SB 841 changes how Maryland uses fees paid by utilities to fund renewable energy projects. Instead of direct grants, it requires the Maryland Energy Administration to run annual competitive auctions where developers bid to build renewable energy projects. The bill sets specific targets for project capacity, deadlines for completion, and eligibility rules for bidders, including prioritizing projects benefiting low-income or overburdened communities. It redirects existing compliance fees - previously used for solar grants - into this auction system to accelerate renewable energy development.
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.
HB 701 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create regulations protecting "qualified vernal pools" - seasonal water bodies that support species like wood frogs but don’t meet federal wetland criteria. The bill mandates the department to identify these pools, establish protective buffers around them, and require developers to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts during projects. It directly affects landowners and developers planning construction or land-disturbing activities near these pools. The law aligns buffer and mitigation rules with existing protections for nontidal wetlands, ensuring consistent regulatory standards.
HB 1067 requires Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to phase out lead ammunition for hunting all game species by July 1, 2029. It directly affects hunters using firearms for deer, upland game birds, migratory birds, turkey, and other game, with earlier deadlines: pen-raised birds by 2027, upland/migratory birds and turkey by 2028, and deer by 2029. The bill mandates non-lead ammunition (defined as <1% lead content or federally approved non-toxic options) but allows exceptions for muzzleloaders, handguns, rifles, and shotguns if non-lead ammo isn't commercially available. The law requires the department to adopt regulations for each phase and make them available with hunting licenses. This policy aims to reduce lead exposure in humans (from consumed venison) and wildlife (from carcasses).
HB 817 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create permitting regulations for certified carbon removal technologies and practices by January 1, 2028. It mandates all state agencies to use existing funding to support carbon removal projects using technologies certified by internationally recognized third parties. The bill directly affects state agencies (which must allocate funds) and carbon removal technology providers (which must meet certification standards to qualify for permits). It aims to streamline regulatory processes by replacing outdated solid waste rules with new, technology-specific requirements.
HB 437, the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026, requires Maryland’s Department of Transportation to conduct impact assessments for major highway expansion projects costing over $100 million. These assessments must evaluate greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, and the department must develop a multimodal transportation program (including transit, biking, and pedestrian improvements) to offset emissions from the project. The program must prioritize overburdened and underserved communities affected by the project, aiming for net-zero or negative greenhouse gas emissions when combined with the highway project. This applies to projects not already funded or reviewed before June 30, 2026, and affects highway planning decisions across the state.
HB 146 requires landlords of properties with on-site wastewater systems (like septic systems) to ensure the system is inspected and pumped by a licensed professional before each new tenant moves in, starting July 1, 2028. It also mandates that real estate sales contracts for such properties include a condition requiring the buyer to confirm the system has been inspected and pumped by a licensed professional before closing. The law allows inspections and pumping services to remain valid for three years and requires property owners to notify authorities if a system fails. Exemptions include transfers between family members, refinancing, or initial construction. The bill sets deadlines for the state to adopt regulations (by 2027) and license service providers (by 2028).
Maryland's SB 181 requires hunters to use non-lead ammunition for all game species by specific dates: pen-raised birds by July 1, 2027; upland birds, migratory birds, and turkeys by July 1, 2028; and deer and other game by July 1, 2029. It directly affects licensed hunters using firearms for hunting in Maryland, excluding muzzleloaders and handguns if non-lead ammunition isn't commercially available. The bill defines "non-lead ammunition" as having less than 1% lead content or being federally approved as non-toxic. The Department of Natural Resources must adopt these regulations by the specified deadlines. The bill is pending approval and has not yet taken effect.
This bill requires landlords and property sellers in Maryland to ensure septic systems are inspected and pumped by licensed professionals before new tenants move in or property is sold. Landlords must comply by July 1, 2028, and inspections/pumping are valid for three years. Home sellers must include this requirement in real estate contracts starting July 1, 2028, with settlement delayed until proof of inspection and pumping is provided. Exceptions apply for transfers between family members, refinancing, or initial construction. Property owners must also report failing systems to local health departments and confirm repairs.
SB 559 requires recreational anglers in Maryland with a Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license or registration to report their striped bass catches to the Department of Natural Resources. The bill mandates the Department to create regulations allowing multiple reporting methods, including a mobile app (to be prioritized where feasible) and alternatives for people without internet access. It directly affects all licensed recreational fishermen targeting striped bass in Maryland’s coastal waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The key provision is establishing a mandatory reporting system to improve catch data collection, with specific requirements for accessible and technologically flexible reporting options. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
