Department of the Environment - Definition of Ecological Restoration
SB 722 defines "ecological restoration" in Maryland law as activities aimed at recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. The bill specifies this includes improving physical/chemical/biological processes, restoring natural functions, or protecting ecosystem resilience. It requires the Department of the Environment to update relevant regulations to either incorporate this definition or align with it. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting the Department and entities regulated under its environmental rules.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 31, 2025
Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
First - Department of the Environment - Ecological Restoration
→
Third - Department of the Environment - Definition of Ecological Restoration
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to change the title from 'Ecological Restoration' to 'Definition of Ecological Restoration' and includes a new section requiring the Department of the Environment to update regulations to incorporate this definition. The amendment also adds formatting notes explaining how to interpret the bill text.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on defining ecological restoration, but the title change clarifies its purpose is definitional rather than establishing a new program.
DEFINITION
Bill title changed from 'Ecological Restoration' to 'Definition of Ecological Restoration' to clarify the bill's purpose is to define the term rather than establish a program.
REQUIREMENT
New requirement added for the Department of the Environment to update regulations to incorporate the definition of ecological restoration and ensure consistency with it.
TECHNICAL
Added explanatory notes at the beginning of the bill to clarify how to interpret formatting conventions like capitalization, brackets, and underlining.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 15, 2025
How they voted
43–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 46
Feb 18, 2025
D
Democratic33
93% Yea
R
Republican13
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 329
executive
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation
lower
Mar 15, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-5)
house of delegates
Mar 7, 2025
Committee
Referred Environment and Transportation
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-0-3)
senate
Jan 31, 2025
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 722
Scope: MD
Hi! I can help you understand SB 722. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline