Natural Resources, Department Of

State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Dorchester County - Hunting - Fur-Bearing Mammals [HB-1119] [Animals ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Recreation ]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish a year-round open season for the hunting of fur-bearing mammals in Dorchester County; removing certain limitations on the hunting of fur-bearing mammals on Sundays in Dorchester County; and authorizing a person to hunt fur-bearing mammals on public land in Dorchester County designated for hunting by the Department of Natural Resources on certain Sundays.

  

Sponsored by: No sponsors Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation on 04/10/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Oysters – Rotational Harvest – Pilot Program [HB-932] [Agriculture ] [Environmental ] [Water ] [Science ] [Public Health ]
Establishing the rotational harvest pilot program for oysters to be implemented by the Department of Natural Resources; requiring the Department to open certain areas of the Chesapeake Bay to the rotational harvest of oysters in certain manners; requiring the Department, before opening an area to oyster harvesting under the pilot program, to survey and investigate the area to collect certain baseline data and, after closing the area, to continue to monitor the area to collect certain additional data; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Nicholaus Kipke Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/06/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Hunting - Tundra Swans [HB-954] [Animals ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Recreation ]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish an annual tundra swan hunting season if authorized by federal law; requiring the Department to request that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorize an annual tundra swan hunting season in the State and provide the Department with a certain number of permits to take tundra swan annually; and requiring the Department to distribute tundra swan permits annually using a lottery-based system under certain circumstances.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Kevin Hornberger Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation on 04/10/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland Native Plants Program [HB-950] [Agriculture ] [Environmental ] [Science ] [Community Development ] [Education ] [Funding ] [Grants ]
Establishing the Maryland Native Plants Program to respond to the increasing demand for, use of, and sale of native plants at retail garden centers and wholesale nurseries and to educate the public on native plants; requiring the Department of Agriculture to administer the Program in coordination with the University of Maryland Extension and to establish the "Maryland Natives" marketing program; requiring the University of Maryland Extension to hire an extension agent to serve as a native plant specialist for certain purposes; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein Approved By The Governor - Chapter 489 on 05/08/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Oyster Inspection and Severance Taxes - Increase [HB-1084] [Taxes ] [Water ] [Environmental ] [Food ] [Agriculture ]
Increasing the amount of the inspection tax levied on marketable oysters shipped in the shell to any place outside the State from 30 cents to $1 per bushel; increasing the amount of the severance tax levied on oysters caught within certain natural oyster bars from $1 to $2 per bushel; repealing a certain requirement that a certain tax increase be used for the oyster seed program; and requiring that $1 of each $2 of the severance tax levied be used by certain county oyster committees for the repletion of natural oyster bars.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz Approved By The Governor - Chapter 781 on 05/16/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Port of Deposit State Historical Park - Planning [HB-1140] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Arts and Culture ] [Community Development ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Recreation ]
Altering the composition of the stakeholder advisory committee to advise the Department of Natural Resources on the scope and management of Port of Deposit State Historical Park; requiring the Department to submit a report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2024, on property suitable for inclusion in the State Park, funding needed to establish and promote Port of Deposit State Historical Park, and the manner of preserving certain related properties; altering the deadline for the transfer of certain property to the Department; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Teresa Reilly Referred Rules on 04/10/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Reinstatement [HB-945] [Animals ] [Water ] [Environmental ] [Science ]
Authorizing a person whose authorization to catch oysters is revoked under certain provisions of law to apply for reinstatement of the authorization after 5 years; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish an Oyster Harvester Education Program to provide rehabilitation to individuals whose authorizations to catch oysters have been revoked; and requiring an applicant for reinstatement of an oyster authorization to successfully complete the Program.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Seth Howard Hearing 3/03 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/13/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Office of the Attorney General - Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit - Establishment [HB-874] [Environmental ] [Crime ] [Water ] [Public Safety ] [Law Enforcement ]
Establishing the Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute cases against persons that violate State criminal environmental and natural resources laws; and requiring the Attorney General, by November 30 each year, to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on all the activities of the Unit and any actions taken by the Department of the Environment or the Department of Natural Resources in response to the findings and recommendations of the Unit.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein Approved By The Governor - Chapter 690 on 05/16/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Protection Zones - Aerial Surveys [SB-638] [Environmental ] [Water ] [Science ] [Public Lands and National Parks ]
Altering the definition of "aerial survey" for purposes of certain provisions of law relating to submerged aquatic vegetation protection zones to mean an aerial survey compiled by an entity approved by the Department of Natural Resources, rather than the annual survey compiled by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences for the annual Bay-wide Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Mapping Program; and requiring the Department to update the delineations of submerged aquatic vegetation zones annually.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz Hearing Canceled on 02/26/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Department of Natural Resources' Real Property - Exchange With Private Real Property [SB-694] [Real Estate ] [Public Lands and National Parks ]
