Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1063: Natural Resources - Hunting - Management

HB 1063 modifies Maryland's hunting regulations to allow the Department of Natural Resources to authorize deer population reductions on properties with documented deer damage (such as crop destruction or forest harm) through permits permitting Sunday deer hunting, while restricting it within 25 yards of designated equestrian trails. It repeals the ban on Sunday hunting for migratory game birds and allows the Department to establish county-specific Sunday hunting rules during game bird and mammal seasons, with most counties now permitting limited Sunday hunting (typically from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.). The bill directly affects property owners with deer damage on 10+ acre properties, hunters in counties like Calvert, Caroline, and Worcester, and the Department of Natural Resources, which gains new authority to set hunting rules. Key provisions include standardized time limits for Sunday hunting and eliminating outdated prohibitions, focusing on practical management of wildlife impacts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enables deer population management to prevent forest/crop damage, conserving natural resources through regulated hunting permits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1196: Environment - Water Quality Testing - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan

HB 1196 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to establish a mobile home park water quality testing program by January 1, 2027. The program mandates testing 25% of parks by 2028, 50% by 2029, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2031, prioritizing parks with ≥40% minority residents, known contamination areas, or resident complaints. Park owners must take corrective actions if water quality issues are found, and the Department must notify residents and develop a statewide action plan. This directly affects mobile home park owners, residents, and the Department of the Environment through mandated testing, reporting, and remediation requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water quality testing in mobile home parks with corrective actions, prioritizing vulnerable communities and contamination areas to protect public health and environmental standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires water quality testing in mobile home parks (a housing type), prioritizing minority-majority parks, ensuring safe living conditions for tenants.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 833: Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland - Reestablishment

HB 833 reestablishes Maryland's Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety with updated membership and a focused mandate. The commission, composed of 27+ members including state agencies, fire departments, battery manufacturers, recyclers, and industry representatives, will study key safety issues like preventing fires in consumer/transportation applications, recycling standards, port/rail risks, and insurance impacts. It must submit an interim report by December 1, 2026, with recommendations on best practices, training, and regulatory approaches. This bill directly affects state agencies, first responders, and industries handling lithium-ion batteries, but does not enact new laws - only directs the commission to study and advise.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPromotes safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in renewable energy storage and EVs, supporting clean energy infrastructure adoption through mandatory safety studies and recycling standards.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFocus on battery recycling standards and safety prevents pollution, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates commission to study lithium-ion battery safety in transportation applications, including fire prevention in vehicles/transit systems, directly enhancing transportation safety standards.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 784: Aquaculture - Placement of Shellfish, Bags, Nets, and Structures on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - Extension

HB 784 extends the authorization period for aquaculture leaseholders in Maryland to place shellfish, bags, nets, and structures on submerged aquatic vegetation, requiring prior written approval from the Department of Natural Resources. It changes the expiration date from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2030, extending the authorization by 3 years and 1 month. The bill specifies that the Department must allow water column leases to use at least 10% of vegetation areas and prohibits dredge harvesting in vegetation zones. This directly affects commercial shellfish aquaculture operators holding leases in Maryland waters. The change maintains existing restrictions while prolonging the current regulatory framework.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits dredge harvesting on submerged vegetation and requires DNR approval, protecting SAV ecosystems per bill's requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 940: Environment - Water Quality Testing - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan

SB 940 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create and implement a mobile home park water quality testing program by January 1, 2027. The program mandates testing at 25% of parks by 2028, 50% by 2029, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2031, prioritizing parks with 40%+ minority residents, areas with known geological contaminants, parks where residents requested testing or filed complaints, and parks using private water supplies. Park owners must take corrective actions if water quality issues are identified, and the Department must provide results to residents in multiple languages. This bill directly affects mobile home park owners and residents across Maryland by establishing a structured process to ensure drinking water safety.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water quality testing in mobile home parks with phased implementation, prioritizing vulnerable communities and contamination risks, directly advancing environmental protection and pollution control standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates water testing in mobile home parks (affordable housing) prioritizing minority-resident parks and health risks, directly protecting tenant safety and health in housing conditions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 166: Shellfish Aquaculture - Penalties - Suspension or Revocation of Permit or Registration Card

