Natural Resources - Generally
Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Vessels - Carbon Monoxide Warning Labels (Matthew's Law) [SB-1028]
Prohibiting a person from operating a motorized vessel manufactured after July 31, 2007, that has a cabin or other enclosed living space on the waters of the State unless the vessel has carbon monoxide warning labels affixed in conspicuous locations in the vicinity of both the transom and the helm of the vessel; and prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from imposing a penalty on a person that violates the provisions of the Act.
Sponsored by: Sen. Dawn Gile
Hearing 3/26 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/19/2025
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Gettr Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Wildlife Damage Prevention and Reimbursement Fund - Establishment [HB-1511]
Establishing the Wildlife Damage Prevention and Reimbursement Fund, consisting of the proceeds from the sale of conservation deer stamps, grants and contributions directed to the Fund, and money in the State budget, to reimburse a person for damage caused by deer, geese, and other wildlife to crops and other agricultural products; authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to accept requests for grants for certain projects; and authorizing the Governor to include in the annual budget an appropriation of at least $50,000 for the Fund.
Sponsored by: Rep. Charles Otto
Hearing 3/12 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/04/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Department of Natural Resources - Savage River Lodge - Hotel Rental Surcharge [HB-1277]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources, beginning in fiscal year 2027, to assess and collect an 8% hotel rental surcharge on rental units at the Savage River Lodge and remit the proceeds to the Comptroller for distribution to Garrett County; and requiring Garrett County to designate 6% of the proceeds for the promotion of Garrett County and any amount over 6% is to be distributed to the general fund of the county.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jim Hinebaugh
Hearing 3/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/18/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Local Finance - Special Taxing Districts - Anne Arundel County Erosion Prevention Projects and Erosion Control Projects [HB-1467]
Requiring interest earnings on money deposited for a certain taxing and assessment district to be credited to that district; specifying that a certain provision of law governing the petition process for the construction of an erosion prevention project or erosion control project in a certain district in Anne Arundel County does not apply to certain planning, permitting, or cost estimate activities; authorizing certain entities to use tax funds for upkeep or reconstruction of an existing shore erosion control project; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Seth Howard
Hearing 3/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/24/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants [HB-1327]
Authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award grants and loans to certain entities for the management of certified heritage areas under certain circumstances; establishing the a maximum funding amount of $300,000 for certain grants made by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority; decreasing from 10% to 7% the percentage of Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund that may be used for certain operating expenses; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. William Wivell
First Reading Environment And Transportation on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Wildland Areas - Overhead Transmission Lines [HB-1270]
Exempting certain areas in the Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland, and Dan's Mountain Wildland from being designated as a wildland area, subject to a certificate of public convenience and necessity being obtained for a certain transmission line; and requiring the Public Service Commission to require an applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of a certain overhead transmission line to provide wildland impact mitigation guarantees.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jim Hinebaugh
Motion Special Order Until 03/27 (delegate Crosby) Adopted on 03/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
State Boat Act - Abandoned or Sunken Recreational Vessels - Identification and Removal [HB-1260]
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to remove abandoned or sunken recreational vessels secured to certain apparatuses or left anchored and unattended for more than 60 days under certain circumstances; requiring the Department to consider and document certain factors when determining whether a recreational vessel is abandoned or sunken under certain provisions of law; and authorizing the Department to use funds budgeted for the Natural Resources Police to remove or store certain abandoned or sunken vessels.
Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz
Hearing Canceled on 03/02/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Forest Conservation Act - Linear Projects - Alteration [HB-1224]
Altering the definition of "linear project" under the Forest Conservation Act to exclude a project for a new transmission line or new distribution line constructed on or after October 1, 2025.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jason Buckel
First Reading Economic Matters And Environment And Transportation on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Prince George's County - Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program - Cutting or Clearing Trees MC/PG 113-25 [HB-1470]
Providing that, in Prince George's County, a certain person may not be held liable for the cutting or clearing of trees in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area under certain circumstances; and requiring the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays to adopt regulations authorizing a certain person to appeal a certain action.
