SB0021 • 2026

Natural Resources - State Parks - Maryland Golden Age Pass

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Senator Simonaire
Last action: 2026-04-28
Official status: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 333
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.

Natural Resources - State Parks - Maryland Golden Age Pass

Establishing that the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass is entitled to free day-use entry at certain State parks and is authorized to launch a boat at any State park without paying a boat launch fee; altering the days of the week on which the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass may camp overnight in a State park at a discounted fee; and establishing that the free day-use entry applies to everyone in the vehicle with the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass under certain circumstances.

What This Bill Does

Establishing that the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass is entitled to free day-use entry at certain State parks and is authorized to launch a boat at any State park without paying a boat launch fee; altering the days of the week on which the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass may camp overnight in a State park at a discounted fee; and establishing that the free day-use entry applies to everyone in the vehicle with the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass under certain circumstances.

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

2026-04-28 Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 333
2026-04-08 House
Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation
2026-04-02 House
Third Reading Passed (133-0)
2026-03-27 Senate
Returned Passed
2026-03-25 House
Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-03-23 House
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-02-13 House
Referred Environment and Transportation
2026-02-09 Senate
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
2026-02-09 Senate
Third Reading Passed (44-0)
2026-02-07 Senate
Favorable Adopted
2026-02-07 Senate
Second Reading Passed
2026-01-19 Senate
Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-14 Senate
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
2025-06-02 Senate
Pre-filed
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Natural Resources - State Parks - Maryland Golden Age Pass
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Natural Resources - State Parks - Maryland Golden Age Pass
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Environment and Transportation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - Natural Resources - State Parks - Maryland Golden Age Pass

Official Summary Text

Establishing that the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass is entitled to free day-use entry at certain State parks and is authorized to launch a boat at any State park without paying a boat launch fee; altering the days of the week on which the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass may camp overnight in a State park at a discounted fee; and establishing that the free day-use entry applies to everyone in the vehicle with the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass under certain circumstances.

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.
*sb0021*

SENATE BILL 21
M1 6lr0607
SB 312/25 – EEE (PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Simonaire
Requested: June 2, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 7, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Natural Resources – State Parks – Maryland Golden Age Pass 2

FOR the purpose of establishing that the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass is entitled 3
to free day –use entry at certain State parks and is authorized to launch a boat at 4
any State park without paying a boat launch fee; altering the days of the week on 5
which the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass may camp overnight in a State park 6
at a discounted fee; establishing that the free day –use entry applies to everyone in 7
the vehicle with the holder of a Maryland Golden Age Pass under certain 8
circumstances; and generally relating to the Maryland Golden Age Pass. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Natural Resources 11
Section 5–1009 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 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 – Natural Resources 17

5–1009. 18

2 SENATE BILL 21

(A) A person 62 years old or older who possesses a Maryland Golden Age Pass [,] 1
issued by the Maryland Park Service[, may]: 2

(1) IS ENTITLED TO FREE DAY–USE ENTRY TO ANY STATE PARK THAT 3
CHARGES SERVICE FEES; 4

(2) MAY camp overnight in any State park at one –half of the established 5
fee [Monday] SUNDAY through Thursday, excluding holidays; AND 6

(3) MAY LAUNCH A BOAT AT ANY STATE PARK WITHOUT PA YING A 7
BOAT LAUNCH FEE. 8

(B) IF A PER –VEHICLE FEE IS IN EF FECT AT A STATE PARK , THE FREE 9
DAY–USE ENTRY UNDER SUBS ECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION APPL IES TO 10
EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOLDER OF A MARYLAND GOLDEN AGE PASS. 11

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take eff ect 12
October 1, 2026. 13

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