SB 371 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Animal Feeding Operations

This bill removes a requirement that livestock operations must obtain a water pollution permit from Maryland's Department of the Environment before beginning construction on new facilities. It directly affects new concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Maryland by eliminating the pre-construction permit step. The change means CAFO operators can start building without first securing a permit, though permits remain required for operating the facilities after construction is complete. The bill does not alter existing permit requirements for operational discharges.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations → Third - Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Animal Feeding Operations · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify that it repeals a specific requirement for CAFO permits while simultaneously authorizing the Department of the Environment to create a new, flexible approval process for starting construction on new animal feeding operations. This change shifts the policy from a strict 'no permit, no build' rule to a system where the department can grant construction authorization based on a demonstration of compliance, provided the general discharge permit is administratively extended.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely repealing a permit requirement to actively authorizing a new administrative approval process for construction on animal feeding operations.

REQUIREMENT

The text was updated to replace the specific term 'Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations' with the broader 'Animal Feeding Operations' in the bill's title and purpose statement.

A new provision was added allowing the Department of the Environment to authorize construction on new animal feeding operations under a specific approval process, requiring the applicant to demonstrate compliance with existing permit requirements and other laws.

TECHNICAL

The explanatory text was updated to reflect that the bill now authorizes a new approval process in addition to repealing the previous permit requirement.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 1, 2026

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic36

34 Yea 2

94% 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 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 253

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Apr 1, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (135-0-7)

house of delegates

Mar 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)

senate

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors