Natural Resources - Generally
Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Oil and Natural Gas - Hydraulic Fracturing - Prohibition [SB-740]
Prohibiting a person from engaging in the hydraulic fracturing of a well for the exploration or production of oil or natural gas in the State; repealing a provision of law that requires the Department of the Environment to adopt specified regulations; and repealing a provision of law that prohibits the Department from issuing a specified permit until October 1, 2017.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Hearing 2/28 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/28/2017
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Gettr Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Environment - Chesapeake Bay - Vessel Sewage Discharge Areas [HB-885]
Requiring the Department of the Environment, in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources, to designate areas in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary waters where a vessel may discharge sewage; and requiring a specified vessel operator and lessee to ensure that the discharge of sewage from specified vessels takes place in specified areas.
Sponsored by: Rep. Tony McConkey
Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation on 04/10/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Air Navigation Protection From Hazards Act of 2017 [HB-874]
Creating an exemption under the Forest Conservation Act for the cutting or clearing of trees to comply with a specified provision of law relating to obstructions to air navigation; and providing that the exemption does not apply to the cutting or clearing of trees to facilitate the expansion or extension of the boundaries of any airport or runway.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kathy Szeliga
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 464 on 05/04/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
State Agricultural and Conservation Property Interests - Solar Facilities (Right to Solar Farm) [HB-863]
Exempting a specified facility that generates electricity by utilizing solar energy from specified development restrictions under an agricultural land preservation easement; altering the limitation on the percentage of the land subject to an agricultural land preservation easement that may be used for the generation of electricity from solar energy; and authorizing the Maryland Environmental Trust to lease properties for the generation of electricity under specified circumstances.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kumar Barve
Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation; Withdrawn on 02/27/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Natural Resources - State-Owned Land - Wind Facilities [HB-867]
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to use land that is owned and managed by the Department for the generation of electricity from a facility utilizing wind energy, subject to a specified exception.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kumar Barve
Hearing 3/01 At 1:00 P.m. (environment And Transportation) on 03/01/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Pollinator Habitat Plans - Plan Contents - Requirements and Prohibition [HB-830]
Requiring a specified pollinator habitat plan to include specified best management practices for the designation of specified habitat areas; requiring that a specified pollinator habitat plan established by the Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Environmental Service, and the State Highway Administration be as protective of pollinators as the Department of Agriculture's managed pollinator protection plan; prohibiting, with specified exceptions, the use of specified pesticides, seeds, or plants in a specified area; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Healey
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 755 on 05/25/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Forest Conservation Act - Forest Conservation Thresholds and Afforestation and Reforestation Requirements [HB-617]
Clarifying that units of local government with planning and zoning authority may adopt specified forest conservation thresholds and afforestation and reforestation requirements as part of its local forest conservation program that are more stringent than specified forest conservation thresholds and reforestation requirements in State law.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Healey
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 795 on 05/27/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Forest Conservation Act - Exemption, Reforestation Rate, and Forest Conservation Fund - Alterations [HB-599]
Altering the exemption from the application of the Forest Conservation Act for the cutting or clearing of public utility rights-of-way or land for specified electric generating stations; increasing the acreage that must be planted in order to meet the reforestation requirement under the Act; and authorizing a specified increase in the rate that is paid to the Forest Conservation Fund in lieu of meeting specified reforestation or afforestation requirements.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Healey
Hearing 2/22 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/22/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Protection and Restoration of State-Owned Lakes [SB-396]
Establishing the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; specifying the purpose of the Fund is to protect and restore State-owned lakes; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a specified budget; requiring any interest earnings of the Fund be credited to the Fund; requiring the Department, in coordination with local governments, organizations, and citizens, to develop an annual work plan that prioritizes and details projects that will receive funding from the Fund; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. George Edwards
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 405 on 05/04/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Protection and Restoration of State-Owned Lakes [HB-477]
Establishing the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; specifying the purpose of the Fund is to protect and restore State-owned lakes; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a specified budget; requiring any interest earning of the Fund be credited to the Fund; requiring the Department, in coordination with local governments, organizations, and citizens, to develop an annual work plan that prioritizes and details projects that will receive funding from the Fund; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Wendell Beitzel
