Championing Change
Maryland General Assembly – 2025 Priorities
As the Maryland General Assembly reconvenes in Annapolis, Preservation Maryland is working with legislators, committees, and members of the Moore-Miller Administration to support policy and funding that will empower historic preservation efforts across the state. Session lasts 90-days – and begins with bills being introduced, reviewed by committees, and, if successful, voted on. As we move forward, Preservation Maryland will provide regular updates on the priorities identified below. Stay up to date by signing up for our email updates here.
Broadly, the preservation community’s areas of focus in the 2025 session will include:
Safeguarding Critical Funding Sources: From historic tax credits to state heritage areas, historic preservation depends on consistent funding. Given the state’s projected $2.9 billion budget deficit, we anticipate a struggle to safeguard key funding sources. Preservation Maryland will be keeping a watchful eye on the following programs once the governor releases his budget in early January:
- Historic Revitalization Small & Large Commercial Tax Credit: The most significant state-funded source of capital for large-scale rehabilitation projects. Cuts during the 2008 recession have hampered this program for years – and significant cuts now would harm housing creation, which much of the program’s projects support, at a time when housing is needed more than ever before. Anticipated Risk for Cuts: HIGH.
- Program Open Space: From land preservation to the state’s Heritage Areas, Program Open Space is the state’s largest investment in conservation and recreation. Components of the program support local and state land preservation, playground construction, and state park operations. Cuts to this program would hurt public lands at a time when they are receiving more visitors than at any point in recent history. Anticipated Risk for Cuts: HIGH.
- Maryland Historical Trust Grant Programs: Non-capital survey & research, capital grants, and the potential for a revitalized museum grant program are critical for the state’s heritage landscape to thrive. Anticipated Risk for Cuts: MODERATE.
- Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) Grant Programs: The MD DHCD is a significant and trusted funder of community revitalization efforts across the state – grants that support many historic rehabilitation endeavors. Cuts to Community Legacy or the Strategic Demolition and Growth Fund could set back many important projects. Anticipated Risk for Cuts: MODERATE.
Investing in our Public Lands & State-Owned Historic Resources
- Public Lands Bills: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources stewards more historic resources than any other entity in the State of Maryland. As a result, Preservation Maryland considers advocacy on behalf of the department critical to achieving positive preservation outcomes in Maryland. Following our advocacy in 2022 on behalf of the Great Maryland Outdoors Act, the organization anticipates support this session for legislation which will increase investments in operations, access and preservation of public lands and the historic, cultural, and recreational resources located on those lands.
Smart Growth & Affordability
- The housing crisis in Maryland is a real, persistent and considerable challenge. Smart Growth Maryland, a program of Preservation Maryland, is working with advocates and stakeholders in the affordable housing and smart growth communities to evaluate, and support legislation targeted at accelerating housing creation in established communities through incentives, thoughtful planning, and reasonable requirements. As legislation is introduced, the organization will provide regular updates. Learn more about our smart growth work.
Pro-Preservation Policies in the Areas of Research, Energy, Cemeteries & Law
- Every legislative session there are numerous pieces of legislation introduced that are unanticipated or otherwise unknown until “dropped” by a legislator. Our team keeps a close eye on these pieces of legislation – looking for opportunities to speak on behalf of innovation and policies that make preservation more effective or address missing needs.
- Under this broad category, we expect to see positive legislation introduced around historic cemeteries, new research on African American history, energy planning and the impacts of transmission lines on historic resources, and defense of conservation easement law.
What to Do if You Are Moved to Take Action?
If any of the proposed pieces of legislation or budget issues are of concern to you or your organization – you can make a real difference. Contacting your legislator (in both the House and Senate) is critical, especially now as we are early in the session.
Once pieces of legislation are introduced, or budget hearings are scheduled, Preservation Maryland will help target advocates and refine our talking points – so please sign up for our updates to keep yourself informed.
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Maryland General Assembly 2024: Advocacy Results
The 2024 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly has now concluded, with many notable statewide victories for the preservation community. After 90 days of championing key bills and testifying on many pieces of important legislation, Preservation Maryland is proud to report that we were again able to make significant policy advances through the following pieces of passed legislation.
PASSED:
HB1461/SB674 Abandoned or Sunken Vessels and Waterway Improvement Fund Grants
Supports diverse programs throughout the bay watershed. Funding will be appropriated annually; at least $250,000 distributed from the existing Waterway Improvement Fund to a maritime grant program.
Sen. Salling, and Sen. Simonaire
HB688/SB616 Maryland Historical Trust – Historical and Cultural Museum Assistance Program – Funding
Authorizes the Gov. to provide $5M for grants to museums under the Historical and Cultural Museum Assistance Program.
HB133/SB448 Commission to Study African American Civil War Soldiers in Maryland
This new commission will be empaneled to study African American Civil War soldiers recruited from Maryland in order to make certain recommendations regarding potential curriculum, memorials to these soldiers, and opportunities to increase awareness of the nearly 9,000 black soldiers from Maryland who fought in the American Civil War.
SB596 Department of Planning – Maryland Humanities Council – Appropriation to the Marilyn Hatza Memorial
Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity (SHINE) Grantmaking Initiative
Authorizes the Gov. to fund general operating support to humanities non-profits in Maryland.
HB740 Frederick County – Property Tax Credit for Property Located in Historic District – Alterations
This simple piece of legislation gives Frederick County the ability to improve the local historic tax credit – addressing value, time, and regulations that make the credit work best for that community.
HB390/SB341 Commission on African American History and Culture – Museum Name Change
This legislation establishes a new name for the museum operated by the Commission on African American History and Culture through the addition of Tubman – resulting in the newly minted Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.
SB300 Natural Resources – Wildland Areas – Belt Woods Wildland
Provides the Department of Natural Resources with the authority to rehabilitate historic properties at the site – some of which date to the late 18th century.
SB259/HB228 Natural Resources – Maryland State Parks – Funds and Plan Alterations
Permits the Department of Natural Resources (DR) to shift specific transfer tax funds designated for various uses within the original act based on existing needs.
Continue to follow along here and social media as we share next steps for the new legislation, and our role in process creating lasting change throughout the state.