SB 166 authorizes Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to suspend or revoke shellfish aquaculture harvest permits or registration cards for specific violations, directly affecting commercial shellfish harvesters. Key violations include harvesting in closed areas, exceeding time restrictions for oyster harvesting, or harvesting without proper authorization. For a first violation, permits may be suspended for up to 5 years; repeat violations result in permanent revocation. The bill also prohibits anyone with a suspended or revoked permit from working in any aquaculture activity during the penalty period. This legislation takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enforces penalties for violations harming shellfish habitats, directly protecting natural resources through permit restrictions and conservation-focused enforcement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 613: Department of the Environment - Waivers for Living Shorelines and Nonstructural Shoreline Stabilization Measures - Regulations and Scoring System

HB 613 requires property owners in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties to use natural erosion control methods (like marsh creation, native plants, and oyster reefs) instead of hard structures (such as seawalls) for shoreline stabilization. It exempts these counties from general state requirements for nonstructural measures and creates a new waiver process where owners must demonstrate to the Department of Natural Resources that natural methods are not feasible due to factors like extreme erosion or narrow shorelines. The bill defines "living shorelines" as projects using natural materials and ecological principles to absorb wave energy and restore habitats, while still allowing structural measures in specific high-energy areas. This directly affects property owners along navigable waters in those two counties, changing how they must address shoreline erosion.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates natural erosion control methods (marshes, native plants, oyster reefs) over hard structures, promoting ecosystem-based shoreline protection and conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1116: Howard County - Illegal Dumping - Surveillance System Pilot Program Ho. Co. 6-26

HB 1116 authorizes Howard County to install surveillance systems at repeat illegal dumping sites and mail citations to vehicle owners captured by these systems. The bill requires the County to issue citations that give violators two options: pay a civil penalty or request a court trial. It also prohibits the Motor Vehicle Administration from registering or transferring vehicles linked to confirmed illegal dumping incidents. This pilot program applies specifically to Howard County and modifies existing Maryland law to implement these enforcement mechanisms for litter disposal violations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill targets illegal dumping pollution through surveillance, citations, and vehicle registration bans, directly reducing environmental contamination at dumping sites.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1621: Wastewater Treatment Plants - Discharges - Requirements

HB 1621 requires wastewater treatment plants processing over 50 million gallons of effluent daily to monitor discharges for hormones, PFAS chemicals, and bacteria, and publicly post daily bacterial levels and incident reports (like overflows) on their websites within 24 hours. It establishes bacterial safety thresholds requiring immediate public alerts when exceeded and bars non-compliant plants from Maryland's Water Quality Trading Program. Smaller plants (under 50 million gallons daily) must report staffing plans annually instead of daily data. The bill mandates transparency through public websites and gives the Department authority to enforce these requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates monitoring of pollutants (PFAS, hormones, bacteria), public reporting, safety thresholds, and bars non-compliant plants from water quality program - strengthens pollution control regulations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 196: Public Health - Baby Food Testing and Labeling - Requirements

HB 196 amends Maryland's definition of "baby food" to explicitly include infant formula and infant cereal (previously excluded), directly affecting baby food manufacturers in the state. The bill requires manufacturers to test each production batch of baby food for toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) starting January 1, 2025, using accredited labs at least monthly. Beginning January 1, 2026, manufacturers must publicly post test results online for each product and include QR codes on labels linking to FDA information about metal testing and health effects. The law aims to increase transparency and safety for infants under age 2 by aligning testing requirements with FDA standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates testing baby food for environmental pollutants (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury), directly reducing toxic metal exposure and strengthening pollution control in consumer products.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires toxic metal testing in baby food (infant formula/cereal) to protect infant health, directly advancing public health safety standards under Maryland's Public Health framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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