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.
*sb0867*
SENATE BILL 867
C8 6lr3214
By: Senator A. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 18, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Economic Development – Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission – 2
Alterations 3
FOR the purpose of expanding the purpose of the Maryland Aerospace and Technology 4
Commission by promoting innovation in space science, space technology, and 5
aeronautics; altering the membership, duties, and staff responsibilities of the 6
Commission; requiring the Commission to appoint an Executive Direct or; 7
authorizing the Commission to provide grants to certain entities for certain 8
purposes; and generally relating to the Maryland Aerospace and Technology 9
Commission. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Economic Development 12
Section 5–2601, 5–2602, 5–2603(a) and (d), 5–2604, 5–2605, and 5–2608(a) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – Economic Development 17
Section 5–2603(b) and (c) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
2 SENATE BILL 867
Article – Economic Development 1
5–2601. 2
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(b) “Commission” means the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission. 4
(c) “ELIGIBLE ENTITY” MEANS: 5
(1) A BUSINESS OR NONPRO FIT ENTITY INVOLVED IN 6
AEROSPACE–RELATED TECHNOLOGIES; 7
(2) A GOVERNMENT ENTITY; OR 8
(3) AN INSTITUTION OF HI GHER EDUCATION THAT CONDUCTS 9
AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE STATE. 10
(D) “Institution of higher education” means an educational institution in the State 11
that: 12
(1) by law or charter: 13
(i) is a public or nonprofit educational institution; and 14
(ii) is authorized to provide: 15
1. a program of education beyond the high school level and 16
award a bachelor’s or advanced degree; or 17
2. a program of 2 or more years’ duration that is accepted for 18
full credit toward a bachelor’s degree; and 19
(2) meets the standards and regulations that the Maryland Higher 20
Education Commission prescribes and is authorized to issue a certificate, diploma, or 21
degree under Title 12 of the Education Article. 22
[(d)] (E) “Zone” means an aerospace and technology zone designated under § 23
5–2607 of this subtitle. 24
5–2602. 25
(a) There is a Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission in the 26
Department. 27
SENATE BILL 867 3
(b) The purpose of the Commission is to promote innovation in the fields of space 1
exploration, SPACE SCIENCE , SPACE TECHNOLOGY , AERONAUTICS, and commercial 2
aerospace opportunities, including the integration of space, aeronautics, and aviation 3
industries into the economy of the State. 4
5–2603. 5
(a) The Commission consists of the following members: 6
(1) the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; 7
(2) a member of the Senate FROM EACH DESIGNATED AEROSPACE 8
ZONE, appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as [an] ex officio nonvoting 9
[member] MEMBERS; 10
(3) a mem ber of the House of Delegates FROM EACH DESIGNATED 11
AEROSPACE ZONE, appointed by the Speaker of the House, who shall serve as [an] ex 12
officio nonvoting [member] MEMBERS; 13
(4) the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s 14
Goddard Space Flight Center, or the Director’s designee, who shall serve as an ex officio 15
nonvoting member; 16
(5) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 17
Administration, or the Administrator’s designee, who shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting 18
member; 19
(6) the Director of the [Federal Bureau of Investigation] NAVAL CENTER 20
FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY OF THE NAVAL RESEARCH LAB, or the Director’s designee, 21
who shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member; 22
(7) the [president of the Goddard Contractors’ Association] CHAIR OF THE 23
MARYLAND AEROSPACE ALLIANCE, or the [president’s] CHAIR’S designee; 24
(8) the President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, or the 25
President’s designee; 26
(9) the President of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, or the 27
President’s designee; 28
(10) THE COMMAND MASTER CHIEF OF NAVAL AIR STATION 29
PATUXENT RIVER, OR THE MASTER CHIEF’S DESIGNEE, WHO SHALL SERVE AS A N 30
EX OFFICIO NONVOTING MEMBER; 31
(11) the president of the Maryland Space Business Roundtable, or the 32
president’s designee; 33
4 SENATE BILL 867
[(11)] (12) the President of the University of Maryland, College Park, or the 1
President’s designee; 2
[(12)] (13) the director of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, or 3
the director’s designee; 4
[(13)] (14) the director of the Association of Universities for Research in 5
Astronomy, or the director’s designee; 6
[(14)] (15) the director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, or the 7
director’s designee; 8
(16) THE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM, 9
OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; 10
(17) THE CHAIR OF THE MARYLAND AVIATION COMMISSION, OR THE 11
CHAIR’S DESIGNEE, WHO SHALL SERVE AS AN EX OFFICIO NONVOTING MEMBER; 12
(18) THE CHAIR OF THE MARYLAND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY 13
COUNCIL, OR THE CHAIR ’S DESIGNEE , WHO SHALL SERVE AS AN EX OFFICIO 14
NONVOTING MEMBER; 15
(19) THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY 16
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TEDCO), OR THE CHIEF’S DESIGNEE; 17
(20) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECT OR OF THE MARYLAND ECONOMIC 18
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MEDCO), OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; and 19
[(15)] (21) the following members, appointed by the Governor with the 20
advice and consent of the Senate: 21
(i) a representative of institutions of higher education; 22
(ii) [a] AN AEROSPACE representative of the National Society of 23
Black Engineers; 24
(iii) a representative of the Maryland aerospace manufacturing 25
community; [and] 26
(iv) [a representative ] UP TO THREE TWO REPRESENTATIVES of 27
the aerospace technology industry; AND 28
(V) UP TO THREE TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMERCIAL 29
SPACE INDUSTRY. 30
SENATE BILL 867 5
