Fish And Fishing
Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Blue Catfish - Population Control [HB-1249]
[Animals ]
[Agriculture ]
[Water ]
[Environmental ]
[Food ]
Establishing that regulations of the Department of Natural Resources governing the catching of blue catfish shall establish a pilot program authorizing the use of electrofishing, shall authorize the use of finfish trotlines of up to 2,400 feet in length, may not set a limit on the number of hooks used, and shall authorize the use of hooks that are not corrodible; and requiring the Department of Agriculture to report on or before September 1, 2025, outlining needs and best practices for collecting, processing, and marketing blue catfish.
Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz
First Reading Environment And Transportation on 02/07/2025
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Gettr Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Blue Catfish - Population Control [SB-960]
[Animals ]
[Agriculture ]
[Water ]
[Environmental ]
[Food ]
Establishing that regulations of the Department of Natural Resources governing the catching of blue catfish shall establish a pilot program authorizing the use of electrofishing, shall authorize the use of finfish trotlines of up to 2,400 feet in length, may not set a limit on the number of hooks used, and shall authorize the use of hooks that are not corrodible; and requiring the Department of Agriculture to report on or before September 1, 2025, outlining needs and best practices for collecting, processing, and marketing blue catfish.
Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz
Hearing 3/04 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/04/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Fisheries - Striped Bass or Rockfish - Juvenile Survey [HB-889]
[Animals ]
[Environmental ]
[Science ]
[Water ]
Expanding the scope of the annual young-of-the-year juvenile survey of striped bass or rockfish by requiring the Department of Natural Resources to conduct the survey at at least a certain number of additional sampling sites in the central region of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay; and requiring the Department to report the results of the survey to certain Commissions and committees of the General Assembly by December 31 each year.
Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz
Third Reading Passed (137-1) on 03/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Administrative Penalties [HB-893]
[Animals ]
[Water ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Environmental ]
[Crime ]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to suspend for up to 5 years for a first violation, rather than revoke, a person's oyster authorization for knowingly committing certain violations; providing for the reinstatement for certain persons of an oyster authorization and an entitlement to engage or work in the oyster fishery; altering a certain offense related to the use of prohibited gear; and repealing the 90-day time period within which a certain administrative hearing must be held.
Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 552 on 05/13/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act [HB-506]
[Agriculture ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Food ]
Establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program; establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program Fund to support actions associated with the Program's purpose; altering the definition of "healthy soils" for purposes of the Maryland Healthy Soils Program; exempting certain holders of certain fishing licenses from the requirement to obtain a food establishment license from the Maryland Department of Health; establishing the Water Quality Monitoring Program; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 430 on 05/13/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act [SB-428]
[Agriculture ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Food ]
Establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program; establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program Fund to support actions associated with fulfilling the Program's purpose; defining "fixed natural buffer" as a strip of maintained, native vegetation alongside a body of water; exempting certain holders of certain fishing licenses from the requirement to obtain a certain food establishment license; establishing the Water Quality Monitoring Program; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cheryl Kagan
Third Reading Passed (47-0) on 04/02/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Recreational Equality for Service Members Act [HB-494]
[Veterans ]
[Public Health ]
[Healthcare ]
[Military ]
[Recreation ]
Establishing rules of interpretation related to the uniformed services; altering the rule of interpretation for "veteran"; altering the application of certain provisions of law governing public health and the regulation of health occupations to apply to all uniformed services, rather than only the armed forces; altering the circumstances under which licenses for fishing in tidal waters do not lapse; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Marvin Holmes
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 266 on 05/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program [HB-446]
[Animals ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Science ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program in the Department of Natural Resources to curb the spread of the invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; requiring the Department to expand the use of practices determined to be effective under the Program; and requiring the Department to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, on its findings and recommendations based on the Pilot Program.
Sponsored by: Rep. Barrie Ciliberti
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 172 on 04/22/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Recreational Equality for Service Members Act [SB-282]
[Veterans ]
[Public Health ]
[Healthcare ]
[Recreation ]
Establishing rules of interpretation related to the uniformed services; altering the rule of interpretation for "veteran"; altering the application of certain provisions of law governing public health and the regulation of health occupations to apply to all uniformed services, rather than only the armed forces; altering the circumstances under which licenses for fishing in tidal waters do not lapse; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Jackson
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 265 on 05/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy - Planning Principles [HB-286]
[Environmental ]
[Economic Development ]
[Community Development ]
Providing certain planning principles that are collectively intended to create sustainable communities and to protect the environment utilizing active public participation; altering the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy to consist of planning principles for advancing sustainable growth in the State; and requiring the publisher of the Annotated Code of Maryland, along with the Department of Legislative Services, to correct cross-references and terminology in the Code that are rendered incorrect by the Act.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 63 on 04/08/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Fishing Licenses and Stamps - Alterations [SB-258]
[Animals ]
[Senior Citizens ]
[Recreation ]
Altering the fees for resident consolidated senior sport fishing licenses, angler's licenses, and trout stamps; and repealing the exemption from the requirement to obtain a trout stamp under certain circumstances for a holder of a resident consolidated senior sport fishing license.
