This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Senators Lam and Hester
Last action
2026-05-12
Official status
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 357
Effective date
2026-10-01
Plain English Breakdown
The official source does not provide details on the exact nature of the programs, ceremonies, and activities expected from educational and cultural organizations.
Korean American Day
This law requires the Governor to proclaim January 13 as Korean American Day each year and urges educational and cultural organizations to observe it with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
What This Bill Does
The Governor must annually declare January 13 as Korean American Day.
The proclamation encourages educational and cultural organizations to properly observe Korean American Day with suitable events.
Who It Names or Affects
The Governor of Maryland
Educational and cultural organizations in Maryland
Terms To Know
Governor
The leader of a state who is elected by the people to make laws and run the government.
Proclamation
A formal announcement made by someone in authority, like the Governor, telling everyone about an important day or event.
Limits and Unknowns
The law does not specify financial support for these events.
It is unclear what specific activities are expected from educational and cultural organizations.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL 627
(Third Reading File Bill)
AMENDMENT NO.
AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL 627
(Third Reading File Bill)
AMENDMENT NO.
1
On page 1, in line 2, strike “Day” and substitute “and Italian American Days”;
in line 3, strike “a”; in the same line, strike “day” and substitute “ days”; in lines 4 and
5, in each instance, strike “Day” and substitute “and Italian American days”; in line 8,
strike “7–421” and substitute “ 7–416 and 7 –417 through 7 –421”; in line 9, strike “7 –
422” and substitute “ 7–417 and 7–419 through 7–423”; in line 14, after “7 –401” insert
“and 7–418”; in line 18, strike “7–421” and substitute “7–416 and 7–417 through 7–421”;
and in line 19, strike “7–422” and substitute “7–417 and 7–419 through 7–423”.
AMENDMENT NO.
2
On page 2, after line 7, insert:
“7–418.
Bill History
2026-05-12Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 357
2026-04-11House
Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
2026-03-09House
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
2026-03-05Senate
Third Reading Passed (40-0)
2026-03-03Senate
Favorable Adopted
2026-03-03Senate
Second Reading Passed
2026-02-16Senate
Hearing 2/16 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-16Senate
Hearing canceled
2026-02-16Senate
Hearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-05Senate
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Korean American Day
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Korean American Day
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Government, Labor, and Elections
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - Korean American Day
Official Summary Text
Requiring the Governor annually to proclaim January 13 as Korean American Day; and requiring the proclamation to urge educational and cultural organizations to observe Korean American Day properly with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
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.
*sb0627*
SENATE BILL 627
P1 6lr3379
CF HB 770
By: Senators Lam and Hester
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Korean American Day 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim a certain day as Korean 3
American Day; requiring the proclamation to urge certain organizations to observe 4
Korean American Day properly; and generally relating to Korean American Day. 5
BY renumbering 6
Article – General Provisions 7
Section 7–401 through 7–421 8
to be Section 7–402 through 7–422, respectively 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – General Provisions 13
Section 7–401 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That Section(s) 7–401 through 7–421 of Article – General Provisions of the Annotated Code 18
of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 7–402 through 7–422, respectively. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 20
as follows: 21
2 SENATE BILL 627
Article – General Provisions 1
7–401. 2
(A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHALL PROCLAIM JANUARY 13 AS KOREAN 3
AMERICAN DAY. 4
(B) THE PROCLAMATION SHAL L URGE EDUCATIONAL A ND CULTURAL 5
ORGANIZATIONS TO OBS ERVE KOREAN AMERICAN DAY PROPERLY WITH 6
APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, CEREMONIES, AND ACTIVITIES. 7
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8
October 1, 2026. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.