Authorizing the State to exchange real property owned by the State for the use and benefit of the Department of Natural Resources with private real property under certain circumstances.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. J.B. Jennings Approved By The Governor - Chapter 453 on 05/08/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Middle Shore Counties - Sunday Hunting - Repeal of Time Restrictions [SB-777] [Animals ] [Agriculture ] [Recreation ]
Repealing the time restrictions that apply to Sunday hunting in Caroline County, Dorchester County, Talbot County, and Wicomico County.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz Hearing Canceled on 02/09/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources – Licensed Tree Experts – Alterations [SB-586] [Labor, Jobs, Employment ] [Insurance ] [Workers' Compensation ] [Environmental ]
Prohibiting a person from engaging in the work of the treatment, care, or removal of certain trees for compensation under a tree expert's license unless the person is employed by the licensed tree expert; increasing a certain penalty for operating a tree expert business without a license; requiring a licensed tree expert to carry, show proof of, and maintain valid workers' compensation insurance for the period the license is in effect; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Katie Hester Hearing Canceled on 02/26/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Annual State Park Pass - Discounts for Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders [SB-823] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Law Enforcement ] [Public Safety ] [Recreation ] [Veterans ]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to provide a discount of at least $40 on annual State park passes for all first responders and law enforcement officers who are Maryland residents.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Brian Feldman Approved By The Governor - Chapter 511 on 05/08/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Female Deer Hunting Contests - Authorization [SB-779] [Animals ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Recreation ]
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person, for the management of the deer population in the State, to sponsor, conduct, or participate in a certain contest in the State that has the objective of harvesting a female deer.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz Hearing Canceled on 02/09/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources – Forest Preservation and Retention [HB-723] [Environmental ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Energy ] [Water ] [Climate Change ]
Altering the definition of "qualified conservation" for purposes of provisions of law related to forest mitigation banks; altering certain methods of calculating forest afforestation, reforestation, and preservation requirements; authorizing local jurisdictions to adopt certain alternative afforestation, reforestation, and preservation requirements; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish a workgroup to evaluate and recommend incentives for private landowners to conserve forest; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Kumar Barve Approved By The Governor - Chapter 541 on 05/08/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Tidal Fish Licenses - Oyster Authorizations - Reinstatement [SB-637] [Animals ] [Environmental ] [Water ] [Science ] [Education ]
Authorizing a person whose authorization to catch oysters is revoked under certain provisions of law to apply for reinstatement of the authorization after 5 years; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish an Oyster Harvester Education Program; and requiring an applicant for reinstatement of an oyster authorization to successfully complete the Program.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz Hearing Canceled on 02/26/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Office of the Attorney General - Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit - Establishment [SB-611] [Environmental ] [Crime ] [Water ] [Public Safety ]
Establishing the Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute cases against persons that violate State criminal environmental and natural resources laws; requiring, on or before November 30 each year, the Attorney General to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on all the activities of the Unit and any actions taken by the Department of the Environment or the Department of Natural Resources in response to the findings and recommendations of the Unit; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe Approved By The Governor - Chapter 689 on 05/16/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Wicomico County - Sunday Hunting and Archery Hunting Safety Zones [SB-796] [Animals ] [Public Safety ] [Recreation ]
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person to hunt game birds and mammals on each Sunday of the game bird and game mammal seasons in Wicomico County from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; authorizing the Department to allow Sunday hunting on public land in Wicomico County from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.; and adding Wicomico County to the list of counties in which the safety zone for archery hunters extends 50 yards from certain structures occupied by human beings.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Mary Carozza Third Reading Passed (45-1) on 04/05/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Natural Resources - Oyster Inspection and Severance Taxes - Increase [SB-634] [Taxes ] [Water ] [Food ] [Environmental ] [Public Safety ]
Increasing the amount of the inspection tax levied on marketable oysters shipped in the shell to any place outside the State from 30 cents to $1 per bushel; increasing the amount of the severance tax levied on oysters caught within certain natural oyster bars from $1 to $2 per bushel; requiring that $1 of each $2 of the severance tax levied be used by certain county oyster committees for the repletion of natural oyster bars within the waters of the counties; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz Approved By The Governor - Chapter 780 on 05/16/2023

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State (Maryland)
Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland Native Plants Program [SB-836] [Agriculture ] [Environmental ] [Science ] [Education ]
Establishing the Maryland Native Plants Program to respond to the increasing demand for, use of, and sale of plants native to Maryland by retail garden centers and retail and wholesale nurseries and to educate the public on native plants; requiring the Department of Agriculture to administer the Program in coordination with the University of Maryland Extension; requiring the University of Maryland Extension to hire an extension agent to serve as a native plant specialist for certain educational purposes; etc.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Brooks Approved By The Governor - Chapter 490 on 05/08/2023

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