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HB 684 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Alteration and Extension

HB 684 modifies Maryland's State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund to focus exclusively on Deep Creek Lake and extends its expiration date from 2025 to 2027. The bill requires an annual $1 million appropriation for the fund starting in fiscal year 2027, to be used for specific restoration activities including sediment removal, invasive species prevention, and ecological improvements. The fund is structured as a nonlapsing special fund, meaning it can accumulate money without annual renewal, and must be administered by the Secretary of Natural Resources. This change ensures continued, dedicated funding for Deep Creek Lake's protection beyond the original 2025 deadline.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual $1M appropriation for lake restoration, directly funding a public service program through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates $1M/year for Deep Creek Lake restoration, including sediment removal and invasive species prevention, directly protecting aquatic ecosystems.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Last action Mar 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Alteration and Extension → Third - State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Alteration and Extension · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to extend the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund's funding period from 2025 to 2028, increase annual appropriations from $1 million to $500,000, and narrow the fund's purpose to focus exclusively on Deep Creek Lake rather than all state-owned or managed lakes. The changes clarify the fund's mandatory appropriation status and update the termination date to align with the extended funding period.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed from protecting all state-owned or managed lakes to exclusively protecting Deep Creek Lake.
FISCAL

Annual appropriation amount reduced from $1,000,000 to $500,000 for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

TIMELINE

Fund termination date extended from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2028.

SCOPE

Fund purpose and eligible uses restricted from all state-owned or managed lakes to Deep Creek Lake only.

REQUIREMENT

Added clarification that the Fund is a mandatory appropriation not subject to the State Finance and Procurement Article.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report and house action status indicating favorable approval with amendments.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

129–8
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 139
Feb 28, 2025
D Democratic100
98 Yea 2
98% Yea
R Republican39
31 Yea 8 Nay
79% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment Budget and Taxation
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations
lower
Feb 28, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (129-8-2)
house of delegates
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
First Reading Appropriations
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jim Hinebaugh
Jim Hinebaugh
RRepublican
MD
1A