MarylandAnne Arundel County adds two licensing board seats in May 2027
The law adds two Anne Arundel County licensing board seats with terms beginning May 2, 2027, and requires the board to publish an ethics policy.
What it does
Anne Arundel County’s licensing board grows from three members to five, with the two added members’ terms starting May 2, 2027. The Governor must choose county state lawmakers’ recommended candidates, with Senate approval.
No more than three board members may belong to the same political party, up from two. No more than two may live in the same state legislative district.
The licensing board must adopt and publish a written policy about conflicts of interest and when members step aside from board matters.
Argument forLimiting members from any one state legislative district could give more parts of the county a voice in licensing decisions.
Argument againstRequiring the Governor to choose from lawmakers’ recommendations could keep other qualified county residents from being considered.
More detail
The Governor must appoint five board members from candidates recommended by the county’s state House and Senate lawmakers. These rules cover Anne Arundel County’s Board of License Commissioners. Appointments require Senate approval. Appointments made while the Senate is not meeting need its approval when it next meets. The Governor may request a new list of recommended candidates at any time. The appointment rules took effect July 1, 2026. The initial terms of the two additional members begin May 2, 2027.
The law raises the same-party limit to three members and limits each state legislative district to two members. The limits apply to members of Anne Arundel County’s licensing board. These membership limits took effect July 1, 2026.
Anne Arundel County’s licensing board must adopt and publish a written ethics policy. The policy must cover conflicts between members’ personal interests and board duties, and when members step aside from board matters. The policy requirement took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 830Became Law
- Apr 7Returned Passed
- Apr 6Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Mar 31Favorable Adopted Second Reading PassedMinor
- Mar 30Favorable Report by FinanceMinor
- Mar 23Referred FinanceMinor
- Mar 23Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Mar 21Favorable Adopted Second Reading PassedMinor
- Mar 21Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and ElectionsMinor
- Mar 11
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Hearing 2/23 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 4First Reading Government, Labor, and ElectionsIntroduced
Government & Ethics