Delegate Grossman Files Bill to Rename Govt. Property Associated with the Confederacy, Additional Initiatives

HAGERSTOWN, MD News (1/26/2024) – In a move aimed at addressing historical legacies associated with the Confederacy, Maryland lawmakers, including Washington County delegate Brooke Grossman, have introduced House Bill 566 to the Maryland Assembly. The proposed legislation seeks to prohibit the assignment of Confederate names to real property owned by the State or political subdivisions within the State, as well as require the renaming of existing properties with Confederate associated names.

The bill, titled “State and Local Government – Real Property – Confederate Naming Prohibited,” was introduced on January 24, 2024, and has been assigned to the Health and Government Operations committee for further consideration.

The key provisions of House Bill 566, outlined in Sections 1 and 2, introduce a new title, “Title 9. State and Local Government Real Property Naming,” to the Annotated Code of Maryland. Section 9–101 of the proposed legislation defines crucial terms, including “Confederate name,” which is described as a name commemorating the Confederate States of America or any individual who served voluntarily with the Confederacy. Additionally, the term “political subdivision” is defined to encompass various entities such as counties, municipal corporations, unincorporated towns, school districts, and special districts. The definition of “real property” is broadened to include streets, buildings, parks, and subdivisions, while “state entity” is clarified to encompass units and agencies across all branches of the state government.

The proposed legislation explicitly states that a state entity or political subdivision is prohibited from assigning a Confederate name to real property owned by the State or the political subdivision.

Moreover, Section 2 of the bill mandates that if real property already bears a Confederate name at the time of the legislation’s effective date, the responsible state entity or political subdivision must assign a new name to the property by January 1, 2027.

Undoubtedly included in the list of properties which would need to be considered to be renamed would be Col Henry K Douglas Drive in Hagerstown, where the Motor Vehicle Administration and Maryland State Police Barracks are currently located. However, complicating the matter is that the naming of the road was not in honor of Douglas’ service of the Confederacy, but in honor of Douglas’ service to the State of Maryland after the war. Douglas was only a Major in the Confederate Army, and was a Colonel for the 1st Infantry Regiment, Maryland National Guard 1886 until 1891, and appointed adjutant general of Maryland in 1892 and served until 1896. This is just one example of many statewide roads or buildings which are named after someone who may have been associated with the Confederacy at some point in their life, but the naming in their honor may not have been because of their association with the Confederacy. It will be interesting to see if this legislation becomes law, how strictly it will be enforced. Maryland’s status as a border state during the Civil War, with many residents having sympathies with the Confederacy, will undoubtedly result in many naming cases being legal gray areas, such as Col Henry K Douglas Drive.

If approved and signed by the Governor, the proposed legislation is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2024.

In addition to this bill, Delegate Grossman has also introduced several additional bills, including House Bill 371 which would “would ensure that recounts for elections occurring within Maryland are timely and efficient” and House Bill 577 which would “would establish a homeless shelter licensing program.” Delegate Grossman also introduced a bond for $4,000,000 towards the City of Hagerstown’s construction costs for the Hagerstown FieldHouse.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.