SB0818 • 2026

State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group

Healthcare Housing Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Senator Hayes
Last action: 2026-05-12
Official status: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 390
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms if requirements are not met by developers.

State Center Development and Advisory Group

This law establishes a State Center Advisory Group to provide community input on the development of State Center in Baltimore City, ensuring transparency and information-sharing between developers, the state agency, and local communities.

What This Bill Does

Creates a State Center Advisory Group to give advice on the development of State Center.
Requires engagement with the Advisory Group during planning and construction.

Who It Names or Affects

Developers working on State Center projects
Community members near State Center

Terms To Know

Advisory Group: A group of people chosen to give advice about the development of State Center.
Anchor Institutions: Major tenants like universities or hospitals that provide public services and are part of the development plan.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify how long the Advisory Group will operate.
It is unclear what happens if developers do not follow the requirements set by this act.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

583521/1

None

Favorable with Amendments { 583521/1

Plain English: AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 818 (First Reading File Bill) On page 2, strike beginning with “ LEVERAGE” in line 14 down through “ AREA” in line 15 and substitute “ INFORM THE IDENTIFIC ATION OF POTENTIAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS A SSOCIATED WITH THE P ROJECT IN THE IMMEDI ATE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BORDER STATE CENTER”; strike in their entirety lines 21 through 24, inclusive; in lines 25 and 27, strike “ (II)” and “ (III)”, respectively, and substitute “(I)” and “(II)”, respectively; after line 27, insert: “1.

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 818 (First Reading File Bill) On page 2, strike beginning with “ LEVERAGE” in line 14 down through “ AREA” in line 15 and substitute “ INFORM THE IDENTIFIC ATION OF POTENTIAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS A SSOCIATED WITH THE P ROJECT IN THE IMMEDI ATE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BORDER STATE CENTER”; strike in their entirety lines 21 through 24, inclusive; in lines 25 and 27, strike “ (II)” and “ (III)”, respectively, and substitute “(I)” and “(II)”, respectively; after line 27, insert: “1.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME);”; and in lines 28 and 29, strike “1.” and “ 2.”, respectively, and substitute “ 2.” and “ 3.”, respectively.
On page 3, in lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, strike “3.”, “4.”, “5.”, “6.”, “7.”, “8.”, “9.”, “10.”, “12.”, “13.”, “14.”, “15.”, “16.”, “17.”, “18.”, and “19.”, respectively, and substitute “4.”, “6.”, “ 7.”, “ 8.”, “ 9.”, “ 10.”, “ 11.”, “ 13.”, “ 14.”, “15.”, “16.”, “17.”, “18.”, “19.”, “20.”, and “21.”, respectively; after line 1, insert: “5.
BOLTON HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION;”; after line 8, insert: “12.

853529/1

None

Substitute Committee Amendment { 853529/1 Adopted

Plain English: SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 818 (First Reading File Bill) On page 2, strike beginning with “ LEVERAGE” in line 14 down through “ AREA” in line 15 and substitute “ INFORM THE IDENTIFIC ATION OF POTENTIAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS A SSOCIATED WITH THE P ROJECT IN THE IMMEDI ATE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BORDER STATE CENTER”; strike in their entirety lines 21 through 24, inclusive; and in lines 25 and 27, strike “ (II)” and “(III)”, respectively, and substitute “(I)” and “(II)”, respectively.

SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 818 (First Reading File Bill) On page 2, strike beginning with “ LEVERAGE” in line 14 down through “ AREA” in line 15 and substitute “ INFORM THE IDENTIFIC ATION OF POTENTIAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS A SSOCIATED WITH THE P ROJECT IN THE IMMEDI ATE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BORDER STATE CENTER”; strike in their entirety lines 21 through 24, inclusive; and in lines 25 and 27, strike “ (II)” and “(III)”, respectively, and substitute “(I)” and “(II)”, respectively.
On page 3, after line 1, insert: “4.
BOLTON HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION;”; in lines 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, strike “4.”, “5.”, “6.”, “7.”, “8.”, “9.”, “ 10.”, “ 12.”, “ 13.”, “ 14.”, “ 15.”, “ 16.”, “ 17.”, “ 18.”, and “ 19.”, respectively, and substitute “5.”, “6.”, “7.”, “8.”, “9.”, “10.”, “12.”, “13.”, “14.”, “15.”, “16.”, “17.”, “18.”, “19.”, and “20.”, respectively; after line 8, insert: “11.
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART;”; strike line 10 in its entirety; and strike beginning with “ WITHIN” in line 20 down through “OF” in line 21 and substitute “IN THE AREA SURROUNDING”.

Bill History

2026-05-12 Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 390
2026-04-08 House
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
2026-03-25 House
Third Reading Passed (127-7)
2026-03-24 House
Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters)
2026-03-24 Senate
Returned Passed
2026-03-21 House
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-03-16 Senate
Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation
2026-03-10 House
Referred Economic Matters Appropriations
2026-03-05 Senate
Third Reading Passed (39-0)
2026-03-04 Senate
Motion Reconsider Favorable with Amendments (Senator Guzzone) Adopted
2026-03-04 Senate
Committee Amendment { 583521/1 Withdrawn
2026-03-04 Senate
Substitute Committee Amendment { 853529/1 Adopted
2026-03-04 Senate
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
2026-03-03 Senate
Motion Special Order until 3/20 (Senator Guzzone) Adopted
2026-03-02 Senate
Favorable with Amendments { 583521/1 Adopted
2026-03-02 Senate
Motion Special Order until 3/19 (Senator Guzzone) Adopted
2026-02-28 Senate
Favorable with Amendments { 583521/1
2026-02-28 Senate
Motion Special Order until 3/17 (Senator Guzzone) Adopted
2026-02-11 Senate
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-06 Senate
First Reading Budget and Taxation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Budget and Taxation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Economic Matters
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Appropriations
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group

Official Summary Text

Altering certain requirements related to the development of a certain project at State Center; and establishing a State Center Advisory Group to provide community input, inform the identification of potential community benefits associated with the project in the surrounding areas, and facilitate transparency and information-sharing.

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.
*sb0818*

SENATE BILL 818
C8, P2 6lr3201
CF HB 1619
By: Senator Hayes
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Committee amendments withdrawn, March 4, 2026
Senate action: Adopted with substitute committee amendments, March 4, 2026
Read second time: March 4, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

State Center – Development – Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory 2
Group 3

FOR the purpose of altering certain requirements related to the development of a certain 4
project at State Center; establishing a State Center Advisory Group; and generally 5
relating to the development of State Center. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – State Finance and Procurement 8
Section 10A–403 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND , 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – State Finance and Procurement 14

10A–403. 15

(a) IN THIS SECTION , “ADVISORY GROUP” MEANS THE STATE CENTER 16
ADVISORY GROUP. 17

(B) This section applies to the project development of the 28 –acre State–owned 18
2 SENATE BILL 818

property in Baltimore City bordered by Dolphin Street, North Howard Street, Martin 1
Luther King Boulevard, and Madison Avenue, commonly known as State Center. 2

[(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the State or its reporting 3
agency may not enter into a new or modified contract or plan for the development of State 4
Center unless the new or modified contract or plan includes provisions that require: 5

(1) an enforceable community benefits agreement between the developer 6
and the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, Inc. to provide for a concerted and coordinated 7
effort by the developer and the community throughout the entire planning, development, 8
and construction phases of the project; 9

(2) a comprehensive local hiring plan for the project that includes goals for 10
short–term construction jobs, long–term employment opportunities, and job training; and 11

(3) an economic improvement plan for the project that includes goal s for 12
the use of minority– and women–owned and locally owned businesses.] 13

