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.
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.
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.
HB 578 requires Maryland's Secretary of Natural Resources to review and update regulations for endangered and threatened species by July 1, 2033, and every 10 years thereafter. It clarifies definitions like "foreseeable future" for species assessments and expands "harm" to include significant habitat degradation that affects breeding or feeding. The bill mandates delisting species under specific conditions and specifies required details for petitions to remove species from protected lists. These changes directly affect wildlife managers, landowners, and conservation efforts by strengthening habitat protections and streamlining species listing processes under Maryland law.
SB 130 requires landlords in multi-unit apartment buildings (with more than two dwelling units) to install individual water meters for each unit instead of using bulk billing. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks, poor maintenance, or common areas, and mandates that meters include leak detection monitors that tenants can inspect. Landlords must maintain clear records of water costs and usage for tenant review, and unpaid water bills cannot be used as grounds for eviction. The law, effective October 1, 2026, also allows a $1 monthly administrative fee to cover billing costs.
HB 220 requires apartment buildings with multiple units to install individual water meters for each dwelling unit, replacing bulk meters. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks they caused, common-area usage, or maintenance costs, and mandates that charges reflect actual water use. Tenants gain the right to inspect leak detection monitors and review billing records, while unpaid water bills cannot be used to evict tenants for nonpayment. The bill also establishes a complaint process for tenants to address billing disputes with local housing authorities or consumer protection offices.
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.
SB 431 updates Maryland's rules for protecting endangered and threatened species and migratory birds. The bill requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and update species protection regulations by July 1, 2033, and every 10 years after that. It defines "harm" to include significant habitat changes that affect fish behavior, and clarifies that "take" means actions like hunting, trapping, or collecting. The bill also requires more detailed information in petitions to remove species from protection lists and allows for designating essential habitats for threatened species. These changes aim to strengthen species protection with clearer regulatory standards for state agencies.
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.
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.
