(I) PAYMENT OF DEBT SERVICE ON AUTHORITY BONDS; 23

(II) ALL REASONABLE CHARG ES AND EXPENSES RELA TED TO 24
THE AUTHORITY’S BORROWING; AND 25

(III) THE MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY OBLIGATIONS. 26

(2) THE PLEDGE SHALL BE E FFECTIVE AS PROVIDED IN § 10–634 OF 27
THIS SUBTITLE. 28

(G) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 29
10 HOUSE BILL 1078

(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR DEPOSIT IN THE FUND; 1

(2) REVENUES COLLECTED OR RECEIVED FROM ANY SOURCE UNDER 2
THIS SUBTITLE CONCER NING THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND 3
FACILITY; 4

(3) INTEREST EARNINGS; AND 5

(4) ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY MADE AVAILABLE FROM ANY PUBLIC OR 6
PRIVATE SOURCE FOR THE PURPOSES ESTABLISHED FOR THE FUND. 7

(H) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND 8
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 9

(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE PAID INTO THE 10
FUND. 11

Article – State Finance and Procurement 12

6–226. 13

(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 14

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 15
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 16
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 17
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 18
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 19
Fund of the State. 20

(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph do not 21
apply to the following funds: 22

212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 23
Fund; [and] 24

213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 25

214. THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND 26
FACILITY FUND. 27

Article – State Government 28

9–1E–12. 29
HOUSE BILL 1078 11

(a) (1) The Commission shall account to the Comptroller for all of the revenue 1
under this subtitle. 2

(2) The proceeds from sports wagering, less the amount retained by the 3
licensee under subsection (b)(1) of this section, shall be under the control of the Comptroller 4
and distributed as provided under subsection (b) of this section. 5

(b) (1) (i) Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this 6
paragraph, all proceeds from sports wagering shall be electronically transferred monthly 7
into the State Lottery Fund established under Subtitle 1 of this title. 8

(ii) A Class A –1 and A–2 sports wagering facility licensee shall 9
retain 85% of the proceeds from sports wagering conducted at the locations described in § 10
9–1E–09(a) of this subtitle. 11

(iii) A Class B –1 and B –2 sports wagering facility licensee shall 12
retain 85% of the proceeds from sports wagering conducted at the location described in the 13
licensee’s application. 14

(iv) A mobile sports wagering licensee shall retain 80% of the 15
proceeds from online sports wagering received by the licensee. 16

(2) (i) Except as provided in [subparagraph (ii)] SUBPARAGRAPHS (II) 17
AND (III) of this paragraph, all proceeds from sports wagering in the State Lottery Fund 18
established under Subtitle 1 of this title shall be distributed on a monthly basis, on a 19
properly approved transmittal prepared by the Commission to the Blueprint for Maryland’s 20
Future Fund established under § 5–206 of the Education Article. 21

(ii) For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, 5% of the 22
proceeds attributable to mobile sports wagering shall be deposited in the General Fund. 23

(III) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR 24
THEREAFTER, BEFORE MAKING THE DI STRIBUTIONS REQUIRED UNDER 25
SUBPARAGRAPHS (I) AND (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE COMPTROLLER SHALL 26
DISTRIBUTE TO THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND 27
ESTABLISHED UNDER § 10–657.7 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE THE 28
AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS 29
ISSUED FOR THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FOR THAT 30
FISCAL YEAR. 31

Chapter 717 of the Acts of 2024, as amended by Chapters 237, 409, and 410 of the 32
Acts of 2025 33

SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any other 34
provision of law, and unless inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other 35
12 HOUSE BILL 1078

federal requirement, or with the terms of a gift or settlement agreement, for fiscal years 1
2024 through 2028, net interest on all State money allocated by the State Treasurer under 2
§ 6–226 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to special funds or accounts, and 3
otherwise entitled to receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall 4
accrue to the General Fund of the State, with the exception of the following funds: 5

(87) the Academic Excellence Fund; [and] 6

(88) the Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries Fund; AND 7

(89) THE CARROLL PARK SOCCER STADIUM AND FACILITY FUND. 8

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
1, 2026. 10