Sponsored by: No sponsors
Hearing 3/20 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Vessels - Carbon Monoxide Warning Labels (Matthew's Law) [HB-1322]
Prohibiting a person from operating a gasoline-powered vessel manufactured after July 31, 2007, on the waters of the State unless the vessel has carbon monoxide warning labels affixed in conspicuous locations in the vicinity of both the transom and the helm of the vessel.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Referred Education, Energy, And The Environment on 03/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to Veterans' Care [HB-1181]
Establishing the Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to Veterans' Care to study issues and estimate costs related to the establishment of a State park dedicated to providing recreational opportunities and therapeutic services to veterans; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations on or before December 1, 2026.
Sponsored by: Rep. William Wivell
Third Reading Passed (139-0) on 03/12/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Port of Deposit State Historical Park - Size and Scope [HB-1184]
Altering the size and scope of the Port of Deposit State Historical Park; extending the deadline for the Bainbridge Development Corporation to transfer certain property to the Department of Natural Resources to June 1, 2026; and altering the purpose for which a certain appropriation may be used.
Sponsored by: Rep. Teresa Reilly
Hearing 2/28 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Department of the Environment - Definition of Ecological Restoration [HB-1155]
Defining the term "ecological restoration" as an activity undertaken with the goal of recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem through improvements to physical, chemical, or biological characteristics or processes, returning natural or historical functions or services, or protecting or improving resiliency.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Third Reading Passed (138-0) on 03/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Howard County - Patuxent River Wildland - Use of Mechanical or Motorized Equipment Ho. Co. 5-25 [SB-968]
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to use mechanical or motorized equipment to retain, maintain, remove, or replace existing trails and remove, replace, or dispose of nonnative species within the Patuxent River Wildland to ensure clear and safe access to the wildland.
Sponsored by: Sen.
Hearing 4/01 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/25/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Endangered and Threatened Species - Incidental Taking - Bats [SB-946]
Authorizing the Secretary of Natural Resources to issue an incidental taking permit for the Indiana bat, the eastern small-footed bat, the northern long-eared bat, or the tricolored bat if an applicant submits a certain conservation plan and the Secretary makes certain findings.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mike McKay
Hearing 3/26 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/19/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants [SB-980]
Authorizing the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to award grants and loans to certain entities for the management of certified heritage areas under certain circumstances; establishing a maximum funding amount of $300,000 for certain grants, not to exceed 80% of the estimated project cost; decreasing from 10% to 7%, or $600,000, whichever amount is greater, the percentage of Program Open Space funds transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund that may be used for certain operating expenses; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Jackson
Hearing 3/26 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/19/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Boating - Migratory Waterfowl Season - Prohibited Acts [SB-870]
Prohibiting a person from operating a vessel, including a kayak or a paddle boat, within 500 yards of a stationary blind or blind site that is occupied and being used for hunting migratory waterfowl during open season.
Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 02/19/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to Veterans' Care [SB-781]
Establishing the Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to Veterans' Care to study issues and estimate costs related to the establishment of a State park dedicated to providing recreational opportunities and therapeutic services to veterans; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations on or before December 1, 2026.
Sponsored by: Sen. Paul Corderman
Hearing 3/04 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/04/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Recreation Oversight Board - Establishment [SB-711]
Establishing the Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Recreation Oversight Board to advise the Secretary of Natural Resources on the operation, acquisition, regulation, and general oversight of off-highway recreational vehicle trails and recreation in the State.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mike McKay
Reassigned To Environment And Transportation on 03/20/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Department of the Environment - Definition of Ecological Restoration [SB-722]
Defining the term "ecological restoration" as an activity undertaken with the goal of recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem through improvements to physical, chemical, or biological characteristics or processes, returning natural or historical functions or services, or protecting or improving resiliency.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shaneka Henson
Hearing 3/26 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/19/2025