MD HB703

Dorchester County may enter into leases of county property without publishing notice in local newspapers if the lease term is 5 years or less and annual rent does not exceed $750

Current law requires counties to publish notice once a week for 3 successive weeks before any disposition, grant, or lease of county property, including lease terms, compensation, and opportunity for objections

An existing exemption already allows counties to grant public utility easements without notice; this bill adds a second exemption specific to Dorchester County for small, short-term leases

Amends Section 10–312(f) of the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective October 1, 2026