Maryland may fund boating activities for disabled people’s and veterans’ companions

The Department of Disabilities may give grants for water activities that include eligible companions. An eligible companion is an accompanying family member or direct support professional of a person with a disability or a service-disabled veteran taking part in sailing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, or surfing. A grant may be no more than $40,000 in a fiscal year. Grants may go only to nonprofits that qualify for federal tax-exempt status, have operated for at least three years, and have engaged people with disabilities or service-disabled veterans in the listed activities on State waters at least 25 times in each of the past three years. A nonprofit may still meet the three-year operating requirement if it stopped operating during a qualifying national or public health emergency. The law takes effect October 1, 2026. The $40,000 grant limit applies in each fiscal year.