Environment - Maryland Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund - Renaming and Alterations

SB 461 renames Maryland's Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund to the "Maryland Water Quality Improvement Revolving Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility to prioritize projects in overburdened and underserved communities. Overburdened communities are defined by three or more environmental health indicators (like air pollution or lead exposure) exceeding statewide averages, while underserved communities meet income, racial, or language access thresholds. The bill requires the Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration to use a scoring system that prioritizes these communities when allocating funds for water quality projects. This change directly affects public water systems serving 10,000+ people seeking state loans or grants for infrastructure improvements.