(b) A member of the Commission: 1
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 2
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 3
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 4
(c) The Commission and its members are subject to the Maryland Public Ethics 5
Law. 6
(d) (1) The term of an appointed member is 4 years. 7
(2) The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the 8
terms provided for members on October 1, [2024] 2026. 9
(3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 10
appointed and qualifies. 11
(4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 12
rest of the term until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 13
5–2604. 14
(A) (1) SUBJECT TO THE APPROV AL OF THE GOVERNOR, THE 15
COMMISSION SHALL APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 16
(2) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF T HE 17
COMMISSION. 18
(3) THE COMMISSION SHALL DETE RMINE THE SALARY OF THE 19
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 20
(B) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 21
DESIGNEE, SHALL: 22
(1) SERVE AS THE CHIEF A DMINISTRATIVE OFFICE R OF THE 23
COMMISSION; 24
(2) MANAGE THE ADMINISTR ATIVE AFFAIRS AND TE CHNICAL 25
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION IN ACCORDA NCE WITH POLICIES AN D 26
PROCEDURES THAT THE COMMISSION ESTABLISHES; 27
(3) MANAGE EXECUTION OF ALL PROJECTS AND INI TIATIVES AS 28
CONSIDERED NECESSARY BY THE COMMISSION; 29
6 SENATE BILL 867
(4) ENSURE THAT GRANT PR OPOSALS SUBMITTED TO THE 1
COMMISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS 2
SUBTITLE AND ANY REG ULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION BEFORE THOSE 3
PROPOSALS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION; 4
(5) APPROVE ALL SALARIES, PER DIEM PAYMENTS, AND ALLOWABLE 5
EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION, AND 6
CONSULTANTS OF THE COMMISSION; 7
(6) APPROVE ANY EXPENSES INCIDENTAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE 8
COMMISSION; AND 9
(7) PERFORM ANY OTHER DUTIES THAT THE COMMISSION DIRECTS IN 10
CARRYING OUT THIS SUBTITLE. 11
[(a)] (C) (1) The Department shall provide staff support to the Commission. 12
(2) THE STAFF OF THE COMMISSION SHALL: 13
(I) ATTEND ALL MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION; 14
(II) ACT AS SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION; 15
(III) KEEP MINUTES OF ALL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION; 16
AND 17
(IV) CONNECT THE COMMISSION TO OTHER R ELEVANT 18
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND, OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS , 19
THE MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE MARYLAND 20
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND LOCAL AGENCIES. 21
[(b)] (D) The Commission may retain consultants as necessary. 22
5–2605. 23
(A) The Commission shall: 24
(1) identify research and funding opportunities for entities in this State 25
that: 26
(i) strengthen and enhance the State’s leadership position in civil, 27
commercial, and military aerospace research and development; 28
SENATE BILL 867 7
[(ii) integrate the aerospace industry into the economy of the State;] 1
(II) ATTRACT INVESTMENT I NTO THE STATE’S AEROSPACE 2
INDUSTRY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON COMMERCIALIZATION; 3
(III) PROVIDE TANGIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS; 4
[(iii)] (IV) capitalize, promote, and assist in the development AND 5
TRAINING of A DIVERSE workforce [training] to further the development of emerging 6
technologies required for all aspects of [space exploration] AEROSPACE; and 7
[(iv)] (V) develop public–private partnerships that advance both the 8
State’s aerospace industry and the surrounding community; 9
(2) establish advisory committees as needed; 10
(3) DEVELOP POLICY PROPO SALS TO IMPROVE THE STATE’S 11
ATTRACTIVENESS FOR THE GROWTH OF A VIBRANT AEROSPACE INDUSTRY; 12
[(3)] (4) develop aerospace–related educational opportunities within the 13
State in coordination with local educational institutions; and 14
[(4)] (5) develop and annually update a strategic plan developed in 15
accordance with § 5–2606 of this subtitle to implement the goals of the Commission. 16
(B) THE COMMISSION MAY PROVID E GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES FOR 17
THE PURPOSE OF: 18
(1) DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING AEROSPAC E–RELATED 19
TECHNOLOGIES; 20
(2) RESEARCH INVOLVING ADVANCEMENT OF AEROSPACE–RELATED 21
TOPICS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN; 22
(3) WORKFORCE TRAINING T O ENABLE THE EXECUTI ON OF THE 23
ADVANCEMENT OF AEROS PACE–RELATED TOPICS IN AC CORDANCE WITH THE 24
STRATEGIC PLAN; AND 25
(4) DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPRO VEMENTS 26
THAT ENHANCE THE STATE’S ABILITY TO COMPETE IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY. 27
(C) A GRANT AWARDED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH 28
THE STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSION. 29
8 SENATE BILL 867
(D) THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH: 1
(1) A COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS; 2
(2) CRITERIA AND PROCEDU RES FOR MAKING GRANT AWARDS, 3
INCLUDING PRIVATE LEVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT AWARDS; AND 4
(3) PROCESSES AND METRICS FOR MONITORING THE SUCCE SS AND 5
IMPACT OF GRANT AWARDS. 6
(E) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, THE 7
GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF 8
$30,000,000 TO THE COMMISSION FOR ADMINI STRATIVE CO STS AND MAKING 9
GRANTS. 10
5–2608. 11
(a) On or before [October] JULY 1 each year, the Commission shall submit a 12
report to the Governor, the Maryland Economic Development Commission, and, in 13
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the terms of the initial 15
members of the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission appointed under § 16
5–2603(a)(21)(ii), (iv) 5–2603(a)(15)(iv), and (v) of the Economic Development Article, as 17
enacted by Section 1 of this Act, shall expire as follows: 18
(1) two members in 2028; and 19
(2) two members in 2029; and 20
(3) two remaining members in 2030. 21
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2026. 23