SB 341
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
Senate Bill 341 (Chair, Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Committee)(By Request - Departmental - Maryland State
Archives)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
General Provisions - State Song - Repeal
This departmental bill repeals the State song, “Maryland! My Maryland!”
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None. Repealing the State song does not materially affect State finances.
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: The Maryland State Archives (MSA) has determined that this bill
has minimal or no impact on small business (attached). The Department of Legislative
Services concurs with this assessment.
Analysis
Current Law: Since the adoption of the Maryland State Flag in 1904 and the adoption of
the Black-eyed Susan as the State flower in 1918, the State has adopted many official
symbols, as shown in Exhibit 1. The official State song is James Ryder Randall’s
“Maryland! My Maryland!” set to the tune of “Lauriger Horatius.”
 Exhibit 1
State Symbols of Maryland
Type Name Statutory Authority
Bird Baltimore Oriole Ch. 54 of 1947
Boat Skipjack Ch. 788 of 1985
Cat Calico Cat Ch. 194 of 2001
Crustacean Blue Crab Ch. 724 of 1989
Dessert Smith Island Cake Chs. 164/165 of 2008
Dinosaur Astrodon johnstoni Chs. 403/404 of 1998
Dog Chesapeake Bay Retriever Ch. 156 of 1964
Drink Milk Ch. 220 of 1998
Exercise Walking Chs. 400/401 of 2008
Fish Rockfish (Striped Bass) Ch. 513 of 1965
Flower Black-eyed Susan Ch. 458 of 1918
Folk Dance Square Dance Ch. 707 of 1994
Fossil Shell Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae Ch. 688 of 1994
Gem Patuxent River Stone Ch. 272 of 2004
Horse Thoroughbred Horse Ch. 359 of 2003
Insect Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly Ch. 253 of 1973
Paleontology Collection
and Research Center Calvert Marine Museum Chs. 742/743 of 2018
Reptile Diamondback Terrapin Ch. 476 of 1994
Song “Maryland, My Maryland” Ch. 451 of 1939
Sport Jousting Ch. 134 of 1962
Team Sport Lacrosse Ch. 272 of 2004
Theater Center Stage Ch. 1003 of 1978
Theater – Summer Olney Theatre Ch. 1003 of 1978
Tree White Oak Ch. 731 of 1941
Source: Maryland State Archives
Background: James Ryder Randall composed “Maryland! My Maryland!” in 1861 to
protest the marching of Union troops through Baltimore. According to the Baltimore
Literary Heritage Project, Randall, a Baltimore native, wrote the poem during his tenure as
an English and Classics professor at Poydras College in Louisiana. Southern troops adopted
the poem, which calls for Maryland to “spurn the Northern Scum,” as a battle hymn during
the Civil War. Maryland adopted the poem as the State song in 1939.
SB 341/ Page 2
In October 2015, the State Archivist convened the State Song Advisory Group to study and
recommend alternatives to the current State song. The group recommended six alternatives
in its final report, which is available on MSA’s website.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: Several bills were introduced in the 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020
sessions to repeal the State song and establish a State Song Advisory Panel to review public
submissions and suggestions for a new State song.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): Maryland State Archives; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - March 9, 2021
rh/jc
Analysis by: Arnold Adja Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
SB 341/ Page 3
 ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES
TITLE OF BILL: General Provisions - State Song - Repeal
BILL NUMBER: SB 341
PREPARED BY: Timothy D. Baker
PART A. ECONOMIC IMPACT RATING
This agency estimates that the proposed bill:
_X___ WILL HAVE MINIMAL OR NO ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MARYLAND SMALL
BUSINESSES
OR
WILL HAVE A MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MARYLAND SMALL
BUSINESSES
PART B. ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS
SB 341/ Page 4


Statutes affected:
Text - First - General Provisions - State Song - Repeal: 1-861 General Provisions, 7-318 General Provisions