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SB 505

Local Government - Municipal Annexation - Petition and Referendum

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Craig Zucker

SB 505 would let charter county redevelopment authorities meet the “person” rule to sign annexation petitions and vote in referenda where conditions apply.

Withdrawn by Sponsor
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Bill Summary · SB 505

Summary — SB 505: Local Government — Municipal Annexation — Petition and Referendum (Maryland)

Status: Withdrawn by sponsor (3/11/2025)
Introduced: Jan 23 / Feb 19, 2025 (first reader Jan 28, 2025)
Sponsor: Senator Zucker
Cross‑file: HB 532 (Delegate Barnes)
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee
Type: Emergency bill

Purpose / Intent

SB 505 would modify Maryland’s municipal annexation petition and referendum rules to allow certain redevelopment authorities in charter counties to be treated as a “person” for purposes of signing an annexation petition and voting in a referendum on an annexation. The change was prompted by ongoing annexation litigation involving the Prince George’s County Redevelopment Authority.

Key provisions

  • Amends Local Government Article §4‑413 (and references §4‑402) to expand the definition of “person” for annexation petition and referendum rules to include a redevelopment authority in a charter county, provided the authority meets all of the following conditions:
    1. It was created by statute.
    2. It owns property that has received State capital funds for redevelopment.
    3. It has entered into a contract (following a competitive solicitation) with a for‑profit entity to redevelop that property.
  • Retains existing rule that, when fewer than 20 residents in an area to be annexed are eligible to sign a petition and vote, any person owning real property in the area may sign and vote; SB 505 explicitly makes qualifying redevelopment authorities fall within that “person” category.
  • Designated an emergency measure (intended to take immediate effect upon enactment).

Who would be affected

  • Redevelopment authorities in Maryland charter counties that meet the three statutory criteria (Prince George’s County Redevelopment Authority is the primary, identified example; Baltimore County may also be affected if conditions are met).
  • Municipalities pursuing annexation and the residents/landowners in areas proposed for annexation — the bill could change who is authorized to sign annexation petitions and to vote in related referenda.
  • Potentially alters the dynamics of ongoing annexation-related litigation and local annexation outcomes.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal note: no material effect on State or local finances.
  • Procedural history: introduced and assigned to committee; scheduled hearings and committee action occurred in early 2025. Sponsor withdrew the bill on March 11, 2025, so it did not proceed to enactment in this session.
  • Cross‑filed as HB 532; tied to specific county redevelopment authority circumstances cited in fiscal materials and committee documents.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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