{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-305","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 4–305","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) By a petition presented to the legislative body of a municipality,\nat least 20% of the qualified voters for the municipal general election may initiate a\nproposed amendment to the municipal charter.\n(2) Each individual signing the petition shall indicate on the petition\nthe individual’s name and residence address.\n(b) (1) On receiving the petition, the legislative body shall verify that\neach individual who signed the petition is a qualified voter for the municipal general\nelection.\n(2) The petition has no effect if it is signed by less than 20% of the\nqualified voters for the municipal general election.\n(c) (1) Before voting on the proposed amendment initiated by the\npetition presented under subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body shall:\n(i) hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment; and\n(ii) give at least 21 days’ advance notice of the public hearing.\n(2) If the legislative body approves of the amendment in the petition\npresented under subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body may adopt the\nproposed amendment by resolution and proceed in the same manner as if the\namendment had been initiated by the legislative body and in compliance with §§ 4–\n303(a) and 4–304 of this subtitle.\n(d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if the petition\ncomplies with this section, the legislative body, no later than 60 days after the\npetition is presented to the legislative body, shall specify by resolution adopted in\naccordance with its normal legislative procedure:\n(1) the day and hours for the referendum; and\n(2) the exact text that is to be placed on the ballot.\n(e) (1) The legislative body may schedule the referendum for the next\nregular municipal general election or at a special election.\n(2) If the legislative body schedules a special election, it shall be held\nnot less than 40 days or more than 60 days after the resolution scheduling the\nreferendum is adopted.\n(f) (1) The chief executive officer of the municipality shall give notice of\na submission of a proposed charter amendment by:\n(i) 1. posting an exact copy of the proposed amendment at\nthe main municipal building or other public place for at least 40 days immediately\npreceding the referendum at which the question is to be submitted; and\n2. on the day of the referendum, posting a similar copy\nat the place for voting; and\n(ii) 1. publishing notice of the referendum and a fair\nsummary of the proposed amendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the\nmunicipality at least once in each of the 4 weeks immediately preceding the\nreferendum; or\n2. A. publishing a fair summary of the proposed\namendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once;\nand\nB. delivering a copy of a fair summary of the proposed\ncharter amendment either by hand or by mail to every residence in the municipality.\n(2) The delivery required under paragraph (1)(ii)2B of this subsection\nmay be accomplished by including a fair summary of the proposed charter\namendment in a printed newsletter or any other regular municipal publication.\n(3) The municipality delivering a copy of a fair summary under\nparagraph (1)(ii)2B of this subsection shall:\n(i) maintain a record of or a copy of the receipt for the delivery\nunder the records retention and document disposal schedule of the municipality; and\n(ii) make the record or copy available to the general public in\naccordance with the Maryland Public Information Act.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=4-305","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"bac78b512a52bd593d99c8106b1212a15211477212638882d1c4d3813a7a5ff2","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-304","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-306"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}