SB 638

Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants

Sponsor: Paul D. Corderman (District 2)Committee: Budget and TaxationSubject: Natural Resources - GenerallyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 277 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award grants and loans to local jurisdictions to develop certain management plans and encourage revitalization of and reinvestment in certified heritage area resources; decreasing from 10% to 7% or $600,000, whichever is greater, of Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund that may be used for certain operating expenses; and increasing from $3,000,000 to $9,000,000 the maximum amount of funding that may be transferred to the Fund.

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Testimony (27)

MGA witness list

FAV 27Favorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Arnold, Joan	African American Resource, Cultural and Heritage Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baco, Meagan	Anacostia Trails Heritage Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	Challenger, Lisa	Beach to Bay Heritage Area, Inc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Comer, Elizabeth	Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cox, Jane	Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	GILPIN, HOLLY	Dorchester County Office of Tourism & Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	Owings, Gail	Eastern Shore Heritage Inc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kercheval, Jim	GHC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Huard, Mallory	Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peterson, Olivia	Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shatto, Elizabeth	Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Corderman, Paul	Maryland General Assembly	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Corderman, Paul	Maryland General Assembly	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cools, Kyla	Patapsco Heritage Greenway	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Redding, Nicholaslobbyist	Preservation Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stapleton, Christopher	Simiosys, LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Walker, Lucille	Southern Maryland Heritage Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	Grinder, Vickie	Town of Thurmont Office of Economic Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	Riley, Samuel	UNION MILLS HOMESTEAD FOUNDATION INC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ziedelis, Dave	Visit Frederick	Written (PDF)
FAV	Frey, Paul	Washington County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Boettcher, Diane	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carty, Brigitte	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Libber, Matt	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	O'Halloran, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Corderman, Senator Cordermanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Corderman, Senator Cordermanlegislator	Individual	Position only