Maryland Legislation 2023
Maryland Legislation 2023
Please read about upcoming Maryland legislation then email or call Maryland state legislators asking them to vote in FAVOR of the bills if you agree with them. If there’s a bill that would protect or enhance our watershed that I’ve missed, please contact me with the info and I’ll add it to our list. Email Merikay at senecacreekwp@gmail.com.
HB 942, “Protection of Maryland Streams and Waterways,” This bill will protect our streams by reducing the causes of stream degradation and help improve stream “restoration” projects.
This bill will:
1) incentivize alternatives to stream “restorations” using less destructive out-of-stream stormwater control methods,
2) require stream “restoration” mitigation projects be located in the same watershed as the streamfor which mitigation is required,
3) promote more effective and beneficial stream “restoration” projects,
4) enhance monitoring requirements for stream “restorations” to ensure that goals are achieved, and
5) improve public notification and participation for stream “restoration” projects.
Stream “restorations” often destroy local natural areas. This bill’s standards will strengthen Maryland’s commitment to clean the Chesapeake Bay while at the same time safeguard local natural resources.
Here is a link to the bill itself:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/.../Legisla.../Details/hb0942...
For more detailed explanations of each section of the bill, see this document from Ken Bawer: https://drive.google.com/.../1YM8GdCzN47yG2FLC9XXE9i.../view
Construction Stormwater Permits: SB471 / HB607 This bill will exclude large sites that are located in sensitive areas like a floodplain or wetland from the general permit, and will require an individual discharge permit instead. The general permit does not typically provide much protection on its own. In addition, the bill will establish a new mandatory penalty for construction without a permit and make it a violation to have construction pollution runoff from the site, holding developers liable for the damage caused.
Producer Responsibility to Reduce Packaging: HB284 / SB222 The bill establishes a framework in which producers set up incentive systems to reward the packaging lowest in volume and highest in recyclability, and sets a 25% reduction target for covered packaging materials within 5 years of a needs assessment. Importantly, the bill includes public oversight and transparency for that process. In addition, the Post Consumer Recycled Content Program bill (HB342) will require producers of certain plastic containers that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in Maryland to meet minimum post consumer recycled content requirements.
PFAS in Pesticides: SB158 / HB319 This bill will phase out the use of pesticides in Maryland that contain PFAS, per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, and require manufacturers of mosquito control products to be PFAS-free, beginning January 1, 2024. As of January 1, 2026, manufacturers of all pesticides must provide testing to prove the pesticide is PFAS-free.
Reclaim Renewable Energy Act: SB590 / HB718 The bill will eliminate polluters like trash incineration and utility-scale biogas from the Renewable Portfolio Standard, so those subsidies can support real renewable energy like wind and solar instead.
Maryland the Beautiful Act (SB 470, HB 631)
Greenspace Equity (HB 503, no Senate bill number yet)
This legislation will create funding opportunities for under-resourced urban communities to develop and protect green spaces in their communities.
Forest Preservation and Retention (HB 723, SB 526)
This legislation would strengthen Maryland's forest conservation laws by clarifying definitions and goals so that Maryland gains forested land, instead of losing it to development.
This bill would:
· Protect and conserve more forested land and tree canopy in the state of Maryland.
· Provide local county governments significantly greater flexibility to pursue effective environmental solutions that meet our community needs and advance equity.
· Update forest protections to be in alignment with the latest scientific findings and recommendations from the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology of the University of Maryland - MD Forest Report.
· House hearing March 1, Senate hearing March 2.
· Here is a fact sheet about the bill to familiarize yourself.
Native Plants Program (HB 950, SB 836)
This bill will create a program that promotes the increased use of native plants through strategies such as creating a voluntary retailer labeling program with plant tags, voluntary certification program for native plant growers and retailers and a marketing program to educate consumers about native plants.
· House hearing March 3, Senate hearing March 2
Invasive Bamboo Containment House Bill 90:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/fnotes/bil_0000/hb0090.pdf
info: https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18326.html
Del. Linda Foley introduced HB 90, enabling legislation that authorizes local governments to adopt ordinances to control and contain invasive bamboo planted after effective date of legislation. But it does not seek to remediate bamboo already planted. This legislation has gained broad support from organizations such as the Maryland Association of Counties, as well as from constituents and residents from around the state of Maryland. Questions/comments: linda.foley@house.state.md.us
HB723Natural Resources – Forest Preservation and Retention
Sponsored by Delegates Love, Bridges, and Stein
Status In the House - Hearing 3/01 at 2:00 p.m.
Synopsis
Altering the definition of "qualified conservation" for purposes of provisions of law related to forest mitigation banks; establishing and authorizing certain alternative methods of calculating forest afforestation, reforestation, and preservation requirements; adding certain tree plantings and practices as methods that certain municipal corporations may use to meet afforestation or reforestation requirements; lowering the acreage threshold in certain counties for participation in the forest conservation and management program; etc.
Potomac Conservancy and Chesapeake Bay Foundation have a statement in support: file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/Sign%20On%20Testimony_HB%20723.pdf
HB 216 Salt Applicator Certification Program - Establishment
Introduced by Lily Qi; Delegate Sponsors Qi, Foley, Fraser-Hidalgo, Guyton, Palakovich Carr, and Ruth
Status
In the House - Hearing 2/08 at 1:30 p.m.
Requiring the Department of the Environment to establish a Salt Applicator Certification Program to encourage efficient winter maintenance of roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks through the use of salt or salt alternatives; requiring each commercial applicator to participate in the Program, be certified by October 1, 2025, and maintain a valid certification; requiring a certified commercial applicator to maintain, for at least 3 years, records of certain salt applications and submit an annual report on their salt use; etc.
HB/SB 62 Land Use – Public Service Companies – Pollinator–Friendly Vegetation Management
Prohibiting local jurisdictions from imposing certain limitations and land use restrictions on pollinator-friendly vegetation management activities of public service companies within property, easements, or rights-of-way of public service companies under certain conditions. “Pollinator-friendly vegetation management” means landscape management that creates habitats for pollinators and other wildlife by providing food, water, cover, or sites for nesting. It includes limited mowing (once per year), judicious use of herbicides to control plant species that are undesirable for an early succession plant community while minimizing risk to desirable native and naturalized plants, and preventing the establishment of tall trees, as specified.
HJ0001/SJ0004, a resolution to fully implement the Maryland Environmental Policy Act of 1973 (MEPA) on its 50th anniversary.
The House Hearing is on Friday, March 3 and the Senate Hearing is Wednesday March 8. Your representatives will decide whether this resolution moves forward or not.
MEPA would create a consistent, unified foundation upon which our State’s agencies would build their methods to ensure:
· environmental rights are duly considered,
· environmental policies are properly crafted and implemented,
· environmental justice is fully pursued, and
· the public is informed, engaged and involved in a timely and meaningful manner.
The Maryland Environmental Policy Act of 1973 (MEPA) was ground-breaking and contained two essential elements:
· The assertion that “each person has a fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful environment”.
· That all State agencies “identify, develop, and adopt methods and procedures” to implement that right”.
Yet, most State agencies have failed to develop methods and procedures that would implement this right.
