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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0575*
SENATE BILL 575
C8 6lr2670
SB 130/23 – B&T
By: Charles County Senators
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Economic Development – Maryland Stadium Authority – Charles County Sports 2
and Wellness Center 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Maryland Stadium Authority to review certain matters 4
and make certain recommendations relating to the Charles County Sports and 5
Wellness Center; authorizing the Authority to acquire and finance by certain means 6
a Charles County Sports and Wellness Center site or an interest in the site; requiring 7
the Authority to secure a written agreement to transfer ownership of the Charles 8
County Sports and Wellness Center to Charles County as approved by the Board of 9
Public Works; establishing the Charles County Sports and Wellness Center Fund as 10
a continuing, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to financing and construction 11
of the Charles County Sports and Wellness Center. 12
BY renumbering 13
Article – Economic Development 14
Section 10–601(p) through (hhh) 15
to be Section 10–601(s) through (kkk), respectively 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 19
Article – Economic Development 20
Section 10–601(a) and (b), 10–620(a)(1), and 10–628(a) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
BY adding to 24
Article – Economic Development 25
Section 10–601(p) through (r), 10–646.5, and 10–657.7 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 28
2 SENATE BILL 575
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Economic Development 2
Section 10–601(v) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Economic Development 8
Section 10–613(a)(14) and (b), 10–618, 10–620(d) and (e), 10–625(a), and 10–628(c) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – State Finance and Procurement 13
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – State Finance and Procurement 18
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY adding to 22
Article – State Finance and Procurement 23
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 27
That Section(s) 10 –601(p) throug h ( hhh) of Article – Economic Development of the 28
Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 10 –601(s) through ( kkk), 29
respectively. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 31
as follows: 32
Article – Economic Development 33
10–601. 34
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 35
(b) “Authority” means the Maryland Stadium Authority. 36
SENATE BILL 575 3
(P) (1) “CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER” MEANS 1
THE EVENTS FACILITY LOCATED IN CHARLES COUNTY, MARYLAND, USED FOR 2
COMMUNITY EVENTS, RECREATIONAL EVENTS, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES. 3
(2) “CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER” 4
INCLUDES: 5
(I) FIELDS AND AMPHITHEATERS; 6
(II) OFFICES; 7
(III) PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES; 8
(IV) ACCESS ROADS; 9
(V) FOOD SERVICE FACILITIES; AND 10
(VI) OTHER FUNCTIONALLY R ELATED STRUCTURES AN D 11
IMPROVEMENTS. 12
(Q) “CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER FUND” MEANS 13
THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER FUND ESTABLISHED 14
UNDER § 10–657.7 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
(R) “CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER SITE” MEANS THE 16
SITE OF THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER IN CHARLES 17
COUNTY, MARYLAND. 18
(v) “Facility” means: 19
(1) a structure or other improvement developed at Camden Yards; 20
(2) a convention facility; 21
(3) the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility; 22
(4) a sports facility; 23
(5) a Baltimore City public school facility; 24
(6) a racing facility; 25
(7) a training facility for thoroughbred horses; 26
4 SENATE BILL 575
(8) a public school facility; 1
(9) the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility; 2
(10) a sports entertainment facility; [or] 3
(11) a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility; OR 4
(12) THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER. 5
10–613. 6
(a) The Authority may: 7
(14) with respect to site acquisition, construction, and development of the 8
Hippodrome Performing Arts facility [and], the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events 9
Facility, AND THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER, establish and 10
participate in Authority affiliates; 11
(b) The Authority may review and make recommendations on proposed 12
convention center facilities, the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility, the Hagerstown 13
Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility, [and] a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor 14
