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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0318*
SENATE BILL 318
P2, B5 6lr2020
By: Senator Brooks
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Capital Program – Covered Projects – Public Engagement and Community 2
Outreach Requirements 3
(Community Engagement and Outreach Act of 2026) 4
FOR the purpose of requiring units of State government proposing certain capital projects 5
to complete a certain community engagement plan and certain community outreach 6
activities and submit a certain report to the Department of Budget and Management; 7
requiring the Department to submit a certain compiled report; and generally relating 8
to community outreach and public engagement requirements for State capital 9
projects. 10
BY adding to 11
Article – State Finance and Procurement 12
Section 3–611 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – State Finance and Procurement 18
3–611. 19
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
INDICATED. 21
(2) “COMMUNITY OUTREACH RA DIUS” MEANS THE AREA INSIDE A 22
RADIUS OF 1 MILE FROM THE PROJECT FOOTPRINT. 23
2 SENATE BILL 318
(3) (I) “COVERED PROJECT” MEANS THE CONSTRUCTION , 1
INSTALLATION, OR SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION OF PHYSICAL IN FRASTRUCTURE OF 2
ANY CAPITAL PROJECT REQU ESTED BY A UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT IN 3
ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–602 OF THIS SUBTITLE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO 4
CREATE MATERIAL IMPACTS ON NOISE, VISIBILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, 5
OR COMMUNITY CHARACTER THAT: 6
1. A. IS CONSTRUCTED ON PROPERTY OWNED OR 7
LEASED BY THE STATE; OR 8
B. IS FUNDED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITH STATE FUNDS; 9
AND 10
2. A. EXCEEDS $2,000,000 IN TOTAL PROJECT COST; 11
OR 12
B. INCLUDES A STRUCTURE THAT EXCEEDS 75 FEET IN 13
HEIGHT. 14
(II) “COVERED PROJECT” INCLUDES COMMUNICATION 15
TOWERS, TRANSPORTATION FACIL ITIES, UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC 16
BUILDINGS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL OR PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES. 17
(III) “COVERED PROJECT ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A CAPITAL 18
PROJECT INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL STATE CAPITAL BUDGET AS: 19
1. A MISCELLANEOUS GRANT PROGRAM; 20
2. A LOCAL HOUSE OF DELEGATES INITIATIVE; OR 21
3. A LOCAL SENATE INITIATIVE. 22
(B) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30 OF THE FISCAL YEAR PRECEDING THE FISCAL 23
YEAR IN WHICH A COVERED PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE GIN, THE UNIT OF 24
STATE GOVERNMENT PROPOSING THE PROJECT SHALL COMPLETE: 25
(1) A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN WITH: 26
(I) A PLAIN LANGUAGE SUM MARY OF THE COVERED PROJECT 27
INCLUDING: 28
1. THE PURPOSE; 29
SENATE BILL 318 3
2. THE LOCATION; 1
3. ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERATIONS; AND 2
4. PROJECTED IMPACTS; 3
(II) THE MAP OF THE AFFECTED AREA WITHIN THE COMMUNITY 4
OUTREACH RADIUS; 5
(III) A DESCRIPTION OF ENV IRONMENTAL OR PUBLIC HEALTH 6
CONSIDERATIONS; 7
(IV) A TIMELINE FOR THE P ROJECT DESIGN AND 8
CONSTRUCTION; AND 9
(V) CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC INQUIRIES; AND 10
(2) COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WITH EACH RESIDENCE, 11
BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANI ZATION LOCATED WITHI N THE COMMUNITY 12
OUTREACH RADIUS THAT INCLUDES: 13
(I) PROVIDING NOTICE BY MAIL AT LEAST 45 DAYS PRIOR TO 14
ANY DECISION TO APPROVE OR FINALIZE THE PROJECT; 15
(II) POSTING PUBLIC NOTICE ONLINE ON THE UNIT’S WEBSITE; 16
(III) POSTING PUBLIC NOTIC E IN AT LEAST ONE LOCAL 17
NEWSPAPER; 18
(IV) CONDUCTING AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC MEETING IN THE AREA 19
WITH AN OPTION FOR VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION; AND 20
(V) ALLOWING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLI C A 30–DAY PUBLIC 21
COMMENT PERIOD. 22
(C) (1) (I) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2027, AND EACH OCTOBER 1 23
THEREAFTER, EACH UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT PROPOSING A COVERED 24
PROJECT SHALL SUBMIT A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH REPORT FOR 25
THE PROJECT TO THE DEPARTMENT. 26
(II) THE REPORT REQUIRED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 27
THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL CONTAIN: 28
4 SENATE BILL 318
1. A SUMMARY OF OUTREACH EFFORTS; 1
2. THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED UNDER 2
SUBSECTION (B)(2)(V) OF THIS SECTION; AND 3
3. THE UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSES AND 4
MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROJECT, IF ANY. 5
(2) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2027, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 6
THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A COMPILED REPORT OF THE 7
SUBMISSIONS REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION TO: 8
(I) THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE IMPACTED COUN TY OR 9
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; AND 10
(II) SUBJECT TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 11
ARTICLE: 12
1. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND 13
2. THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE. 14
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO IMP LEMENT THIS 15
SECTION. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2026. 18