(C) (1) THE STATE OR ITS REPORTING AGENCY SHALL CONVENE A STATE 14
CENTER ADVISORY GROUP. 15

(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY GROUP IS TO: 16

(I) PROVIDE COMMUNITY IN PUT ON THE DEVELO PMENT OF 17
STATE CENTER; 18

(II) LEVERAGE BENEFITS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT O F STATE 19
CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHO ODS AND RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA 20
INFORM THE IDENTIFIC ATION OF POTENTIAL C OMMUNITY BENEFITS AS SOCIATED 21
WITH THE PROJECT IN THE IMMEDIATE SURROU NDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT 22
BORDER STATE CENTER; AND 23

(III) FACILITATE TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMATION –SHARING 24
BETWEEN THE DEVELOPE R, THE STATE OR ITS REPORTIN G AGENCY , AND THE 25
COMMUNITY SURROUNDING STATE CENTER. 26

(3) THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL CONSIST O F THE FOLLOWING 27
MEMBERS: 28

(I) THE PRESIDENT, OR THE PRESIDENT’S DESIGNEE, OF EACH 29
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LISTED IN THE BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF 30
PLANNING’S COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY THAT IS LOC ATED IN WHOLE 31
OR IN PART WITHIN A 1–MILE RADIUS OF STATE CENTER; 32

SENATE BILL 818 3

(II) (I) A D ESIGNEE OF EACH ANCH OR INSTITUTION 1
DESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION; AND 2

(III) (II) A DESIGNEE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES: 3

1. ARENA PLAYERS; 4

2. BALTIMORE ALUMNI CHAPTER KAPPA ALPHA PSI 5
FRATERNITY INC.; 6

3. BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA; 7

4. BOLTON HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION; 8

4. 5. DRUID HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 9
CORPORATION; 10

5. 6. GRAND LODGE PRINCE HALL MASONS; 11

6. 7. HERITAGE CROSSING RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION; 12

7. 8. MCCULLOH HOMES RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION; 13

8. 9. MADISON PARK IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION; 14

9. 10. MARBLE HILL ASSOCIATION; 15

11. MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART; 16

10. 12. MIDTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; 17

11. MT. ROYAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION; 18

12. 13. MT. VERNON BELVEDERE ASSOCIATION; 19

13. 14. PENNSYLVANIA AVE REDEVELOPMENT 20
COLLABORATIVE; 21

14. 15. SETON HILL ASSOCIATION; 22

15. 16. UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE; 23

16. 17. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL SYSTEM 24
4 SENATE BILL 818

MIDTOWN CAMPUS; 1

17. 18. UPTON PLANNING COMMITTEE; 2

18. 19. URBAN LEAGUE BALTIMORE; AND 3

19. 20. A FAITH –BASED ORGANIZATION L OCATED 4
WITHIN A 1–MILE RADIUS OF IN THE AREA SURROUNDING STATE CENTER. 5

(4) (I) IF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SERVES ON THE ADVISORY BOARD 6
AS A REPRESENTA TIVE OF A NEIGHBORHO OD ASSOCIATION IS EM PLOYED BY AN 7
ANCHOR INSTITUTION, THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL REPRESENT ONLY THE I NTERESTS 8
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND MAY NOT REPRESENT THE IN TERESTS 9
OF THE ANCHOR INSTITUTION. 10

(II) THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL: 11

1. ADOPT A POLICY ON CO NFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR 12
MEMBERS AS PART OF THE GOVERNANCE PROCEDURES OF THE ADVISORY GROUP; 13
AND 14

2. DEVELOP A CONFLICT –OF–INTEREST DISCLOSURE 15
DOCUMENT. 16

(III) THE ADVISORY GROUP MAY ADDRESS ANY CONFLICTS OF 17
INTEREST AS SET FORTH IN THE GOVERNA NCE PROCEDURES , INCLUDING BY 18
REQUIRING A NEIGHBOR HOOD ASSOCIATION TO APPOINT A DESIGNEE T O THE 19
ADVISORY GROUP WHO IS NOT EMPLOYED BY AN ANCHOR INSTITUTION IF DEEMED 20
NECESSARY TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. 21

