Overview
- Gov. Wes Moore signed the measure after the General Assembly approved it, making the choice law.
- The move makes Maryland the first U.S. state to adopt an official state shark.
- The designation takes effect on October 1, 2026, when the megalodon becomes an official state symbol.
- Lawmakers advanced the idea by adding it to SB0035 on the session’s final day after a Senate bill stalled in committee.
- Supporters, including the Calvert Marine Museum’s paleontologist, cite abundant megalodon teeth at Calvert Cliffs and say the symbol can draw public and student interest.