Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 35: Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees

HB 35 authorizes Maryland counties and municipalities to create local rules regulating Tree of Heaven (an invasive species), directly affecting property owners and local governments. The bill allows communities to ban the sale, planting, or growth of Tree of Heaven on private property, and requires property owners to remove it. Local governments may also establish cash reward programs to incentivize removal, and enforce rules through civil fines or requiring damage mitigation. This bill provides concrete tools for local management of the invasive tree without mandating statewide action.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRegulates invasive Tree of Heaven to protect native ecosystems, aligning with conservation and pollution control through mandatory removal and local enforcement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 266: Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees

SB 266 authorizes Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local ordinances regulating the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), a nonnative tree that spreads aggressively and harms native ecosystems. The bill allows local governments to ban selling, planting, or allowing the tree to grow on property, require containment if it's present, and impose civil fines for violations. It also permits communities to create bounty programs incentivizing residents to remove the tree. This directly affects property owners who may have the tree and local governments seeking to manage its spread.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRegulates invasive Tree of Heaven to protect native ecosystems, directly advancing environmental conservation through local enforcement and removal incentives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 395: Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Animal Feeding Operations

HB 395 repeals a requirement that new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) must obtain a general discharge permit from Maryland's Department of the Environment before beginning construction. This directly affects developers and operators planning new CAFO facilities by removing a pre-construction permitting step. The bill modifies Maryland's Environment Article by deleting Section 9-323(a)(2), which previously mandated this permit for new CAFO construction. The change only applies to the construction phase, not to operating permits or existing CAFOs.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill repeals requirement for new CAFOs to obtain discharge permit before construction, removing regulatory barrier for water pollution control. Weakens environmental protections by deregulating CAFO operations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 371: Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Animal Feeding Operations

This bill removes a requirement that livestock operations must obtain a water pollution permit from Maryland's Department of the Environment before beginning construction on new facilities. It directly affects new concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Maryland by eliminating the pre-construction permit step. The change means CAFO operators can start building without first securing a permit, though permits remain required for operating the facilities after construction is complete. The bill does not alter existing permit requirements for operational discharges.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves pre-construction water pollution permit requirement for CAFOs, weakening environmental protections and deregulating pollution control standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 578: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings

HB 578 requires Maryland's Secretary of Natural Resources to review and update regulations for endangered and threatened species by July 1, 2033, and every 10 years thereafter. It clarifies definitions like "foreseeable future" for species assessments and expands "harm" to include significant habitat degradation that affects breeding or feeding. The bill mandates delisting species under specific conditions and specifies required details for petitions to remove species from protected lists. These changes directly affect wildlife managers, landowners, and conservation efforts by strengthening habitat protections and streamlining species listing processes under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates updated regulations, expands habitat protection definitions, and clarifies delisting criteria to strengthen endangered species protections under environmental conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 130: Environment - Water - Individual Submeters

SB 130 requires landlords in multi-unit apartment buildings (with more than two dwelling units) to install individual water meters for each unit instead of using bulk billing. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks, poor maintenance, or common areas, and mandates that meters include leak detection monitors that tenants can inspect. Landlords must maintain clear records of water costs and usage for tenant review, and unpaid water bills cannot be used as grounds for eviction. The law, effective October 1, 2026, also allows a $1 monthly administrative fee to cover billing costs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates individual water meters with leak detection, promoting conservation by billing based on actual usage and preventing waste from undetected leaks.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks/common areas, mandates leak detection, and bans eviction over unpaid water bills - directly protects tenant rights and reduces housing costs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 220: Environment - Water - Individual Submeters

HB 220 requires apartment buildings with multiple units to install individual water meters for each dwelling unit, replacing bulk meters. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks they caused, common-area usage, or maintenance costs, and mandates that charges reflect actual water use. Tenants gain the right to inspect leak detection monitors and review billing records, while unpaid water bills cannot be used to evict tenants for nonpayment. The bill also establishes a complaint process for tenants to address billing disputes with local housing authorities or consumer protection offices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates individual water meters to ensure tenants pay for actual usage, promoting conservation of water resources.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires individual meters, prohibits unfair water charges, prevents eviction for unpaid water bills, and grants tenant billing inspection rights - directly strengthening tenant protections in housing.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 431: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings

SB 431 updates Maryland's rules for protecting endangered and threatened species and migratory birds. The bill requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and update species protection regulations by July 1, 2033, and every 10 years after that. It defines "harm" to include significant habitat changes that affect fish behavior, and clarifies that "take" means actions like hunting, trapping, or collecting. The bill also requires more detailed information in petitions to remove species from protection lists and allows for designating essential habitats for threatened species. These changes aim to strengthen species protection with clearer regulatory standards for state agencies.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentUpdates species protection regulations, defines 'harm' broadly to include habitat changes, and requires detailed petitions for delisting - strengthening conservation efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 247: Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program - Variances - Alterations

HB 247 modifies Maryland's Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program by tightening standards for land-use variances in protected areas. It requires local jurisdictions to presume that new development requests in critical areas conflict with program goals unless applicants prove hardship beyond convenience or financial gain. The bill adds that existing accessory structures on a parcel create a presumption of reasonable land use, and applicants must compare their request to similar conforming properties within the critical area. These changes apply to landowners seeking variances for development in designated coastal critical areas, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTightens development standards in critical areas, requiring hardship proof to override environmental protections, strengthening conservation of Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 254: Supporting Inclusive Community Adaptation Act

HB 254 creates a new Resilience Through Restoration Capital Grant Fund within Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to provide grants for nature-based projects that reduce climate vulnerabilities and strengthen community resilience. The fund supports state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits in planning, designing, and implementing projects like wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and shoreline protection. The bill requires the Department to develop community participation guidelines, a public website with planning tools, and training by October 2027, while mandating that funded projects incorporate community input and dedicate at least 3% of funds to adaptive management. All interest earnings from the fund must be reinvested, and grants must specifically address climate hazards like flooding and sea-level rise.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new Resilience Through Restoration Capital Grant Fund within state budget, allocating funds for climate resilience projects via state agencies and nonprofits.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates grant fund for wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and shoreline protection to reduce climate vulnerabilities and strengthen environmental resilience.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment