Environment (Water Quality)

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 925: Sewage Sludge - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - Regulation

HB 925 establishes limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sewage sludge applied to land, prohibiting use if PFAS levels exceed specific thresholds after a set date. It directly affects sewage sludge generators (like wastewater treatment facilities), industrial users discharging PFAS, and local jurisdictions managing sludge. Key provisions include mandatory PFAS monitoring in sludge, requirements for industrial pretreatment standards when PFAS levels exceed action levels, and rules allowing limited blending of sludge from multiple sources. The bill also authorizes local fees for industrial dischargers and updates regulations for safe land application practices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes PFAS limits in sewage sludge, mandates monitoring, and prohibits high-level use, directly reducing environmental pollution from toxic chemicals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 940: Environment - Water Quality Testing - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan

SB 940 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create and implement a mobile home park water quality testing program by January 1, 2027. The program mandates testing at 25% of parks by 2028, 50% by 2029, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2031, prioritizing parks with 40%+ minority residents, areas with known geological contaminants, parks where residents requested testing or filed complaints, and parks using private water supplies. Park owners must take corrective actions if water quality issues are identified, and the Department must provide results to residents in multiple languages. This bill directly affects mobile home park owners and residents across Maryland by establishing a structured process to ensure drinking water safety.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water quality testing in mobile home parks with phased implementation, prioritizing vulnerable communities and contamination risks, directly advancing environmental protection and pollution control standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates water testing in mobile home parks (affordable housing) prioritizing minority-resident parks and health risks, directly protecting tenant safety and health in housing conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Parks & Recreation Water Quality

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1465: Environment - Stream and Floodplain Restoration Projects - Requirements and Limitations

HB 1465 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to update stormwater management rules, prioritizing practices that maintain predevelopment runoff characteristics and protect water quality. It directly affects local governments (counties/municipalities) that adopt stormwater ordinances, developers who must implement environmental site design, and the Department itself. Key provisions mandate that stormwater plans prevent soil erosion, reduce pollution in runoff, maintain stream channel integrity, restore water quality, and use the latest precipitation data. The bill also restricts using stream/floodplain restoration projects to meet certain mitigation or permit requirements and requires the Department to review rules every 5 years. These changes aim to improve watershed health while ensuring development minimizes impacts on Maryland's waterways.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates stormwater rules to reduce runoff pollution, protect water quality, and prevent soil erosion, directly advancing environmental protection standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 688: Environment - Stream and Floodplain Restoration Projects - Requirements and Limitations

SB 688 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to update stormwater management rules, directly affecting developers, local governments, and state agencies. It mandates that stormwater plans must maintain predevelopment runoff characteristics, prevent soil erosion, protect stream channels, and achieve 100% groundwater recharge. The bill also requires treating pollutants in runoff to restore water quality, protect aquatic life, and prevent downstream flooding from new development. These changes apply to all new construction and redevelopment projects requiring stormwater permits.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates stormwater management to protect water quality, prevent erosion, and achieve 100% groundwater recharge - direct environmental protections95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 687: Environment - Flood Risk Review Process - Establishment

SB 687 establishes a mandatory flood risk review process for areas at risk of tidal or nontidal flooding in Maryland. It requires the Department of the Environment to implement this process when reviewing certain development plans and permits, and to consult with local governments, state agencies, and watershed groups before final decisions. The bill makes the flood risk determination binding on local stormwater management approvals, ensuring it becomes part of the local permitting process. This directly affects the Department of the Environment, local jurisdictions managing stormwater approvals, and developers seeking permits in flood-prone areas. The policy changes focus on integrating flood risk assessments into existing development reviews to better protect communities from flooding impacts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates flood risk review for development permits, making environmental protections binding in local stormwater management approvals to prevent flood damage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1560: Forest Conservation - Incentives - Pilot Program and Fund

HB 1560 establishes a pilot program to incentivize Maryland’s nonindustrial private forest landowners (who manage 75% of the state’s 2.4 million forest acres) to adopt ecosystem-focused forest management plans. It creates the Forest Ecosystem Value Incentives Fund - a permanent, interest-earning fund - to finance the program, replacing current permanent conservation agreements with flexible management commitments. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to design plans that maximize public benefits like carbon sequestration, water quality, and biodiversity, without requiring perpetual land conservation. This shifts incentives toward active forest management rather than permanent land retirement.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Forest Ecosystem Value Incentives Fund to incentivize ecosystem-focused forest management, conserving 75% of Maryland's forest acres through permanent funding and updated conservation commitments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Water Quality

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1621: Wastewater Treatment Plants - Discharges - Requirements

HB 1621 requires wastewater treatment plants processing over 50 million gallons of effluent daily to monitor discharges for hormones, PFAS chemicals, and bacteria, and publicly post daily bacterial levels and incident reports (like overflows) on their websites within 24 hours. It establishes bacterial safety thresholds requiring immediate public alerts when exceeded and bars non-compliant plants from Maryland's Water Quality Trading Program. Smaller plants (under 50 million gallons daily) must report staffing plans annually instead of daily data. The bill mandates transparency through public websites and gives the Department authority to enforce these requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates monitoring of pollutants (PFAS, hormones, bacteria), public reporting, safety thresholds, and bars non-compliant plants from water quality program - strengthens pollution control regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1196: Environment - Water Quality Testing - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan

HB 1196 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to establish a mobile home park water quality testing program by January 1, 2027. The program mandates testing 25% of parks by 2028, 50% by 2029, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2031, prioritizing parks with ≥40% minority residents, known contamination areas, or resident complaints. Park owners must take corrective actions if water quality issues are found, and the Department must notify residents and develop a statewide action plan. This directly affects mobile home park owners, residents, and the Department of the Environment through mandated testing, reporting, and remediation requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water quality testing in mobile home parks with corrective actions, prioritizing vulnerable communities and contamination areas to protect public health and environmental standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires water quality testing in mobile home parks (a housing type), prioritizing minority-majority parks, ensuring safe living conditions for tenants.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Water Quality

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

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality Tags Agriculture

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HB 1315: Department of the Environment - Vessel-Based Microplastic Particle Removal Technologies - Study

HB 1315 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment, with input from the Department of Natural Resources, to study vessel-based technologies that capture or remove microplastic particles in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The study will identify specific technologies (like filters using boat engine cooling systems, vessel-mounted filtration, and floating systems), assess their effectiveness, environmental impacts, costs, and practicality for use on recreational, commercial, and state vessels. It will also evaluate how these technologies could integrate with existing water quality programs and explore potential incentives for adoption. This study aims to inform future decisions about addressing microplastic pollution but does not mandate any new regulations or technology implementation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires study of microplastic removal tech to reduce pollution in Chesapeake Bay, directly addressing environmental protection through pollution control.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Water Quality

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