(a)      (1)      In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (2)      "Central Maryland" means Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County.

            (3)      "Eastern Shore" means Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne's County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County.

            (4)      "Southern Maryland" means Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary's County.

            (5)      "Western Maryland" means Allegany County, Garrett County, and Washington County.

      (b)      (1)      The General Assembly determines that there are four classes of code counties, based on the geographic region of the State where a county that adopts home rule under Article XI-F of the Maryland Constitution is located.

            (2)      The classes are as follows:

                  (i)      Central Maryland;

                  (ii)      Eastern Shore;

                  (iii)      Southern Maryland; and

                  (iv)      Western Maryland.

      (c)      Unless limited to one or more classes listed under this section, any public general law enacted by the General Assembly applicable to code counties applies to each code county, regardless of class.