Economic Development (GEC) — Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Subtitle 1. Broadened Ownership Act
Md. Code Ann., Econ. Dev. § 14-101 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Subtitle 1. Broadened Ownership Act
§ 14–101LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The State:
(1)
recognizes the declaration of the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress of the United States that broadening the ownership of capital and achieving full employment should be the twin pillars of economic policy; and
(2)
encourages the broadening of the base of capital ownership among greater numbers of the residents of the State through, as one means, the use of employee stock ownership plans.
(b)
The General Assembly finds that employee stock ownership plans, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, make an important contribution toward the broadening of capital ownership, increase the income and financial security of the residents of the State, assure the residents of the State greater control of their economic futures, improve productivity and labor–management relations, contribute to the national effort to combat inflation, strengthen the free enterprise system, and put Maryland in the forefront of contemporary economic trends.
Md. Code Ann., Econ. Dev. § 14-102 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Subtitle 1. Broadened Ownership Act
§ 14–102LinkCopy Citation
The Division of Labor and Industry of the Maryland Department of Labor and the Public Service Commission shall summarize their efforts to promote the policies related to broadening the ownership of capital in their respective annual reports as required by law.
Md. Code Ann., Econ. Dev. § 14-103 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Subtitle 1. Broadened Ownership Act
§ 14–103LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Department shall attempt to use to the greatest extent feasible minority business enterprises to provide brokerage and investment management services for any fund established under this article consistent with minority business purchasing standards applicable to units of State government under the State Finance and Procurement Article and consistent with the fiduciary duties of the Department.
(b)
For purposes of this subsection, brokerage and investment management services shall include services relating to all allocated asset classes.
(c)
(1)
To assist the Department in achieving the goal described under subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall undertake measures to remove any barriers that limit full participation by minority business enterprises in brokerage and investment management services opportunities afforded by any fund established under this article.
(2)
The measures undertaken by the Department shall include the use of a wide variety of media, including the Department’s website, to provide notice to a broad and varied range of potential providers about the brokerage and investment management services opportunities afforded under this article.
(d)
In conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, the Department shall develop guidelines to assist it in identifying and evaluating qualified minority business enterprises in order to help it achieve the objective for greater use of minority business enterprises for brokerage and investment management services under this article.
(e)
On or before September 1 each year, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on:
(1)
the identity of the minority business enterprise brokerage and investment management services firms used by any fund established under this article in the immediately preceding fiscal year;
(2)
the percentage and dollar value of the assets under the custody of each entity that are under the investment control of minority business enterprise brokerage and investment management services firms in each allocated asset class; and
(3)
the measures the entity undertook in the immediately preceding fiscal year in accordance with subsection (c)(2) of this section.
Md. Code Ann., Econ. Dev. § 14-104 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Subtitle 1. Broadened Ownership Act
§ 14–104LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle may be cited as the Broadened Ownership Act.
Subtitle 3. Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Md. Code Ann., Econ. Dev. § 14-301 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Subtitle 3. Unmanned Aircraft Systems
§ 14–301LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Unmanned aircraft” means the flying portion of an unmanned aircraft system, flown by a pilot via a ground control system, or autonomously through use of an onboard computer, a communication link, and any additional equipment that is necessary for the unmanned aircraft to operate safely.
(3)
“Unmanned aircraft system” means an unmanned aircraft and all the associated support equipment, control stations, data links, telemetry, communications and navigation equipment, and other equipment necessary to operate the unmanned aircraft.
(b)
Only the State may enact a law or take any other action to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the State.
(c)
Subsection (b) of this section:
(1)
preempts the authority of a county or municipality to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems; and
(2)
supersedes any existing law or ordinance of a county or municipality that prohibits, restricts, or regulates the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems.
(d)
This section does not affect federal preemption of State law.
Md. Code Ann., Econ. Dev. § 14-302 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Provisions
Subtitle 3. Unmanned Aircraft Systems
§ 14–302LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Department and the Department of Transportation, including the Maryland Aviation Administration, shall:
(1)
monitor the Federal Aviation Administration for any proposed regulations or rulemaking that relate to the regulation of the operation of small commercial unmanned aircraft systems;
(2)
determine the impact of any proposed regulations or rulemaking on the State; and
(3)
determine whether it is in the public interest for the State to consider statewide legislation relating to the regulation of the operation of unmanned aircraft systems.
(b)
In determining the findings under subsection (a) of this section, the Department and the Department of Transportation, including the Maryland Aviation Administration, shall consult with:
(1)
the University of Maryland, in its role as a member of the Mid–Atlantic Aviation Partnership;
(2)
county and municipal governments; and
(3)
other interested parties that the Department or the Department of Transportation, including the Maryland Aviation Administration, determine appropriate.
(c)
If the Department and the Department of Transportation, including the Maryland Aviation Administration, determine that any proposed regulations or rulemaking that relate to the regulation of the operation of small commercial unmanned aircraft have been or are likely to be adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration, as soon as practicably possible, the Department and the Department of Transportation, including the Maryland Aviation Administration, shall report any findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.