An Act amending the act of July 13, 1988 (P.L.530, No.94), known as the Environmental Hearing Board Act, further providing for Environmental Hearing Board.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Camera Bartolotta and 2 co-sponsors

Adds the Secretary of Disabilities as an ex officio MVTF Board member (or designee), increasing membership from 11 to 12 and boosting disability-focused representation.

Referred to Environmental Resources & Energy

SB 172 — Maryland Veterans Trust — Board of Trustees — Membership

Chapter 267 (Approved by Governor May 6, 2025) — Effective October 1, 2025

Summary
- Purpose: To add the Secretary of Disabilities (or the Secretary’s designee) as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees for the Maryland Veterans Trust (MVTF), increasing board membership from 11 to 12.
- Statutory change: Amends Article — State Government, §9‑914(b).

Key provisions
- Adds the Secretary of Disabilities, ex officio (or the Secretary’s designee), to the statutory list of MVTF trustees.
- Leaves existing membership otherwise unchanged: the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families (or designee) continues to serve as chair and the board still includes the secretaries of Aging, Labor, Health, and Human Services (or their designees), the Adjutant General (or designee), appointees representing a veterans service organization, a nonprofit serving veterans, the business community, one House member (appointed by the Speaker), and one Senate member (appointed by the President).
- Effective date: October 1, 2025.

Who is affected
- Primary: The Maryland Veterans Trust Board of Trustees (composition changes).
- Secondary: The Maryland Department of Disabilities (represented on the board); the Department of Veterans and Military Families (continues to provide staff, supplies, and office space for the trust).
- Broader: Veterans and families who are beneficiaries of MVTF programs — the statutory change increases disability-focused representation on the board but does not alter programmatic eligibility or funding sources.

Fiscal and administrative impact
- Fiscal note (Department of Legislative Services): Altering board composition does not materially affect state finances. The Secretary of Disabilities or a designee can serve using existing resources. No local or small-business fiscal impacts identified.
- Administrative: Minimal—primarily the addition of one ex officio member and related scheduling/notification adjustments.

Context and intent
- The Maryland Veterans Trust (established by Chapter 742 of 2009) administers the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, which supports veterans, their families, and related programs through gifts, designated revenues, and other contributions. Adding the Secretary of Disabilities aims to ensure direct representation of disability-related expertise and perspectives on the board that oversees veteran assistance programs.

Legislative/timeline notes (selected)
- Prefiled: June 14, 2024 (Sen. Simonaire).
- Introduced/read first time: January 8, 2025.
- Chaptered as Chapter 267: Approved by Governor May 6, 2025.
- Effective: October 1, 2025.

For readers seeking the statutory text, the amendment appears in Article — State Government, §9‑914(b) (Maryland Annotated Code).