facility, AND THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER, including the 15
expansion and enhancement of the Baltimore City Convention Center and the Ocean City 16
Convention Center and the development and construction of the Montgomery C ounty 17
Conference Center, the Hippodrome Performing Arts Center, the Hagerstown 18
Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility, [and] a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor 19
facility, AND THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER, with respect 20
to location, purpose, design, function, capacity, parking, costs, funding mechanisms, and 21
revenue alternatives, with specific recommendations on: 22
(1) the level of support from the private sector; 23
(2) the type of support from the private sector; 24
(3) special taxing sources; 25
(4) projected revenues; 26
(5) bonding authority and the source of debt service; and 27
(6) the fiscal impact on the State of any revenue alternatives. 28
10–618. 29
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of thi s subsection, contracts to 30
SENATE BILL 575 5
acquire any facility site, to construct the facility, or for construction on the facility site 1
require the prior approval of the Board of Public Works. 2
(2) Contracts to construct a public school facility or for construction on a 3
public school site do not require the prior approval of the Board of Public Works. 4
(b) The Authority may: 5
(1) acquire by any of the means specified in § 10–620(a) of this subtitle: 6
(i) a site at Camden Yards for a facility; 7
(ii) a Baltimore Convention site or an interest in the site; 8
(iii) an Ocean City Convention site or an interest in the site; 9
(iv) a Montgomery County Conference site or an interest in the site; 10
(v) a Hippodrome Performing Arts site or an interest in the site; 11
(vi) a Hagerstown Multi –Use Sports and Events Facility site or an 12
interest in the site; 13
(vii) a sports entertainment facility site or an interest in the site; 14
[and] 15
(viii) a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility site or an 16
interest in the site; and 17
(IX) A CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER SITE 18
OR AN INTEREST IN THE SITE; AND 19
(2) construct or enter into a contract to construct a facility on a site it 20
acquires under this subsection. 21
10–620. 22
(a) (1) Subject to annual appropriations and this subtitle, the Authority may 23
acquire in its own name, by gift, purchase, or condemnation, any property or interest in 24
property necessary or convenient to construct, improve, or operate a facility. 25
(d) (1) The exercise of authority under this subsection is subject to the prior 26
approval of the Board of Public Works. 27
(2) On request of the Authority, the State, a unit of the State, or a political 28
subdivision may lease, lend, grant, or otherwise convey to the Authority, property, 29
including property devoted to public use, as necessary or convenient for the purposes of this 30
6 SENATE BILL 575
subtitle. 1
(3) The State may lease or sublease a facility, or an interest in a facility, 2
from or to the Authority, whether or not constructed or usable. 3
(4) Lease payments to the Authority appropriated by the State shall be 4
transferred to: 5
(i) the Baltimore Convention Fund if appropriated for a Baltimore 6
Convention facility; 7
(ii) the Camden Yards Fund if appropriated for a sports facility or 8
other facility at Camden Yards; 9
(iii) the Hippodrome Performing Arts Fund if appropriated for a 10
Hippodrome Performing Arts facility; 11
(iv) the Montgomery County Conference Fund if appropriated for a 12
Montgomery County Conference facility; 13
(v) the Ocean City Co nvention Fund if appropriated for an Ocean 14
City Convention facility; 15
(vi) the Hagerstown Multi –Use Sports and Events Facility Fund if 16
appropriated for a Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility; 17
(vii) the Sports Entertainment Facilities Fina ncing Fund if 18
appropriated for a sports entertainment facility; [or] 19
(viii) the Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor Facility Fund if 20
appropriated for a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility; OR 21
(IX) THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER 22
FUND IF APPROPRIATED FOR THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS 23
CENTER. 24
(e) (1) This subsection does not apply to the Camden Yards site, Baltimore 25
Convention site, Ocean City Convention site, Hippodrome Performing Arts site, any 26
Baltimore City public school site, any racing facility, the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and 27
Events Facility site, any supplemental facility site, any public school site, a sports 28
entertainment facility, [or] a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility site , OR 29
THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER SITE. 30
