SB 76 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Administrative Penalties

This bill changes penalties for oyster fishing violations in Maryland. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to suspend (not revoke) oyster licenses for certain offenses instead of permanently removing them, with suspensions lasting up to 2 years for first violations or 10 years for repeat offenses. The bill also creates specific conditions for reinstating revoked licenses: after at least 2 years for a first offense or 10 years for a second or subsequent offense. It applies directly to oyster harvesters who hold licenses under Maryland's oyster fishery regulations. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Oct 29, 2024 Last action Apr 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Administrative Penalties → Third - Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Administrative Penalties · 4 edits

MODERATE

SB 76 was amended to clarify and strengthen penalties for oyster fishery violations. The bill now allows for both suspension and revocation of oyster authorizations depending on the severity and number of violations, rather than only revocation. It also adds provisions for reinstating revoked authorizations and work entitlements after specific time periods, and clarifies hearing timelines for administrative penalties.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include both suspension and revocation as penalty options, and added provisions for reinstatement of revoked authorizations and work entitlements.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed penalty options from only revocation to include both suspension (for first violations) and revocation (for second or subsequent violations).

ELIGIBILITY

Added provisions allowing the Department to reinstate revoked oyster authorizations and work entitlements after specific time periods (2 years for first offense, 10 years for subsequent offenses).

TIMELINE

Modified hearing timelines and added a specific reinstatement effective date of July 1, 2025.

REQUIREMENT

Updated language to clarify that hearings must be held before suspension or revocation, and added requirements for accepting applications for reinstatement.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 46

Mar 10, 2025

D Democratic33

31 Yea 2

93% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-2)

senate

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Oct 29, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors