The House of Delegates adopted amendments to a bill directing how the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (a portion of adult‑use cannabis sales tax revenue) is distributed and overseen.

The floor leader said the bill, as amended, would “require this new Office of Social Equity to oversee the distribution and the use of local counties, this special fund,” adding the office would train county recipients and community‑based organizations on how to use funds intended for communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

Members pressed for fiscal clarity. One delegate noted the fiscal note showed an $800,000 allocation for first‑year administrative costs and $1.1 million annually thereafter and asked whether that remains accurate; the floor leader said the fiscal note must be updated because the bill's amendments changed assumptions and promised clarification before third reading. The floor leader also said the Office of Social Equity would sit within the Maryland Cannabis Administration and have its own staff and budget.

Delegates debated how funds would be distributed. The floor leader said the funds would be distributed “equitably based on the number of arrests and charges in each county,” citing Baltimore City as historically having the highest number of arrests related to the war on drugs and therefore receiving a larger share.

The House adopted the committee’s amendments and ordered the bill printed for third reading.

The action resolves language on who administers the local allocation and creates clearer training and oversight responsibilities for the Office of Social Equity while leaving detailed fiscal and implementation figures to be clarified before final passage.