EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1525*
HOUSE BILL 1525
L3 EMERGENCY BILL 5lr3557
By: Delegates Harrison and Toles
Introduced and read first time: February 20, 2025
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Municipalities – Annexation – Limitations 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a municipality from annexing land that is located in a 3
different legislative district than a legislative district in which the municipality is 4
located; and generally relating to municipal annexation. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Local Government 7
Section 4–401 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2013 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Local Government 13
4–401. 14
(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the legislative body of a 15
municipality may enlarge its boundaries by annexation as provided in this subtitle. 16
(b) The power of annexation applies only to land that: 17
(1) is contiguous and adjoining to the existing boundaries of the 18
municipality; and 19
(2) does not create an unincorporated area that is bounded on all sides by: 20
(i) real property presently in the boundaries of the municipality; 21 2 HOUSE BILL 1525
(ii) real property proposed to be in the boundaries of the municipality 1
as a result of the proposed annexation; or 2
(iii) any combination of real property described in item (i) or (ii) of 3
this item. 4
(c) A municipality may not annex land that is: 5
(1) in another municipality; OR 6
(2) LOCATED IN A DIFFERE NT LEGISLATIVE DISTR ICT THAN A 7
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE MUNICIP ALITY OR ANY PART OF THE 8
MUNICIPALITY IS LOCA TED. 9
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 10
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 11
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 12
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 13
enacted. 14