MD SB266

Replaces Maryland's 12 existing planning "visions" with 8 new streamlined "planning principles" for local comprehensive planning and the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy

New planning principles cover: land use optimization, transportation networks, housing mix and affordability, economic development, equity and community engagement, resilience to natural and human-caused threats, public spaces, and ecological protection

Adds explicit equity requirement for planning commissions to engage all community sectors and prioritize needs of underserved populations

Adds new resilience principle requiring integration of measures to minimize impacts from rapid and unexpected threats on communities

Takes effect October 1, 2025; approved by Governor Wes Moore on April 8, 2025