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<section article="gec" article_name="Economic Development" number="10-140" title_number="10" title_name="Statewide Development Resources and Revenue Authorities" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Maryland Economic Development Corporation">
  <level label="a">
    <text>On or after July 1, 2026, a qualified institution shall apply jointly with a county, a municipal corporation, or the economic development agency of a county or municipal corporation to the Corporation to designate an area as a Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise zone.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The application shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>be in the form and contain the information that the Corporation requires by regulation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>state the boundaries of the area of the proposed RISE zone, not exceeding 500 acres;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>describe the nexus of the RISE zone with the qualified institution; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>contain a plan that identifies the target strategy and anticipated economic impacts of the RISE zone.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Corporation may establish, by regulation, any other requirements necessary and appropriate for an area to be designated as a RISE zone.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless a county in which a municipal corporation is located agrees to designation of a RISE zone in the municipal corporation, qualified property in the municipal corporation may not receive a tax credit against county property tax.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Unless a municipal corporation located within a county agrees to designation of a RISE zone within its boundaries, qualified property in the county may not receive a tax credit against the municipal property tax.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Within 120 days after submission of an application under this section, the Corporation shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>approve or reject an application for designation of a RISE zone, including approval or modification of the proposed boundaries of the RISE zone; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>define the boundaries of the approved RISE zone.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At least 45 days before approval or rejection of an application under this section, the Corporation shall notify the Legislative Policy Committee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Legislative Policy Committee may provide advice to the Corporation regarding:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the approval or rejection of the RISE zone; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the boundaries of the RISE zone proposed by the Corporation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the designation of an area as a RISE zone is effective for 10 years.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Upon a joint application of a qualified institution, a county and, if applicable, a municipal corporation, or the economic development agency of a county or municipal corporation, the Corporation may renew a RISE zone for an additional 5 years.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Corporation may not:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>except as provided in item 2 of this item or paragraph (3) of this subsection, approve more than three RISE zones in a single county or municipal corporation; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, approve more than four RISE zones in Baltimore City; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>approve a RISE zone the geographic area of which exceeds 500 acres.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Corporation may approve one extraordinary RISE zone in a single county or municipal corporation for an area that, in the determination of the Secretary, promotes quantum computing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A RISE zone may not be required to be in the immediate geographic proximity of a qualified institution if an appropriate nexus for the increased economic and community development is established with the qualified organization.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the proposed RISE zone is in a rural part of the State, a qualified institution may not be required to be in the immediate area of the RISE zone.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The designation of an area as a RISE zone may not be construed to limit or supersede a provision of a comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, or other land use policy adopted by a county, municipal corporation, or bicounty agency with land use authority over the area designated as a RISE zone.</text>
  </level>
</section>
