HB1172 • 2026

Howard County - Economic Development Authority - Alterations Ho. Co. 14-26

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Howard County Delegation
Last action: 2026-05-12
Official status: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 579
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details regarding other staff title changes beyond that of the Executive Director, leaving this information uncertain.

Changes to Howard County Economic Development Authority

This law modifies the operations of the Board of Directors for the Howard County Economic Development Authority by removing an ex officio member requirement, changing meeting schedules, and updating staff titles.

What This Bill Does

Removes the need for the Chairman of the Mid-Maryland Private Industry Council to appoint a representative as an ex officio nonvoting member of the Board of Directors.
Changes the frequency of board meetings from at least once each month to at least once every other month.
Updates the title of the Executive Director from 'Chief Administrative Officer' to 'Executive Officer'.

Who It Names or Affects

The Howard County Economic Development Authority
Board members and staff of the authority

Terms To Know

ex officio member: A person who is a part of an organization or committee by virtue of their position in another body, without being elected or appointed specifically for that role.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify the exact changes in staff titles other than for the Executive Director.
Does not provide details on how the removal of an ex officio member will affect board operations.

Bill History

2026-05-12 Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 579
2026-04-09 Senate
Favorable Report by Finance
2026-03-30 House
Returned Passed
2026-03-25 Senate
Third Reading Passed (44-0)
2026-03-21 Senate
Favorable Adopted
2026-03-21 Senate
Second Reading Passed
2026-03-20 Senate
Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-03-16 House
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
2026-03-05 House
Third Reading Passed (134-0)
2026-03-03 House
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-03-03 Senate
Referred Finance
2026-02-17 House
Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-11 House
First Reading Economic Matters
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Howard County - Economic Development Authority - Alterations Ho. Co. 14-26
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Economic Matters
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Howard County - Economic Development Authority - Alterations Ho. Co. 14-26
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Finance
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - Howard County - Economic Development Authority - Alterations Ho. Co. 14-26

Official Summary Text

Repealing the requirement that a certain individual designate a certain representative as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors of the Howard County Economic Development Authority; altering the frequency of certain Board meetings from at least once each month to at least once every other month; and amending the title of certain staff for the Authority.

Current Bill Text

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.
*hb1172*

HOUSE BILL 1172
L2 6lr2625
CF 6lr2627
By: Howard County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Howard County – Economic Development Authority – Alterations 2

Ho. Co. 14–26 3

FOR the purpose of repealing the requirement that a certain individual designate a certain 4
representative as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors of the Howard 5
County Economic Development Authority ; altering the frequency of certain Board 6
meetings; amending the title of certain staff for the Authority; and generally relating 7
to the Howard County Economic Development Authority. 8

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
The Public Local Laws of Howard County 10
Section 26.102(b) and (g) and 26.103(a)(1) 11
Article 14 – Public Local Laws of Maryland 12
(2019 Edition and October 2024 Supplement, as amended) 13

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15

Article 14 – Howard County 16

26.102. 17

(b) [(1)] The Board shall have 13 voting members appointed by the County 18
Executive with the approval of the County Council. 19
2 HOUSE BILL 1172

[(2) The Chairman of the Mid –Maryland Private Industry Council shall 1
designate a Howard County private sector representative from the Council to be an ex 2
officio nonvoting member.] 3

(g) (1) Seven members of the Board [, excluding the ex officio nonvoting 4
member] constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business. 5

(2) The affirmative vote of at least seven members is required before the 6
Board may take action. 7

(3) The Board shall meet at least once [each] EVERY OTHER month at the 8
times and places that it determines and more often at the call of the chair. 9

26.103. 10

(a) (1) Subject to the approval of the Board, the County Executive shall 11
nominate one or more candidates for Executive Director, who shall be the Chief 12
[Administrative] EXECUTIVE Officer of the Authority. 13

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14
October 1, 2026. 15

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.