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 It replaces outdated sections with streamlined language, clarifies how counties can structure their plans (e.g., as individual chapters or grouped sections), and removes obsolete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

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 841: Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act

SB 841 changes how Maryland uses fees paid by utilities to fund renewable energy projects. Instead of direct grants, it requires the Maryland Energy Administration to run annual competitive auctions where developers bid to build renewable energy projects. The bill sets specific targets for project capacity, deadlines for completion, and eligibility rules for bidders, including prioritizing projects benefiting low-income or overburdened communities. It redirects existing compliance fees - previously used for solar grants - into this auction system to accelerate renewable energy development.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRedirects utility compliance fees to fund renewable projects via competitive auctions with capacity targets and prioritizes low-income community benefits, advancing renewable energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes competitive auctions for renewable energy projects with capacity targets, prioritizing low-income communities, directly advancing clean energy funding and environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 165: Environment - On-Site Wastewater Systems - Implementation Dates

This bill requires landlords and property sellers in Maryland to ensure septic systems are inspected and pumped by licensed professionals before new tenants move in or property is sold. Landlords must comply by July 1, 2028, and inspections/pumping are valid for three years. Home sellers must include this requirement in real estate contracts starting July 1, 2028, with settlement delayed until proof of inspection and pumping is provided. Exceptions apply for transfers between family members, refinancing, or initial construction. Property owners must also report failing systems to local health departments and confirm repairs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates septic inspections/pumping to prevent groundwater contamination, directly reducing pollution and protecting natural resources per environmental protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 559: Natural Resources - Recreational Fishery Data Collection Program - Established

SB 559 requires recreational anglers in Maryland with a Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license or registration to report their striped bass catches to the Department of Natural Resources. The bill mandates the Department to create regulations allowing multiple reporting methods, including a mobile app (to be prioritized where feasible) and alternatives for people without internet access. It directly affects all licensed recreational fishermen targeting striped bass in Maryland’s coastal waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The key provision is establishing a mandatory reporting system to improve catch data collection, with specific requirements for accessible and technologically flexible reporting options. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires catch reporting for striped bass management, supporting sustainable fisheries conservation through data collection and resource monitoring.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 203: Environment - Lead Paint Abatement Services - Performance Bond and Liability Insurance

SB 203 requires accredited lead paint abatement service providers in Maryland to maintain a reasonable performance bond or liability insurance policy. This applies to any person accredited by the Department of the Environment to conduct lead paint hazard removal, containment, or renovation work in buildings constructed before 1978. The law amends existing regulations to mandate this financial protection, ensuring providers can cover costs if services fail to meet standards. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all accredited professionals performing lead abatement work.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates financial safeguards for lead paint abatement providers to prevent environmental health hazards, ensuring accountability for pollution control in pre-1978 buildings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 225: Environment - Interjurisdictional Watersheds - Flood Management

SB 225 designates specific watersheds - including Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls, Herring Run (covering Baltimore City and Baltimore County), and the Patapsco River (spanning Baltimore, Howard, Carroll, Anne Arundel, and Frederick counties) - as "interjurisdictional flood hazard watersheds" requiring coordinated flood management planning across municipal and county boundaries. It mandates that local subdivisions develop unified flood management plans for these areas, which must be reviewed and approved by Maryland’s Department of the Environment to ensure consistency with flood control standards. The bill specifies that management techniques (like dams, levees, zoning, and stormwater systems) must be included in these plans, with disapproval limited to flood management concerns only. This policy change aims to streamline flood planning for watersheds crossing jurisdictional lines, taking effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates unified flood management plans for designated watersheds, promoting coordinated environmental protection across jurisdictions to prevent fragmentation and protect water resources.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 108: Environment - Water Resources and Wetlands - Enforcement

SB 108 authorizes Maryland's Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for violations of water appropriation, dam safety, and wetlands development rules. It directly affects businesses, developers, and local governments that fail to comply with environmental regulations. Key provisions allow the department to levy fines up to $5,000 per violation (capped at $100,000 total), considering factors like environmental harm and willfulness, with penalties paid into the Maryland Clean Water Fund (or Private Dam Repair Fund for dam-related issues). The bill replaces some court-based enforcement with direct administrative penalties, streamlining enforcement while requiring department consultation before suing local governments.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes penalties for environmental violations, strengthening enforcement of water/wetlands regulations through fines for non-compliance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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