(2) The Authority and any Authority af filiate are subject to applicable 31
planning, zoning, and development regulations to the same extent as a private commercial 32
or industrial enterprise. 33
SENATE BILL 575 7
10–625. 1
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Authority shall submit: 2
(1) an annual detailed report of the activities and financial status of the 3
Authority to the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State Government 4
Article, the General Assembly; and 5
(2) annual reports on the additional tax revenues generated by each of the 6
following facilities: 7
(i) the Baltimore Convention facility; 8
(ii) the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility; 9
(iii) the Montgomery County Conference facility; 10
(iv) the Ocean City Convention facility; 11
(v) the Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility; 12
(vi) a sports entertainment facility; [and] 13
(vii) a Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor facility site; AND 14
(VIII) THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER. 15
10–628. 16
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section and subject to the 17
prior approval of the Board of Public Works, the Authority may issue bonds at any time for 18
any corporate purpose of the Authority, including the establishment of reserves and the 19
payment of interest. 20
(c) (1) Unless authorized by the General Assembly, the Board of Public Works 21
may not approve an issuance by the Authority of bonds, whether taxable or tax exempt, 22
that constitute tax supported debt or nontax supported debt if, after issuance, there would 23
be outs tanding and unpaid more than the following face amounts of the bonds for the 24
purpose of financing acquisition, construction, renovation, and related expenses for 25
construction management, professional fees, and contingencies in connection with: 26
(i) the Baltimore Convention facility – $55,000,000; 27
(ii) the Hippodrome Performing Arts facility – $20,250,000; 28
(iii) the Montgomery County Conference facility – $23,185,000; 29
8 SENATE BILL 575
(iv) the Ocean City Convention facility – $24,500,000; 1
(v) Baltimore City public school facilities – $1,100,000,000; 2
(vi) supplemental facilities – $25,000,000; 3
(vii) racing facilities – $405,000,000; 4
(viii) public school facilities in the State – $2,200,000,000; 5
(ix) the Hagerstown Multi –Use Sports and Events 6
Facility – $59,500,000; 7
(x) sports entertainment facilities – $220,000,000; [and] 8
(xi) Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor 9
facilities – $400,000,000; AND 10
(XII) CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER 11
FACILITIES – $45,000,000. 12
(2) (i) The limitation under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection applies 13
to the aggregate principal amount of bonds outstanding as of June 30 of any year. 14
(ii) Refunded bonds may not be included in the determination of an 15
outstanding aggregate amount under this paragraph. 16
10–646.5. 17
(A) EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY § 10–639 OF THIS SUBTITLE , TO FINANCE 18
SITE ACQUISITION , DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF ANY SEGMENT OF THE 19
CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER, THE AUTHORITY SHALL 20
COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION. 21
(B) AT LEAST 45 DAYS BEFORE SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF 22
PUBLIC WORKS FOR EACH BOND I SSUE OR OTHER BORROW ING, THE AUTHORITY 23
SHALL PROVIDE TO THE FISCAL COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN 24
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, A 25
COMPREHENSIVE FINANCING PLAN FOR THE RELEVANT SEGMENT OF THE FACILITY. 26
(C) THE AUTHORITY SHALL OBTAI N THE APPROVAL OF TH E BOARD OF 27
PUBLIC WORKS OF THE PROPOSED BOND ISSUE AND THE FINANCING PLAN. 28
(D) THE AUTHORITY MAY NOT ISS UE BONDS TO FINANCE THE CHARLES 29
SENATE BILL 575 9
COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER UNTIL THE AUTHORITY AND CHARLES 1
COUNTY SECURE A WRITTEN OPERATING AGREEMENT. 2
(E) THE AUTHORITY SHALL SECURE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO TRANSFER 3
OWNERSHIP OF THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER FROM THE 4
AUTHORITY TO CHARLES COUNTY, AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC 5
WORKS: 6
(1) IN WHICH CHARLES COUNTY AGREES TO: 7
(I) OWN, MARKET, PROMOTE, AND OPERATE OR CONTRACT FOR 8
THE MARKETING, PROMOTION, AND OPERATION OF THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS 9
AND WELLNESS CENTER IN A MANN ER THAT MAXIMIZES TH E CHARLES COUNTY 10
SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER’S ECONOMIC RETURN; 11
(II) MAINTAIN AND REPAIR OR CONTRACT FOR THE 12
MAINTENANCE AND REPA IR OF THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS 13
CENTER SO AS TO KEEP THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER IN 14
FIRST–CLASS OPERATING CONDITION; AND 15
(III) BE SOLELY RESPONSIBL E FOR ALL EXPENDITUR ES 16
RELATING TO THE OPER ATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF THE CHARLES 17
COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER THAT MAY BE IN CURRED, INCLUDING 18
THE AMOUNT BY WHICH EXPENDITURES EXCEED REVENUES; AND 19
(2) THAT: 20
(I) PROTECTS THE INVESTM ENTS OF THE AUTHORITY AND 21
CHARLES COUNTY IN THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER; 22
(II) REQUIRES CHARLES COUNTY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A 23
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RESERVE FUND AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE 24
CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER IN FIRST –CLASS OPERATING 25
CONDITION; 26
(III) REQUIRES CHARLES COUNTY TO BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE 27
FOR ALL EXPENDITURES RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF THE CHARLES COUNTY 28
SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER THAT MAY BE INCURRED, INCLUDING OPERATING 29
DEFICITS; AND 30
(IV) ALLOWS CHARLES COUNTY TO KEEP ALL OP ERATING 31
PROFITS RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION OF THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND 32
WELLNESS CENTER EACH YEAR. 33
10 SENATE BILL 575
(F) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR, CHARLES COUNTY SHALL 1
REPORT TO THE SENATE BUDGET AND TAXATION COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE 2
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 3
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON CHARLES COUNTY’S ASSESSMENT OF THE 4
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR NEEDED TO KEEP THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND 5
WELLNESS CENTER IN OPERATING ORDER. 6
10–657.7. 7
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “FUND” MEANS THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND 8
WELLNESS CENTER FUND. 9
(B) THERE IS A CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER FUND. 10
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO: 11
(1) USE THE FUND AS A REVOLVING F UND FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS 12
SUBTITLE AS IT RELAT ES TO THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS 13
CENTER; AND 14
(2) PAY ANY EXPENSES INC URRED BY THE AUTHORITY THAT ARE 15
RELATED TO THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER. 16
(D) THE AUTHORITY SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 17
(E) (1) THE FUND IS A CONTINUING , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 18
SUBJECT TO REVERSION UNDER § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 19
PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 20
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 21
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 22
(F) (1) TO THE EXTENT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE BY THE AUTHORITY, 23
THE RECEIPTS OF THE FUND SHALL BE PLEDGED TO AND CHARGED WITH THE 24
FOLLOWING RELATING T O THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS 25
CENTER: 26
(I) PAYMENT OF DEBT SERVICE ON AUTHORITY BONDS; 27
(II) ALL REASONABLE CHARG ES AND EXPENSES RELA TED TO 28
THE AUTHORITY’S BORROWING; AND 29
SENATE BILL 575 11
(III) THE MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY OBLIGATIONS. 1
(2) THE PLEDGE SHALL BE E FFECTIVE AS PROVIDED IN § 10–634 OF 2
THIS SUBTITLE. 3
(G) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 4
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR DEPOSIT IN THE FUND; 5
(2) REVENUES COLLECTED OR RECEIVED FROM ANY SOURCE UNDER 6
THIS SUBTITLE CONCER NING THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS 7
CENTER; AND 8
(3) ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY MADE AVAILABLE FROM ANY PUBLIC OR 9
PRIVATE SOURCE FOR THE PURPOSES ESTABLISHED FOR THE FUND. 10
(H) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND 11
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 12
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE PAID INTO THE 13
FUND. 14
Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
6–226. 16
(a) (2) (ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 17
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 18
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 19
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 20
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accru e to the General 21
Fund of the State. 22
(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (i i) of this paragraph do not 23
apply to the following funds: 24
212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 25
Fund; [and] 26
213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 27
214. THE CHARLES COUNTY SPORTS AND WELLNESS 28
CENTER FUND. 29
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 30
12 SENATE BILL 575
October 1, 2026. 1