HB 889 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Fisheries - Striped Bass or Rockfish - Juvenile Survey

HB 889 requires Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to expand its annual juvenile striped bass and rockfish survey by adding sampling sites in the central Chesapeake Bay region. Specifically, the bill mandates 12-20 new survey locations in seven designated waterways: Maggoty River, Severn River, Chester River, South River, West River, Eastern Bay, and Miles River. This change supplements existing surveys in northern and southern Bay regions to improve data on young fish populations. The bill directly affects the Department of Natural Resources, which must implement these new survey requirements starting June 1, 2025. The goal is to enhance scientific understanding of striped bass and rockfish stock health in Maryland waters.

Issues: ✓ Environment

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 30, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Fisheries - Striped Bass or Rockfish - Juvenile Survey → Third - Fisheries - Striped Bass or Rockfish - Juvenile Survey · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the juvenile striped bass or rockfish survey requirements, adding two new rivers to the list of eligible sampling sites and clarifying that at least two sites must be sampled in the central region. The bill also added provisions for ongoing data review and reporting to state agencies.

Scope change

The bill now requires sampling in additional rivers (Patapsco, Rhode, and Tred Avon) and mandates a minimum of two central region sampling sites.

REQUIREMENT

Added three new rivers (Patapsco, Rhode, and Tred Avon) to the list of waters where central region sampling sites may be located.

Changed the requirement from a range of 12-20 sampling sites to a minimum of at least two sites in the central region.

Added a new section requiring the Department to annually examine survey data to ensure fish distribution has not shifted from established sites.

Added a new section requiring the Department to report results to multiple state agencies and committees by December 31 each year.

TIMELINE

Added a sunset provision stating that Sections 2, 4, and 5 will automatically expire on June 30, 2027, unless extended.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2025

How they voted

136–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 139

Mar 8, 2025

D Democratic100

98 Yea 2

98% Yea

R Republican39

38 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 8, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (136-0-3)

house of delegates

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors