Natural Resources - Generally
Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Surveys [SB-1140]
Altering the definition of "aerial survey" for purposes of surveying submerged aquatic vegetation to include other surveys that encompass certain geographic areas and use certain methodologies; and requiring the Department of Natural Resources to study and report on the implications and feasibility of using alternative methods other than an aerial survey to delineate SAV protection zones on or before December 1, 2025.
Sponsored by: Sen. Johnny Mautz
Referred Rules And Executive Nominations on 04/04/2024
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Gettr Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Abandoned or Sunken Vessels and Waterway Improvement Fund Grants [HB-1461]
Requiring the owner of a vessel that is required to be numbered to include certain contact information for each owner of the vessel with the application for a certificate of number; requiring the Department of Natural Resources, before and after seizing, removing, or taking an abandoned or sunken vessel into custody, to attempt to contact certain individuals in a certain manner; requiring the Department to distribute at least $250,000 from the Waterway Improvement Fund each fiscal year to certain organizations; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nick Allen
First Reading House Rules And Executive Nominations on 02/12/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Alteration and Extension [HB-1347]
Altering the amount of an appropriation the Governor is required to make to the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund, from $1,000,000 each fiscal year to $2,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; and extending the termination date applicable to certain provisions relating to the purpose, use, and funding of the Fund, from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jason Buckel
Hearing 2/27 At 12:00 P.m. on 02/12/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Natural Resources - Gwynns Falls State Park - Focus Group, Advisory Committee, and Report [HB-1358]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources and Baltimore City to convene focus group meetings on the establishment of the Gwynns Falls State Park with community members and stakeholders that reside or operate in the vicinity of the proposed State park; requiring the Department and Baltimore City to establish a stakeholder advisory committee; and requiring the Department to submit a report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, on properties suitable for inclusion in the State park and certain funding requirements.
Sponsored by: Rep. Frank Conaway
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 965 on 05/16/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Wetlands and Waterways Program - Stream Restoration Projects [HB-1284]
Repealing an exemption for stream restoration projects from certain application fees for certain projects that impact a wetland or waterway; requiring a person applying for a wetlands and waterways authorization for a stream restoration project associated with achieving restoration goals to include in the authorization application certain objectives, standards, and plans; requiring the Department of the Environment to conduct a certain community engagement process before issuing a certain authorization; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jennifer Terrasa
Hearing 3/06 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/12/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Environment - Wood Vaults - Authorization and Permit Requirements [HB-1250]
Authorizing a landowner whose land is subject to an agricultural land preservation easement to use the land for the construction and use of a certain wood vault under certain circumstances; requiring a person to have a permit issued by the Secretary of the Environment before the person installs, materially alters, or materially extends a certain wood vault; applying certain provisions of law relating to permit requirements for certain facilities, including landfills, to a certain wood vault; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jennifer Terrasa
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/11/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Handgun Permit Holders - Authority to Carry Handguns in State Parks and Forests [HB-1178]
Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from prohibiting an individual to whom a handgun permit has been issued from wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun in a State park or forest.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nicholaus Kipke
Hearing 3/06 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/10/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Standing - Environmental and Natural Resources Protection Proceedings (Clean Water Justice Act of 2024) [HB-1101]
Providing certain persons standing in environmental and natural resources protection proceedings; authorizing persons that meet standing requirements to bring certain civil actions under certain circumstances; requiring a plaintiff, under certain circumstances, to give certain notice and provide certain documentation to the Department of the Environment and the Attorney General and to file a certain affidavit; authorizing a court to grant certain relief, award certain costs, and impose certain civil penalties; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Fraser-hidalgo
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 535 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Watershed, Stream, and Floodplain Restoration - Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Restoration and Stream and Floodplain Restoration Funding (Whole Watershed Act) [HB-1165]
Requiring, in each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030, up to $100,000 from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to be used to fund certain operations grants at a rate of $20,000 per project sponsor each fiscal year; authorizing the use of the Waterway Improvement Fund for projects that involve the beneficial use of dredged material and for certain water quality monitoring; prohibiting the Department of the Environment from reducing certain monitoring requirements for certain projects; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 558 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Wildlife - Protections and Highway Crossings [HB-1129]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the State Highway Administration, to identify and prioritize certain species whose habitat or movement corridors intersect with State highways and develop tools, technology, and techniques to identify certain State highway infrastructure locations; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to take certain actions regarding a statewide deer population survey on or before November 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Hearing 2/28 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/08/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Maryland Agricultural BMP Best in Show Program - Established [HB-1042]
