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SB 964 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Dorchester County - Well and On-Site Sewage Disposal Activities - Privatization Program

SB 964 creates a 3-year program (2025-2028) allowing Dorchester County to contract private companies for well and on-site sewage disposal system inspections and maintenance. It requires private providers to be state-licensed environmental health specialists with relevant experience, and mandates the Department of the Environment to oversee the program with annual audits, fee caps, and public health safeguards. The program applies only to Dorchester County, with local health authorities reviewing all work performed under it. This framework aims to streamline system oversight while ensuring consumer protections and environmental safety during the pilot period.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Dorchester County - Well and On-Site Sewage Disposal Activities - Privatization Program → Third - Dorchester County - Well and On-Site Sewage Disposal Activities - Privatization Program · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to add committee approval and adoption status, restructure the section numbering and formatting, and significantly expand the requirements for a privatization program to include insurance, financial assurances, ethics policies, and record transfer obligations. These changes strengthen consumer protection and oversight mechanisms for the privatization program in Dorchester County.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains limited to Dorchester County, but the program requirements were expanded to include additional safeguards.
REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for participants to carry appropriate insurance and provide financial assurances including indemnification of the state.

Added requirement for the privatization program to comply with applicable procurement laws.

Added requirement to establish ethics policies including conflict of interest standards for the privatization program.

Added requirement for participants to transfer records related to the program to the delegated approval authority, making them public records.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility requirements to require demonstrated satisfactory experience rather than just demonstrated experience, and added requirement to meet any other requirements requested by the delegated approval authority.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing favorable with amendments and Senate adoption status.

Reorganized section numbering and formatting throughout the document.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

47–0
Passed
Total votes 47
Feb 23, 2025
D Democratic34
34 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 424
Mar 31, 2025
Senate · Passed
Returned Passed
Mar 31, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
Third Reading Passed
Mar 28, 2025
House of Delegates · Reported by committee
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
Mar 28, 2025
House of Delegates · Reported by committee
Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation
Mar 14, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-9)
Mar 13, 2025
House of Delegates · Referred to committee
Referred Environment and Transportation
Mar 12, 2025
Senate · Passed
Third Reading Passed
Mar 12, 2025
Senate · Reported by committee
Favorable with Amendments {
Mar 11, 2025
Senate · Reported by committee
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
Feb 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-0)
Feb 3, 2025
Senate · Referred to committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.