EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0209*
HOUSE BILL 209
C1 3lr1160
CF SB 58
By: Delegate Watson
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2023
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2023
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Corporations and Associations – Revisions 2
FOR the purpose of altering certain provisions governing the issuance of stock, convertible 3
securities, and scrip; clarifying the authority of corporations to hold annual meetings 4
by remote communication; clarifying the application of certain provisions of law to 5
the conversion of a corporation; requiring a real estate investment trust that 6
voluntarily dissolves to file a notice of termination with the State Department of 7
Assessments and Taxation; authorizing the charter or bylaws of a nonstock 8
corporation to provide for the service of certain ex officio directors; providing for the 9
application of certain provisions of law regarding voting rights to statutory trusts; 10
and generally relating to corporations and associations. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Corporations and Associations 13
Section 2–203, 2–210, 2–214, 2–501(b), 2–503(c), 4–601, 4A–402(a)(5), 5–202(b), and 14
8–502 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 18
Article – Corporations and Associations 19
Section 2–501(a), 2–503(a), and 4A–402(a)(8)(viii) and (9) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 22
2 HOUSE BILL 209
BY adding to 1
Article – Corporations and Associations 2
Section 12–307 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Corporations and Associations 8
2–203. 9
(a) Before the issuance of stock or convertible securities, the board of directors 10
shall adopt a resolution that: 11
(1) Authorizes the issuance; 12
(2) Sets the minimum consideration for the stock or convertible securities 13
or a formula for its determination; and 14
(3) Fairly describes any consideration other than money. 15
(b) In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the minimum consideration 16
stated in the charter or determined by the board of directors in its resolution is conclusive 17
for all purposes. 18
(c) For purposes of this section, the consideration for stock issued as a stock 19
dividend is the resulting capitalization of surplus. 20
(d) This section does not apply to the issuance of stock or convertible securities as 21
part of: 22
(1) A reclassification of stock effected by amendment of the charter; or 23
(2) A consolidation, merger, [or] share exchange, OR CONVERSION , 24
including a consolidation, merger, [or] share exchange, OR CONVERSION to which a wholly 25
owned subsidiary of the corporation is a party. 26
(e) If its issuance is authorized in accordance with this subtitle, stock with par 27
value and securities convertible into stock with par value may be issued as full paid and 28
nonassessable even if the price or value of the consideration received is less than the par 29
value of the stock issued or the stock into which the securities are convertible. 30
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or § 2–204 or § 2–206 of 31
this subtitle, a corporation may issue stock or other securities of the corporation pursuant 32
to § 2–103(13) of this title without consideration of any kind. 33 HOUSE BILL 209 3
2–210. 1
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, each stockholder 2
is entitled to stock certificates [which] THAT represent and certify the shares of stock [he] 3
THE STOCKHOLDER holds in the corporation. 4
(b) A stock certificate may not be issued until the stock represented by it is fully 5
paid. 6
(c) (1) Unless the charter or bylaws provide otherwise, the board of directors 7
of a corporation may authorize the issue of some or all of the shares of any or all of its 8
classes or series without certificates. 9
(2) The authorization under paragraph (1) of this subsection does not affect 10
shares already represented by certificates until they are surrendered to the corporation. 11
(3) For shares issued without certificates, on request by a stockholder, the 12
corporation shall send the stockholder, without charge, a statement in writing or by 13
electronic transmission of the information required on certificates by § 2–211 of this 14
subtitle. 15
(D) A CORPORATION MAY NOT ISSUE A STOCK CERTIF ICATE IN BEARER 16
FORM. 17
2–214. 18
(a) A corporation may, but is not obliged to: 19
(1) Issue fractional shares of stock; 20
(2) Eliminate a fractional interest by rounding up to a full share of stock; 21
(3) Arrange for the disposition of a fractional interest by the person entitled 22
to it; 23
(4) Pay cash for the fair value of a fractional share of stock determined as 24
of the time when the person entitled to receive it is determined; or 25
(5) Issue scrip or other evidence of ownership which: 26
(i) Entitles its holder to exchange scrip or other evidence of 27
ownership aggregating a full share for a certificate which represents the share; and 28
(ii) Unless otherwise provided, does not entitle its holder to exercise 29
voting rights, receive dividends, or participate in the assets of the corporation in the event 30
of liquidation. 31 4 HOUSE BILL 209
(b) The board of directors may impose any reasonable condition on the issuance 1
of the scrip or other evidence of ownership, including a condition that: 2
(1) It becomes void if not exchanged for a certificate representing a full 3
share of stock before a specified date; 4
(2) The corporation may sell the stock for which the scrip or other evidence 5
of ownership is exchangeable and distribute the proceeds to the holders; or 6
(3) The proceeds of a sale under paragraph (2) of this subsection are 7
forfeited to the corporation if not claimed within a specified period not less than three years 8
from the date the scrip or other evidence of ownership was originally issued. 9
(C) A CORPORATION MAY NOT ISSUE A CERTIFICATE REPRESENTING SCRIP 10
IN BEARER FORM . 11
(D) FOR SCRIP ISSUED WITH OUT A CERTIFICATE , ON REQUEST BY A 12
SCRIPHOLDER , THE CORPORATION SHAL L DELIVER TO THE SCR IPHOLDER, 13
WITHOUT CHA RGE, A STATEMENT IN WRITI NG OR BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF 14
THE INFORMATION REQU IRED TO BE ON A CERT IFICATE UNDER § 2–211 OF THIS 15
SUBTITLE. 16
2–501. 17
(a) Each corporation shall hold an annual meeting of its stockholders to elect 18
directors and transact any other business within its powers. 19
(b) (1) If the charter or bylaws of a corporation [registered under] THAT IS AN 20
INVESTMENT COMPANY A S DEFINED IN the Investment Company Act of 1940 so 21
provides, the corporation is not required to hold an annual meeting in any year in which 22
the election of directors is not required to be acted upon under the Investment Company 23
Act of 1940. 24
(2) If a corporation is required under paragraph (1) of this subsection to 25
hold a meeting of stockholders to elect directors, the meeting shall be designated as the 26
annual meeting of stockholders for that year. 27
2–503. 28
(a) Unless the charter provides otherwise, meetings of stockholders shall be held 29
as is: 30
(1) Provided in the charter or bylaws; or 31
HOUSE BILL 209 5
(2) Set by the board of directors under the provisions of the charter or 1
bylaws. 2
(c) If authorized by the board of directors and subject to any guidelines and 3
procedures that the board adopts, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at 4
the meeting of the stockholders, may, by remote communication: 5
(1) Participate in the meeting of the stockholders; and 6
(2) Be considered present in person and may vote at the meeting of the 7
stockholders, whether the meeting is held at a designated place or PARTIALLY OR solely 8
by remote communication, if: 9
(i) The corporation implements reasonable measures to verify that 10
each person considered present and authorized to vote at the meeting by remote 11
communication is a stockholder or proxy holder; 12
(ii) The corporation implements reasonable measures to provide the 13
stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and 14
to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear 15
the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with the proceedings; and 16
(iii) In the event any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other 17
action at the meeting by remote communication, a record of the vote or other action is 18
maintained by the corporation. 19
4–601. 20
(A) [A] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A consolidation, 21
merger, share exchange, [or] transfer of assets, OR CONVERSION of a close corporation 22
shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Title 3 of this article. 23
(B) [However, approval] APPROVAL of a proposed consolidation or merger, a 24
transfer of [its] assets, A CONVERSION , or an acquisition of [its] stock in a share exchange 25
requires the affirmative vote of every stockholder of the CLOSE corporation. 26
4A–402. 27
(a) Except for the requirement set forth in § 4A–404 of this subtitle that certain 28
consents be in writing, members may enter into an operating agreement not inconsistent 29
with the articles of organization to regulate or establish any aspect of the affairs of the 30
limited liability company, the conduct of its business, or the relations of its members, 31
including provisions establishing: 32
(5) (i) The right to have and a procedure for having a member’s 33
membership interest evidenced by a certificate issued by the limited liability company, 34 6 HOUSE BILL 209
which may NOT be issued in bearer form [only if specifically allowed by the operating 1
agreement]; 2
(ii) The procedure for assignment, pledge, or transfer of any 3
membership interest represented by the certificate; and 4
(iii) Any other provisions dealing with the certificate; 5
(8) Procedures relating to: 6
(viii) Any other matter with respect to the exercise of voting rights by 7
members; or 8
(9) That a membership interest, an economic interest, or a noneconomic 9
interest may or shall be transferred or assigned in whole or in part to one or more persons, 10
including on the occurrence of any of the events described in § 4A–606 of this title, 11
regardless of whether the persons to whom the interest is transferred or assigned are 12
members. 13
5–202. 14
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the charter or bylaws of a 15
nonstock corporation may: 16
(1) Divide the directors or members of the corporation into classes; 17
(2) Prescribe the tenure and conditions of service of its directors, but no 18
class of directors may be elected to serve for a period shorter than the interval between 19
annual meetings unless: 20
