Environment - On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems - Climate Vulnerable Areas

HB 671 requires counties with over 150,000 residents to include a specific plan by January 1, 2026, to minimize flooding risks to existing sewage systems and limit new installations in "climate vulnerable areas" (defined as Coast Smart or Riverine Climate Ready Action Boundaries). It prohibits installing new sewage systems for new buildings or replacing existing ones in these areas without using nitrogen removal technology, unless specific conditions are met. The bill also expands the Bay Restoration Fund to provide financial assistance to low-income homeowners for drain field upgrades in vulnerable areas under certain circumstances. This directly affects homeowners, builders, and county planning departments in Maryland’s coastal and riverine regions facing climate risks.