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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0135*
SENATE BILL 135
P1 6lr1075
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 97
By: Senator Bailey
Requested: October 2, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Designations – State Shark – Megalodon 2
FOR the purpose of designating the megalodon as the State shark; and generally relating 3
to the State shark. 4
BY renumbering 5
Article – General Provisions 6
Section 7–310 7
to be Section 7–311 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
BY adding to 11
Article – General Provisions 12
Section 7–310 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
Preamble 16
WHEREAS, The megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived and one of the 17
largest predators; and 18
WHEREAS, Fossilized teeth are found in Calvert County along Calvert Cliffs and 19
also found in Anne Arundel, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s 20
counties; and 21
WHEREAS, The megalodon continues to be a source of popular and scientific 22
fascination derived from their fossilized large, serrated teeth; and 23
2 SENATE BILL 135
WHEREAS, This macro predator provides evidence for t he rich fossil history 1
preserved in Maryland; and 2
WHEREAS, There are extant sharks in both the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s 3
coastal waters, and the megalodon, although extinct, lived in this area for millions of years 4
and is a reminder of the important role modern and prehistoric sharks have played in 5
shaping past and present ecosystems; and 6
WHEREAS, As the Maryland State Paleontology Collection and Research Center, 7
the Calvert Marine Museum houses over 1,700 fossilized megalodon teeth, including the 8
only associated dentition (over 50 teeth from one individual) of the shark ever found within 9
the State; now, therefore, 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That Section(s) 7–310 of Article – General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland 12
be renumbered to be Section(s) 7–311. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 14
as follows: 15
Article – General Provisions 16
7–310. 17
THE MEGALODON (OTODUS MEGALODON) IS THE STATE SHARK. 18
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2026. 20