(i) All or a class of directors must be members; and 21
(ii) Qualifications for membership have the effect of shortening their 22
tenure of service; 23
(3) PROVIDE THAT AN INDIV IDUAL MAY SERVE AS A DIRECTOR BY 24
REASON OF SERVING IN A SPECIFIED OFFICE O R POSITION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE 25
CORPORATION AND PRES CRIBE THAT THE INDIV IDUAL SHALL SERVE AS A DIRECTOR 26
DURING THE INDIVIDUA L’S SERVICE IN THE SPE CIFIED OFFICE OR POSITIO N; 27
(4) Prescribe the rights, privileges, and qualifications of its members; 28
[(4)] (5) Prescribe the manner of giving notice of any meeting of its 29
members; 30
HOUSE BILL 209 7
[(5)] (6) Provide for the number or proportion of voting members whose 1
presence in person or by proxy constitutes a quorum at any meeting of its members; 2
[(6)] (7) Provide that any action may be taken or authorized by any 3
number or proportion of the votes of all its members or all its directors entitled to vote; 4
[(7)] (8) Deny or limit the right of its members to vote by proxy; 5
[(8)] (9) Provide for the right of members to vote by mail or by electronic 6
transmission on a stated proposal or for the election of directors or any officers who are 7
elected by members; 8
[(9)] (10) Regulate the management of the business and affairs of the 9
corporation; and 10
[(10)] (11) Regulate the exercise or allocation of voting power between or 11
among the directors and members. 12
8–502. 13
(a) A real estate investment trust may terminate its existence by voluntary 14
dissolution[. The Department shall be notified of the effective date of the dissolution.] IN 15
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 16
(b) [A real estate investment trust may curtail or cease its trust activities by 17
partially or completely distributing its assets.] 18
(1) IN ORDER TO TERMINATE ITS EXISTENCE , A REAL ESTATE 19
INVESTMENT TRUST MUS T FILE A NOTICE OF TERMINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT 20
THAT INCLUDES : 21
(I) THE NAME OF THE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TR UST; 22
(II) 1. A STATEMENT THAT THE T ERMINATION OF THE RE AL 23
ESTATE INVESTMENT TR UST BY VOLUNTARY DIS SOLUTION WAS APPROVE D IN THE 24
MANNER AND BY THE VO TE REQUIRED BY LAW A ND BY THE DECLARATIO N OF TRUST 25
OF THE REAL ESTATE I NVESTMENT TRUST ; AND 26
2. A STATEMENT DETAI LING THE MANNER OF 27
APPROVAL; 28
(III) ALL OTHER PROVISIONS THE BOARD OF THE REA L ESTATE 29
INVESTMENT TRUST CON SIDERS NECESSARY TO DISSOLVE AND TERMINA TE THE 30
REAL ESTATE INVESTME NT TRUST; AND 31
8 HOUSE BILL 209
(IV) A STATEMENT THAT THE R EAL ESTATE INVESTMEN T TRUST 1
IS DISSOLVED AND TERMINATED . 2
(2) THE NOTICE OF TERMINA TION SHALL BE EXECUT ED BY: 3
(I) THE CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR D OF 4
TRUSTEES; 5
(II) THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE O FFICER; 6
(III) THE CHIEF OPERATING O FFICER; 7
(IV) THE CHIEF FINANCIAL O FFICER; 8
(V) THE PRESIDENT OR A VI CE PRESIDENT; OR 9
(VI) IF AUTHORIZED BY THE BYLAWS OR A RESOLUTI ON OF THE 10
BOARD OF TRUSTEES , ANY OTHER OFFICER OR AGENT OF THE REAL ES TATE 11
INVESTMENT TRUST . 12
(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 13
THE REAL ESTATE INVE STMENT TRUST IS DISS OLVED AND TERMINATED ON THE 14
LATER OF: 15
(I) THE TIME THAT THE DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS TH E NOTICE 16
OF TERMINATION FOR R ECORD; OR 17
(II) THE TIME ESTABLISHED BY THE NOTICE OF TER MINATION, 18
NOT TO EXCEED 30 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE IS ACCEPTED F OR RECORD. 19
(2) THE REAL ESTATE INVES TMENT TRUST CONTINUE S TO EXIST FOR 20
THE PURPOSE OF : 21
(I) PAYING, SATISFYING, AND DISCHARGING ANY EXISTING 22
DEBTS OR OBLIGATIONS ; 23
(II) COLLECTING AND DISTRI BUTING ASSETS; AND 24
(III) TAKING ALL OTHER ACTIONS RE QUIRED TO LIQUIDATE AND 25
WIND UP ITS BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS. 26
[(c)] (D) (1) The Attorney General may institute proceedings to dissolve a 27
real estate investment trust [which] THAT has abused, misused, or failed to use its powers. 28 HOUSE BILL 209 9
(2) The proceedings shall be brought in the manner and on the grounds 1
provided in Title 3, Subtitle 5 of this article with respect to dissolution of a corporation for 2
misuse of its franchise. 3
[(2)] (3) The venue of an action under this subsection is in a county where 4
an officer or resident agent of the real estate investment trust is located. 5
12–307. 6
(A) NOTWITHSTANDING § 3–709 OF THIS ARTICLE , THE PROVISIONS OF 7
TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS ARTICLE APPL Y TO A STATUTORY TRU ST FORMED ON 8
OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2023, THAT IS A CLOSED –END INVESTMENT COMPA NY AS 9
DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. 10
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING § 3–709 OF THIS ARTICLE , THE GOVERNING 11
INSTRUMENT OF A STAT UTORY TRUST FORMED B EFORE OCTOBER 1, 2023, THAT IS 12
A CLOSED–END INVESTMENT COMPA NY AS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY 13
ACT OF 1940 MAY PROVIDE THAT TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS ARTICLE APPL IES 14
TO THE STATUTORY TRU ST. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 16
October 1, 2023. 17
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.