Sponsored by: Sen.
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 46 on 04/08/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program [SB-186]
[Animals ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Science ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program in the Department of Natural Resources to curb the spread of the invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; requiring the Department to expand the use of practices determined to be effective under the Program; and requiring the Department to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, on its findings and recommendations based on the Pilot Program.
Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 171 on 04/22/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Criminal Law - Crimes Relating to Animals - Conviction and Sentencing [SB-152]
[Animals ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing that certain crimes relating to animals do not include certain activities; establishing that each animal harmed in a violation of a prohibition against animal cruelty is a separate offense and shall be deemed an individual victim for purposes of the sentencing guidelines stacking rule; establishing that a conviction for a crime relating to animals may not merge with a conviction for any other crime based on the act establishing the violation; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Chris West
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 157 on 04/22/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Family Law – Child Support [HB-218]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Human Services ]
Altering provisions relating to the commencement of a proceeding to hold a person in contempt of court for the person's default in payment of periodic child or spousal support under the terms of a court order and provisions relating to the commencement of a contempt proceeding for failure to make a payment of child or spousal support under a court order; authorizing the Child Support Administration to take action to secure an assignment to the State of any rights to support on behalf of a child receiving foster care maintenance payments; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Hearing Canceled on 02/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Fisheries - Striped Bass or Rockfish - Juvenile Survey [SB-87]
[Animals ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
Expanding the scope of the annual young-of-the-year juvenile survey of striped bass or rockfish by requiring the Department of Natural Resources to conduct the survey at sampling sites in the central region of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay in addition to sampling sites in the northern and southern regions of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay; and establishing certain requirements for the central region sampling sites.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jack Bailey
Hearing 2/04 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/14/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Procurement - State Department of Education - Local Food Purchasing Program [HB-56]
[Agriculture ]
[Food ]
[Education ]
[Budget and Spending ]
[Public Health ]
Requiring the State Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of General Services and the Department of Agriculture, to establish a program to procure, when funding is available, local food for local school systems with preference to providers that are certified local farms or certified Chesapeake invasive species providers; altering the percentage price preference adopted by the Board of Public Works for locally grown food from 5% to 10%; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Kaiser
Vetoed By The Governor (policy) on 05/16/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Administrative Penalties [SB-76]
[Animals ]
[Water ]
[Environmental ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to suspend, rather than revoke, for up to 5 years for a first violation, a person's oyster authorization for knowingly committing certain violations; providing for the reinstatement for certain persons of an oyster authorization and an entitlement to engage or work in the oyster fishery; altering a certain offense related to the use of prohibited gear; and repealing the 90-day time period within which a certain administrative hearing must be held.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jack Bailey
Rereferred To Environment And Transportation on 04/02/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Fishing Licenses and Stamps - Alterations [HB-40]
[Animals ]
[Senior Citizens ]
[Recreation ]
Altering the fees for resident consolidated senior sport fishing licenses, angler's licenses, and trout stamps; and repealing the exemption from the requirement to obtain a trout stamp under certain circumstances for a holder of a resident consolidated senior sport fishing license.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 45 on 04/08/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy - Planning Principles [SB-266]
[Environmental ]
[Economic Development ]
[Community Development ]
Providing certain planning principles that are collectively intended to create sustainable communities and to protect the environment utilizing active public participation; altering the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy to consist of planning principles for advancing sustainable growth in the State; and requiring the publisher of the Annotated Code of Maryland, along with the Department of Legislative Services, to correct cross-references and terminology in the Code that are rendered incorrect by the Act.
Sponsored by: Sen.
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 64 on 04/08/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Criminal Law - Crimes Relating to Animals - Conviction and Sentencing [HB-89]
[Animals ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing that certain crimes relating to animals do not include certain activities; establishing that each animal harmed in a violation of a prohibition against animal cruelty is a separate offense and shall be deemed an individual victim for purposes of the sentencing guidelines stacking rule; establishing that a conviction for a crime relating to animals may not merge with a conviction for any other crime based on the act establishing the violation; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Elizabeth Embry
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 156 on 04/22/2025