Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection)

HB 258 updates Maryland's rules for development near the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. It requires local governments to conduct 10-year reviews of their critical area programs, sets specific location rules for new development (like maintaining 300-foot buffers from tidal wetlands), and mandates climate vulnerability assessments for projects. The bill also clarifies procedures for correcting mapping errors and updating tree replanting requirements. These changes directly affect 12 coastal Maryland counties (including Calvert and Talbot) that manage local development plans under the program. The law aims to strengthen protections for bay ecosystems through clearer, updated standards for land use decisions.

SB 368 requires property owners in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties to use "living shorelines" or other nonstructural erosion control methods (like marsh creation, native plants, or oyster reefs) instead of hard structures for shoreline stabilization. It exempts these counties from standard requirements for nonstructural measures and creates a waiver process for property owners who can prove such methods are unfeasible due to factors like severe erosion or narrow shorelines. The bill defines "living shorelines" as projects using natural materials to absorb storm energy, restore habitat, and minimize erosion, while avoiding hard structures where possible. This policy change directly affects landowners near water in these two counties, prioritizing ecological solutions for coastal protection.

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.