(5) (I) THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL ELECT 22
ONE MEMBER TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY GROUP BY MAJORITY VOTE OF 23
THE MEMBERS PRESENT AT THE MEETING TO ELECT A CHAIR. 24

(II) THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL SERVE FOR A 25
TERM DESIGNATED BY THE ADVISORY GROUP. 26

(III) THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL CONTINUE TO 27
SERVE BEYOND THE TERM OF OFFICE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED. 28

(IV) THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL PROVIDE THE 29
MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY GROUP WITH ALL NOTICES RECEIVED BY THE CHAIR. 30

SENATE BILL 818 5

[(c)] (D) Any new or modified development contract or plan shall, to the extent 1
possible, include: 2

(1) [State agencies as the major anchor tenant ] ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS 3
THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC OR COMMUNITY SERVICES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE UN ITS OF 4
THE STATE OR BALTIMORE CITY, AS THE MAJOR TENANTS; 5

(2) space for retail, housing, offices, restaurants, and other private 6
businesses; 7

(3) a high–quality, full–service grocery store; 8

(4) [parking facilities designed to reduce parking impacts on the 9
surrounding communities; 10

(5)] elements designed to increase the connection of State Center to the 11
surrounding communities; and 12

[(6)] (5) green space. 13

(E) (1) THE STATE OR ITS REPORTIN G AGENCY AND ANY DEV ELOPER 14
WHO IS PARTY TO A CONTRACT OR PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE CENTER 15
SHALL ENGAGE WITH TH E ADVISORY GROUP THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING AND 16
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS , INCLUDING BY PROVIDI NG UPDATES ON ANY PU BLIC 17
APPROVAL PROCEEDING. 18

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW AND 19
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS TITLE, CONSISTENT WITH ANY 20
REQUIREMENTS TIED TO PUBLIC FUNDING SOURCES, THE STATE OR ITS REPORTING 21
AGENCY MAY NOT ENTER INTO A NEW OR MODIFI ED CONTRACT OR PLAN FOR THE 22
DEVELOPMENT OF STATE CENTER UNLESS THE NEW OR MODIFIED CONTRACT OR 23
PLAN INCLUDES PROVISIONS THAT REQUIRE: 24

(I) A COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL HIRING PLAN FOR THE PROJECT 25
THAT INCLUDES GOALS: 26

1. FOR SHORT–TERM CONSTRUCTION JOBS; 27

2. FOR LONG –TERM EMPLOYMENT OPPO RTUNITIES; 28
AND 29

3. FOR JOB TRAINING; 30

(II) AN ECONOMIC IMPROVEM ENT PLAN FOR THE PRO JECT 31
6 SENATE BILL 818

THAT INCLUDES GOALS FOR THE USE OF MINOR ITY– AND WOMEN –OWNED AND 1
LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES; AND 2

(III) A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TH E 3
DEVELOPER AND THE ADVISORY GROUP. 4

[(d)] (F) The State or its r eporting agency shall [include the State Center 5
Neighborhood Alliance, Inc., and any other interested community association in: 6

(1) any selection process for a new development contractor; and 7

(2) the development of any new plans for the State Center project or any 8
proposed modifications to existing development contracts for the project ] ENGAGE IN 9
COMMUNITY CONSULTATI ON DURING THE DEVELO PMENT OF STATE CENTER 10
THROUGH COMMUNICATION WITH THE ADVISORY GROUP. 11

[(e)] (G) A developer who is a party to a new contract or plan for the development 12
of State Center shall use best practical efforts to begin construction within [18] 24 months 13
after execution of the new contract and any associated plans. 14

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16

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