Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 861: Environment - Stormwater Management for Agritourism

SB 861 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create regulations and a model ordinance for local stormwater management programs to enforce rules on agricultural land. It directly affects farmers and local governments by mandating that programs consult with soil conservation districts before enforcing stormwater regulations on farms. Key provisions include defining agricultural uses (like on-farm processing) separately from commercial development in the stormwater manual and allowing flexibility in enforcement for agricultural land. The bill updates existing law to clarify how stormwater rules apply to farms, avoiding overly rigid standards that could conflict with farming operations. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates stormwater regulations for agricultural land with soil conservation input, reducing runoff pollution and protecting water quality per environmental protection focus.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1071: Environment - Stormwater Management for Agritourism

HB 1071 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create regulations and a model ordinance for local stormwater management programs to enforce rules on agricultural land. It mandates that local programs must work with soil conservation districts to implement these rules and specifies that farm-related uses (like on-farm processing) must be clearly distinguished from commercial development in stormwater regulations. The bill also adds flexibility for enforcing stormwater management on agricultural land, rather than applying standard commercial development rules. This directly affects farmers, local governments, and soil conservation districts by changing how agricultural land is regulated under stormwater management.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires stormwater regulations on agricultural land to reduce pollution, mandates coordination with soil conservation districts, and distinguishes farm uses from commercial development to protect water quality.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 247: Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program - Variances - Alterations

HB 247 modifies Maryland's Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program by tightening standards for land-use variances in protected areas. It requires local jurisdictions to presume that new development requests in critical areas conflict with program goals unless applicants prove hardship beyond convenience or financial gain. The bill adds that existing accessory structures on a parcel create a presumption of reasonable land use, and applicants must compare their request to similar conforming properties within the critical area. These changes apply to landowners seeking variances for development in designated coastal critical areas, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTightens development standards in critical areas, requiring hardship proof to override environmental protections, strengthening conservation of Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 254: Supporting Inclusive Community Adaptation Act

HB 254 creates a new Resilience Through Restoration Capital Grant Fund within Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to provide grants for nature-based projects that reduce climate vulnerabilities and strengthen community resilience. The fund supports state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits in planning, designing, and implementing projects like wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and shoreline protection. The bill requires the Department to develop community participation guidelines, a public website with planning tools, and training by October 2027, while mandating that funded projects incorporate community input and dedicate at least 3% of funds to adaptive management. All interest earnings from the fund must be reinvested, and grants must specifically address climate hazards like flooding and sea-level rise.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new Resilience Through Restoration Capital Grant Fund within state budget, allocating funds for climate resilience projects via state agencies and nonprofits.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates grant fund for wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and shoreline protection to reduce climate vulnerabilities and strengthen environmental resilience.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 197: Land Use - Comprehensive and General Plans - Alteration of Elements

Maryland's SB 197 updates land use planning requirements for charter counties and local jurisdictions by adding eight mandatory elements to comprehensive and general plans, including new Resilience, Equity, Place, and Ecology elements. The bill requires counties to address specific subelements within each plan section, such as economic development strategies, community facilities, and historic resource protection, while mandating state agencies like the Department of Planning to provide data and guidelines. It replaces outdated sections with streamlined language, clarifies how counties can structure their plans (e.g., as individual chapters or grouped sections), and removes obsolete requirements like "mineral resources" and "water resources" elements. This bill directly affects local governments developing land use plans, ensuring they incorporate updated environmental, social, and economic priorities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates Ecology element in land use plans, requiring environmental considerations in planning and resilience strategies per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 243: Land Use - Comprehensive and General Plans - Alteration of Elements

HB 243 modifies Maryland's requirements for local governments' comprehensive and general plans. It adds new mandatory elements like Resilience, Place, and Ecology while replacing older terms (e.g., "Water Resources" becomes "Equity"). The bill requires charter counties and other local jurisdictions to include these updated elements in their plans, detailing goals for economic, social, and environmental development. State agencies must also provide data and guidance to help local governments meet these new standards. This affects how local governments structure long-term planning for land use, housing, transportation, and community facilities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdds mandatory 'Ecology' element to local plans, requiring environmental development goals. Replaces 'Water Resources' with 'Equity' but explicitly mandates ecology focus for environmental protection.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 'Equity' as a core element in land use plans, requiring inclusive housing development strategies that align with affordable housing and anti-discrimination policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 255: Natural Resources - Pamela J. Kelly Tree-Mendous Maryland Program - Alterations

HB 255 updates the purpose of Maryland's Pamela J. Kelly Tree-Mendous Maryland Program to explicitly advance forest health and resilience by promoting and maintaining native trees and shrubs on public lands, community spaces, school grounds, and rights-of-way. The bill amends the existing law (Section 5-435 of the Natural Resources article) to clarify that the program’s core focus is on native species, rather than general tree planting. It directly affects the Department of Natural Resources, which administers the program, and ensures future efforts align with this specific goal. The change is procedural, updating the program’s stated purpose without creating new funding or requirements. The bill is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly prioritizes native trees/shrubs for forest health/resilience on public lands, advancing environmental conservation through species-specific ecosystem protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 164: Natural Resources - Pamela J. Kelly Tree-Mendous Maryland Program - Alterations

SB 164 amends Maryland's Pamela J. Kelly Tree-Mendous Maryland Program to explicitly prioritize advancing forest health and resilience through the promotion and maintenance of native trees and shrubs. The bill directly affects the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (which administers the program), public land managers, community spaces, school grounds, and rights-of-way where tree planting occurs. Key provisions change the program's stated purpose in state law to require native species for all planting and maintenance efforts on public lands. This policy shift focuses on using locally adapted plants to strengthen ecosystems rather than non-native species. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, pending final legislative approval.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates native species for forest health/resilience, directly advancing conservation and ecosystem protection per bill's explicit purpose change.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 734: Property Tax - Agricultural Use Assessment - Community Solar Energy Generating Systems

HB 734 extends the deadline for community solar energy systems to qualify for agricultural property tax assessment from 2025 to December 31, 2030. It applies to systems placed in service after June 30, 2022, and approved by the Public Service Commission by the new deadline. The bill ensures land used for qualifying community solar projects is assessed as actively farmed agricultural land, allowing property owners to receive lower tax rates. This directly affects landowners operating community solar systems that meet these criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends agricultural tax assessment for solar projects, lowering property taxes for qualifying landowners by maintaining reduced tax rates under agricultural classification.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExtends tax incentives for community solar projects, lowering costs for developers and promoting renewable energy adoption through agricultural tax assessment benefits.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends tax incentives for community solar projects, promoting renewable energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence per bill's focus on qualifying solar systems.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1116: Howard County - Illegal Dumping - Surveillance System Pilot Program Ho. Co. 6-26

HB 1116 authorizes Howard County to install surveillance systems at repeat illegal dumping sites and mail citations to vehicle owners captured by these systems. The bill requires the County to issue citations that give violators two options: pay a civil penalty or request a court trial. It also prohibits the Motor Vehicle Administration from registering or transferring vehicles linked to confirmed illegal dumping incidents. This pilot program applies specifically to Howard County and modifies existing Maryland law to implement these enforcement mechanisms for litter disposal violations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill targets illegal dumping pollution through surveillance, citations, and vehicle registration bans, directly reducing environmental contamination at dumping sites.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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