HB0047 establishes a temporary Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names within the executive branch. The commission would be composed of gubernatorial appointees, one from each county, and would meet at least quarterly. It must hire an archivist from the State Archives to assist its work and may also seek outside funding and accept gifts, grants, donations, bequests, or endowments.
The commission’s core task is to develop a framework for identifying state- or locally owned real property that bears a Confederate name and to make recommendations about which properties should be renamed. The bill defines “real property” broadly to include streets, buildings, parks, and subdivisions, and defines “Confederate name” to cover names commemorating the Confederate States of America or persons/entities that voluntarily served it. The commission must report its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2033, to the Governor, Baltimore City leadership, county governing bodies, and the General Assembly. The bill expressly states that it does not itself authorize the commission to rename any property.
The bill would add a new subtitle to the State Government Article creating the commission and setting out its membership, duties, funding rules, and reporting requirements. It also exempts certain commission funds from the usual State Finance and Procurement Article provision governing special funds, while still subjecting those monies to audit by the State, including the Legislative Auditor. The act would take effect July 1, 2027, and is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2034.
Overall sentiment appears likely to be supportive among sponsors and those favoring review of Confederate memorialization, but the available record does not include committee testimony or votes. Because the bill is framed as a study and recommendation commission rather than an immediate renaming mandate, it may be seen as a measured approach. Potential contention would likely center on the use of state resources, the inclusion of local government property, and broader debates over whether Confederate names should be removed and who should decide that question.
HB0047 would amend the State Government Article by creating a new temporary executive-branch commission and establishing a statutory process for identifying Confederate-named real property owned by the State or political subdivisions. It does not directly change property names or transfer renaming authority; instead, it creates a reporting and recommendation structure that could inform future legislative or local action. The bill also affects state administrative and fiscal law by authorizing outside funding, allowing gifts and donations, and subjecting commission funds to audit while exempting them from a specified finance provision.
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so the formal legislative sentiment cannot be measured from recorded debate or roll call. Based on the bill text and sponsor list, the measure appears to be introduced in a serious, policy-oriented manner and likely reflects support for examining Confederate names on public property. Because it creates a commission rather than imposing immediate renaming, it may have been designed to attract broader support from members who favor study over direct action.
The main points of contention are likely to be ideological and practical. Supporters would view the bill as a way to address Confederate symbolism on public property through a structured, statewide review process. Opponents may object to the use of state resources for what they may see as a symbolic or politically driven effort, or may resist any effort to remove Confederate names. There may also be tension over the commission’s reach into local government property, the appointment structure, and whether the General Assembly should be involved in decisions that could affect county and municipal naming authority.