The Board of the Maryland Rangers Association is excited to share that SB541, the Great Maryland Outdoors Act, has passed the Maryland General Assembly and is on its way to the Governor's desk, to be signed into law effective June 1, 2022!

Passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate, this transformative piece of legislation is the most significant advancement in the development of our State Park system since the New Deal in 1933, and forever alters its course through real and revolutionary action, including major staff and budget enhancements, an investment in infrastructure and critical maintenance, a mandated mechanism designed to enhance salary and benefit packages, the thoughtful and measured acquisition and development of new State Parks, and other measures designed to transform Maryland's State Park system and elevate its standing as a national model.

Since its inception in 1988, the Maryland Rangers Association has recognized that what is good for the Ranger is good for the Park Service, and what is good for the Park Service is good for the Ranger. The passage of this watershed legislation is a testament to the success that can be realized by unifying around a common cause, remaining positive and professional, and committing to articulating solutions that will make our park system better.

On this historic date for both the Maryland Park Service and the Maryland Rangers Association, I would like to thank all who have been engaged with the MRA Board as we have worked to bring this transformational legislation to fruition, including those who have activated Friends groups and written letters to elected officials promoting and advocating for our State Parks. Thanks to the strength of those collective efforts, and especially to Senator Sarah Elfreth and Delegate Eric Luedtke, our champions in the legislature, Maryland is on the cusp of a new era in our State Park system's history, one which future generations will look back on with admiration and gratitude for visionary leadership and bold action.

Now to the Governor's desk!