Maryland Port Administration - Acquisition of Land in Anne Arundel County - Notice of Public Hearing

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.
*sb0053*

SENATE BILL 53
R2, P1, L1 6lr0753
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 354
By: Senator Simonaire Senators Simonaire, Gile, Henson, and Lam
Requested: August 27, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Maryland Port Administration – Acquisition of Land in Anne Arundel County – 2
Notice of Public Hearing 3

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Port Administration to provide written notice 4
to the Anne Arundel County Delegation to the General Assembly prior to a public 5
hearing on the acquisition of land or improvements on land in Anne Arundel County 6
if the Administration makes a certain written request of Anne Arundel County; and 7
generally relating to land acquisition by the Maryland Port Administration in Anne 8
Arundel County. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Transportation 11
Section 6–309(a) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Transportation 16
Section 6–309(b) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
2 SENATE BILL 53

Article – Transportation 1

6–309. 2

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, this section controls as to 3
Anne Arundel County. 4

(b) (1) (I) The Administration may not acquire any interest in land or 5
improvements on land in Anne Arundel County without the prior approval of the county, 6
given after a public hearing. 7

(II) AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ANN OUNCEMENT OF A 8
PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE 9
ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE HEARING TO THE ANNE 10
ARUNDEL COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 11

(2) This subsection does not affect the right of the Administration to 12
acquire an option for later acquisition of the property or improvements once the approval 13
required by this subsection is obtained. 14

(3) (I) If the Administration makes a written request for approval of the 15
county, the approval required by this subsection is deemed to be given unless the 16
Administration is notified in writing to the contrary within 90 days after it makes the 17
request. 18

(II) THE ADMINISTRATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF 19
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, SHALL PROVIDE WRITTE N NOTICE OF A 20
REQUEST UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH TO THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY DELEGATION 21
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 22

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24

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