Natural Resources - State Park Entry Fee - Exemptions

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.
*sb0161*

SENATE BILL 161
M1 6lr0655
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Simonaire Senators Simonaire, Attar, Brooks, Carozza, Feldman,
Harris, and Hester
Requested: July 24, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 7, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Natural Resources – State Park Entry Fee – Exemptions 2

FOR the purpose of altering the individuals and vehicles that may enter a State park 3
without paying a certain fee on presentation of an accepted entrance document; and 4
generally relating to exemptions from paying State park entry fees. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Natural Resources 7
Section 5–1015 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12

Article – Natural Resources 13

5–1015. 14

(a) IN THIS SECTION, “ACCEPTED ENTRANCE DOCUMENT” MEANS A VALID 15
VETERAN IDENTIFICATION CARD , A DRIVER ’S LICENSE OR OTHER STATE–ISSUED 16
LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT INDICATES THE HOLDER IS A VETERAN, OR 17
2 SENATE BILL 161

ANY OTHER FORM OF ID ENTIFICATION ACCEPTE D BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT 1
ESTABLISHES THE HOLDER’S: 2

(1) VETERAN STATUS; OR 3

(2) FORMER MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD STATUS IF THE H OLDER 4
WAS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED UNDER CONDITIONS OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE. 5

(B) On presentation of [a valid veteran identification card, a driver’s license that 6
indicates the license holder is a veteran, or any other form of identification accepted by the 7
Department that establishes the holde r’s veteran status ] AN ACCEPTED ENTRANCE 8
DOCUMENT BY AN INDIVIDUAL: 9

(1) [A veteran] THE INDIVIDUAL may enter a State park without paying 10
any day–use entry fee that has been established; and 11

(2) A vehicle of which [a veteran] THE INDIVIDUAL is an occu pant may 12
enter a State park without paying any per–vehicle fee that has been established. 13

[(b)] (C) This section does not exempt [a veteran or other ] AN individual from 14
paying any other facility use services fees not described in subsection [(a)] (B) of this 15
section. 16

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2026. 18

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