Establishing the Maryland Agricultural BMP Best in Show Program to provide and prioritize the use of certain funding relating to agricultural best management practices and to increase the cost-effectiveness and environmental, social, and health impacts of State-funded best management practices in a certain manner; requiring the Department of Agriculture to administer and manage certain competitive grants under the Program in a certain manner; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Pamela Guzzone
Hearing 2/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/08/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Environment - Wood Vaults - Authorization and Permit Requirements [SB-936]
Authorizing a landowner whose land is subject to an agricultural land preservation easement to use the land for the construction and use of a certain wood vault under certain circumstances; requiring a person to have a permit issued by the Secretary of the Environment before the person installs, materially alters, or materially extends a certain wood vault; applying certain provisions of law relating to permit requirements for certain facilities, including landfills, to a certain wood vault; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jason Gallion
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/07/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Boating - Migratory Waterfowl Season - Prohibited Acts [SB-924]
Prohibiting a person from operating a vessel 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 03/04/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Maryland Agricultural BMP Priority Environmental Stewardship Program - Established [SB-932]
Establishing the Maryland Agricultural BMP Priority Environmental Stewardship Program to provide and prioritize the use of certain funding relating to agricultural best management practices and to increase the cost-effectiveness and environmental, social, and health impacts of State-funded best management practices in a certain manner; requiring a grant applicant to demonstrate that any agricultural operation on which best management practices are to be established are in compliance with certain nutrient management plans; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Jackson
Referred Rules And Executive Nominations on 04/01/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Vessel Transfers - Excise Tax and Title Fee Exemption and Transfer-on-Death Beneficiary Designation [HB-1011]
Prohibiting the imposition of an excise tax or certificate of title fee for the transfer of certain vessels to a trust or from a trust to certain beneficiaries under certain circumstances; requiring that an application for a certificate of title for a vessel contain certain information; authorizing an individual who is the sole owner of a certain vessel to apply to the Department of Natural Resources to designate a beneficiary to take ownership of the vessel on the death of the owner; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz
Hearing 2/29 At 1:00 P.m. (environment And Transportation) on 02/07/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Wildlife – Protections and Highway Crossings [SB-902]
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the State Highway Administration, to identify and prioritize certain species whose habitat or movement corridors intersect with State highways and develop tools, technology, and techniques to identify certain State highway infrastructure locations; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a methodology and a cost estimate for performing a statewide deer population survey on or before November 1, 2024; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Karen Lewis Young
Hearing Canceled on 04/02/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Watershed, Stream, and Floodplain Restoration - Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Restoration and Stream and Floodplain Restoration Funding (Whole Watershed Act) [SB-969]
Requiring, in each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030, up to $100,000 from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to be used to fund certain operations grants at a rate of $20,000 per project sponsor each fiscal year; establishing the Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their watersheds; authorizing the use of the Waterway Improvement Fund for projects that involve the beneficial use of dredged material and for certain water quality monitoring; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Guy Guzzone
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 559 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species - Definitions, Petitions, and Regulations [SB-916]
Requiring certain petitions to review the listing or unlisting of endangered or threatened species to contain certain information regarding the distribution, life, and habitat needs of the species and relevant information about the status of a species; requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and, if warranted, update certain regulations listing endangered or threatened species on or before July 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter; and defining "fish" and "wildlife" for certain purposes.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Brooks
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 621 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Extension [SB-1094]
Extending the termination date applicable to certain provisions relating to the purpose, use, and funding of the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe
Hearing 3/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/20/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
State and Local Parks - Playgrounds - Safety Standards (Our Kids Play Safe Playground Safety Act of 2024) [SB-886]
Requiring each unit of State or local government responsible for the construction and maintenance of a playground to ensure that the playground is constructed and maintained in accordance with certain safety standards; and requiring a unit of State or local government to inspect at least once every 2 years a certain playground to evaluate compliance with certain safety standards and to keep a record of the inspections including a written plan to address any safety issues discovered during the inspection.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Folden
Hearing 2/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/07/2024