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 404 on 05/04/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Task Force on the Forest Conservation Act Offset Policy [SB-365]
Establishing the Task force on the Forest Conservation Act Offset Policy; requiring the Task Force to review, study, and develop findings and recommendations regarding forest conservation in Maryland; authorizing the Task Force to consult with the Chesapeake Bay Program and other entities to gather information about data, models, and policies useful to carrying out its mission; requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2017; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Joan Conway
Hearing 3/29 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/29/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Pollinator Habitat Plans - Plan Contents - Requirements and Prohibition [SB-386]
Requiring a specified pollinator habitat plan to include specified best management practices for the designation of specified habitat areas; requiring that a specified pollinator habitat plan established by the Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Environmental Service, and the State Highway Administration be as protective of pollinators as the Department of Agriculture's managed pollinator protection plan; prohibiting, with specified exceptions, the use of specified pesticides, seeds, or plants in a specified area; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Hearing 3/30 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/30/2018
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Program Open Space - Authorized Transfer to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Fund - Phased-In Increase [HB-265]
Increasing the maximum amount that may be transferred, in the State budget or through a specified budget amendment process, to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund from specified funds that are distributed to Program Open Space; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Carol Krimm
Hearing 2/07 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/07/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Maryland Environmental Service - Collective Bargaining [HB-239]
Requiring the Maryland Environmental Service, consistent with specified provisions of law, to recognize and deal with an employee organization once elected as an exclusive representative, to collectively bargain, and to enter into specified types of agreements applicable to specified State employees; and providing for an exception to an exemption from specified provisions of State personnel law.
Sponsored by: Rep. C. William Frick
Hearing 2/14 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/14/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Maryland Environmental Service - Collective Bargaining [SB-291]
Requiring the Maryland Environmental Service, consistent with specified provisions of law, to recognize and deal with an employee organization once elected as an exclusive representative, to collectively bargain, and to enter into specified types of agreements applicable to specified State employees; and providing for an exception to an exemption from specified provisions of State personnel law.
Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(b) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 15 on 04/06/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Program Open Space - Authorized Transfer to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund - Increase [HB-267]
Increasing from $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 the maximum amount that may be transferred, in the State budget or through a specified budget amendment process, to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund from funds that are distributed to Program Open Space; and requiring that, if more than $3,000,000 is transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Fund under the Act, the amount exceeding $3,000,000 shall be provided from the State's share of funds.
Sponsored by: Rep. Eric Ebersole
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 660 on 05/25/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
State Forest, State Park, and Wildlife Management Area Revenue Equity Program [SB-273]
Prohibiting a county from receiving specified revenues derived from a State forest or State park reserve and concession operations within a county if the county receives specified State payments in a fiscal year; requiring specified payments to counties for State forests, State parks, and wildlife management areas that are exempt from the property tax; providing for the calculation of the payment; clarifying when land is to be included in the specified calculation; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 692 on 05/25/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Program Open Space - Authorized Transfer to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund - Increase [SB-257]
Increasing from $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 the maximum amount that may be transferred, in the State budget or through a specified budget amendment process, to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund from funds that are distributed to Program Open Space; and requiring that, if more than $3,000,000 is transferred to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Fund under the Act, the amount exceeding $3,000,000 shall be provided from the State's share of funds.
Sponsored by: Sen. Guy Guzzone
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 661 on 05/25/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Task Force to Study Data Sharing Among the Maryland Judiciary, the Maryland Parole Commission, and the Department of Natural Resources [SB-181]
Establishing the Task Force to Study Data Sharing Among the Maryland Judiciary, the Maryland Parole Commission, and the Department of Natural Resources; providing for the composition, chair, and staffing of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding specified matters; requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations regarding ways to improve specified data sharing to specified committees of the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2018; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Bryan Simonaire
Third Reading Passed (47-0) on 03/28/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
BayStat Program and BayStat Subcabinet - Renaming [HB-129]
Renaming the BayStat Program to be the BayTrack Program; and renaming the BayStat Subcabinet to be the Bay Cabinet.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation; Withdrawn on 02/13/2017