SB 257 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund - Reporting

SB 257 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to include specific details in its annual report to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. The report must state how much money from a tax on transfers of woodland property was distributed to the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund in the previous fiscal year, plus any uncertainties about that amount. This bill does not change the Fund’s purpose or funding sources but mandates clearer annual reporting for transparency. The reporting requirement applies to annual reports due September 30 each year, effective July 1, 2026.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Feb 16, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 21, 2026

How they voted

470
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Feb 16, 2026
D Democratic36
34 Yea 2
94% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 28, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 331
executive
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation
lower
Mar 21, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)
house of delegates
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred Environment and Transportation
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)
senate
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bryan Simonaire
Bryan Simonaire
RRepublican
MD
31