The Maryland Tourism Coalition Legislative Committee is currently monitoring the following legislation being considered by the General Assembly. The committee convenes every Monday at 12:00 pm via Zoom to discuss legislation, tourism positions, and courses of action. All MTC members are encouraged to join these calls and share their thoughts on the issues at hand. If you have questions or comments about any of the bills below or if you think there is another issue or piece of legislation MTC should be monitoring, please email our Legislative Committee Chair, Matt Libber at mlibber@mdsoccerplex.org. Please also email Matt for Zoom details.

2026 Maryland Tourism Coalition Bill Tracking 

Bill Number XFile Bill Number Sponsor Synopsis Title Committee Current Status Position
HB0020 SB0017 Delegate Amprey Establishes an Event Promoters Alcoholic Beverage Permit Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – Related Event Promoter’s Permit Government, Labor, and Elections Favorable Reading by Government, Labor, and Elections Support
HB0077   Delegate Woods Places restrictions on the resale of event tickets Consumer Protection – Sale and Resale of Event Tickets – Registration and Regulation Economic Matters Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. Info Letter
HB0079   Delegate Chisholm Modifies the Climate Solutions Act of 2022 to include language that changes must be economically feasible. Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2026 Environment and Transportation Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. Support with Amendments
HB0188 SB0003 Delegate Charkoudian Modifies the calculations for Unemployment Insurance in the State Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2026 Economic Matters Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. Monitor
HB0191   Delegate Wims Prohibits businesses from not accepting cash payments Consumer Protection – Retail Transactions – Cash Payments Economic Matters Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. Oppose
HB0201   Delegate Fisher Allows certain hospitality workers to subtract tips from their taxes upon annual filing. Income Tax – Tips or Gratuities – Subtraction Modification (No Income Taxes on Tips Act) Ways and Means Hearing 1/29 at 1:00 p.m. Monitor
HB0238 SB0226 Chair, Economic Matters Committee Altering the voting membership of the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, and changes grant distribution Maryland Heritage Area Authority and Heritage Areas – Alterations Economic Matters Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) Monitor
HB0272   Chair, Health Committee Reduces regulations for on-farm food service for agrotourism Food Establishments – Lavatory Requirement and On-Farm Food Service Facility License Health Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. Monitor
HB0390 SB0282 Speaker Annual Budget Bill Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027) Appropriations First Reading Appropriations Monitor
HB0506   Delegate Qi Changes how property taxes are distirbuted in a State supported development zone. Effects Main Street, arts and Entertainment, enterprise zones, etc. Economic Development – Transformational Project Financing Program – Establishment Economic Matters Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) Hold – for Matt Discussion with Del Qi
HB0654   Delegate Behler Update Heritage Area Authority Funding and Grant Structure Natural Resources – Maryland Heritage Areas Authority – Funding and Grants Environment and Transportation Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. Support
HB0898 SB0388 Speaker Overhaul of Economic Development strategy in the State Economic Development – Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act Economic Matters Reassigned to Ways and Means and Economic Matters Hold
HB0916 SB0674 Delegate Spiegel Adding a hotel tax to pay for transportation projects Transportation – Regional Transportation Authorities Appropriations Reassigned to Environment and Transportation and Appropriations Oppose
HB0988   Delegate Hartman Repeals the BEPS requirements Environment – Building Energy Performance Standards – Repeal Environment and Transportation First Reading Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters Support
HB0993 SB0666 Delegate Valderrama Would prohibit local jurisdictions from limiting the ability of property owners or leases from using property for short term rentals Real Property – Short-Term Rentals Economic Matters First Reading Economic Matters Hold
SB0003 HB0188 Senator Kramer Modifies the calculations for Unemployment Insurance in the State Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2026 Finance Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. Monitor
SB0017 HB0020 Senator Hayes Establishes an Event Promoters Alcoholic Beverage Permit Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – Related Event Promoter’s Permit Finance Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections Support
SB0209   Senator McKay Adds hotel tax to rental units at Savage Highlands State Park with a portion going  back to tourism promotion Department of Natural Resources – Savage Highlands State Park – Hotel Rental Surcharge Education, Energy, and Envirnoment Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. Support
SB0226 HB0238 Chair, Finance Committee Altering the voting membership of the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, and changes grant distribution Maryland Heritage Area Authority and Heritage Areas – Alterations Finance Favorable Report by Finance Monitor
SB0282 HB0390 President Annual Budget Bill Budget Bill Appropriations First Reading Budget and Taxation TBD
SB0388   President Overhaul of Economic Development strategy in the State Economic Development – Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act Budget and Taxation Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Budget and Taxation) Hold
SB0455 HB0506 Senator Rosapepe Changes how property taxes are distirbuted in a State supported development zone. Effects Main Street, arts and Entertainment, enterprise zones, etc. Economic Development – Transformational Project Financing Program – Establishment Finance First Reading Finance Hold – for Matt Discussion with Del Qi
SB0479   Senator McKay Exempts building built prior to 10/1/22 from having to replace equipment before its normal end of life cycle Environment – Building Energy Performance Standards and Energy Use Intensity Targets – Exemptions Education, Energy, and the Environment First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment Support
SB0575   Charles County Senators Allows MSA to acquire land and build the Charles County Sports and Wellness Center Economic Development – Maryland Stadium Authority – Charles County Sports and Wellness Center Budget and Taxation Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. Support
SB0638 HB0654 Senator Cordeman Update Heritage Area Authority Funding and Grant Structure Natural Resources – Maryland Heritage Areas Authority – Funding and Grants Budget and Taxation Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. Support
SB0666 HB0993 Senator Harris Would prohibit local jurisdictions from limiting the ability of property owners or leases from using property for short term rentals Real Property – Short-Term Rentals Budget and Taxation First Reading Judicial Proceedings Hold
SB0674 HB0916 Senator Washington, A. Adding a hotel tax to pay for transportation projects Transportation – Regional Transportation Authorities Finance First Reading Budget and Taxation and Finance Oppose
SB0718   Senator Folden Would allow Fred Co. Craft beverage venues to sell other MD craft beverages for onsite consumption Frederick County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class L Permit   First Reading Finance Support