Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 266: Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees

SB 266 authorizes Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local ordinances regulating the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), a nonnative tree that spreads aggressively and harms native ecosystems. The bill allows local governments to ban selling, planting, or allowing the tree to grow on property, require containment if it's present, and impose civil fines for violations. It also permits communities to create bounty programs incentivizing residents to remove the tree. This directly affects property owners who may have the tree and local governments seeking to manage its spread.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRegulates invasive Tree of Heaven to protect native ecosystems, directly advancing environmental conservation through local enforcement and removal incentives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 547: Income Tax - Enhanced Agricultural Management Equipment Subtraction Modification and Parent of a Stillborn Child Credit

HB 547 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for agricultural equipment by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to add new equipment types through regulation. This directly affects Maryland farmers who purchase qualifying equipment, including technologies that reduce soil disturbance and nutrient runoff. The bill modifies existing tax rules (Section 10-208(d)) to include "enhanced agricultural management equipment" determined by the Secretary, beyond the current list of specific items like no-till planters or manure injection systems. Farmers must still meet standard requirements, such as owning equipment for at least three years and using it in agricultural production.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax deduction for agricultural equipment, providing tax relief to farmers under existing tax code modifications.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes tax deductions for equipment reducing soil disturbance and nutrient runoff, directly addressing pollution control in agricultural practices.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 429: On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program - Established

HB 429 establishes two grant programs to reduce food waste and promote composting. The On-Farm Organics Diversion Grant Program (under Agriculture) funds farmers, urban farmers, and related entities to implement on-farm composting, food rescue, and waste prevention. The Wasted Food Reduction Grant Program (under Environment) funds projects like food rescue infrastructure, community composting, and education to reduce wasted food statewide. Eligible projects must meet specific standards, such as producing certified compost and prioritizing underserved communities, with grants awarded annually starting July 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via grants to establish food waste reduction programs, directly increasing government spending on environmental initiatives per budget & taxes definition.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes grant programs for on-farm composting, food rescue, and waste reduction - directly advancing environmental conservation by diverting organic waste from landfills and promoting resource conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 613: Department of the Environment - Waivers for Living Shorelines and Nonstructural Shoreline Stabilization Measures - Regulations and Scoring System

HB 613 requires property owners in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties to use natural erosion control methods (like marsh creation, native plants, and oyster reefs) instead of hard structures (such as seawalls) for shoreline stabilization. It exempts these counties from general state requirements for nonstructural measures and creates a new waiver process where owners must demonstrate to the Department of Natural Resources that natural methods are not feasible due to factors like extreme erosion or narrow shorelines. The bill defines "living shorelines" as projects using natural materials and ecological principles to absorb wave energy and restore habitats, while still allowing structural measures in specific high-energy areas. This directly affects property owners along navigable waters in those two counties, changing how they must address shoreline erosion.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates natural erosion control methods (marshes, native plants, oyster reefs) over hard structures, promoting ecosystem-based shoreline protection and conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 654: Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants

HB 654 modifies funding rules for Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority, directly affecting local jurisdictions and entities managing certified heritage areas. It removes previous 50% limits on grant coverage for project costs (allowing full funding for eligible activities like preservation and marketing) and adjusts how Program Open Space funds are used. Specifically, it increases the allowable percentage for operating expenses from 10% to 7% or $600,000 (whichever is greater), and raises the maximum funding transfer to the Authority's Financing Fund. These changes aim to provide greater flexibility for heritage area management while maintaining oversight of fund usage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves 50% grant limit, allowing full funding for heritage preservation/marketing, and increases operating expense allowances, directly expanding public spending on cultural programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves 50% grant cap for preservation activities in heritage areas, enabling full funding for conservation projects under Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 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

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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