MD HB794

Establishes the Indian Heritage and Culture Grant Program within the Department of Planning, administered in partnership with the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, to help Indian tribal communities preserve their history and culture

Creates a special, nonlapsing Indian Heritage and Culture Grant Fund administered by the Maryland Historical Trust, with interest earnings credited back to the Fund rather than the General Fund

Authorizes the Governor to include up to $500,000 annually in the state budget for the Fund, with individual grants capped at $250,000

Eligible grantees include tribes with Maryland Indian Status or legal recognition in another state, as well as nonprofits, indigenous tribes, political subdivisions, or state agencies working in consultation with a state-recognized tribe

Grants fund capital projects for acquiring or improving land and buildings for tribal activities, community services, or preservation of sites with historic and cultural importance to the Indian experience in Maryland; effective July 1, 2025