Testimony Before the Maryland General Assembly
The Delmarva Fisheries Association takes its role as an advocate from the commercial fishery very seriously, submitting written testimony in support or opposition of legislation pending before the General Assembly, as well as traveling frequently to Annapolis to provide oral testimony.
Using the links below, you are welcome to review our work on your behalf. Some of the bills are included for informational purposes.
2022 Submitted Testimonies:
Below is a link to our written testimony in opposition to House Bill 1228 (Natural Resources – Oysters – Spat, Shells, and Substrates)
HB 1228 – DFA Testimony House ET Opposition (3-4-22)
Below is a link to our written testimony in support with amendment to the House Bill 1217 (Natural Resources – Oyster Inspection and Severance Taxes – Increase)
HB 1217 – DFA Testimony House ET Favorable with amendment (3-4-22)
Below is a link to the written testimony in opposition to the House Bill 500 (banning dredging for shell at Man O’War Shoal)
HB 500 – DFA Testimony House ET Opposition w Exhibits (2-16-22)
2022 Letters of Support
Letter of Support re Tar Bay Gaps Dredging and Stablization (4-8-22)
2022 Legislative Session:
HOUSE BILLS
Delegate Grammer
DREDGING ON MAN–O–WAR SHOALS – PROHIBITION
Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from dredging buried oyster shells on Man–O–War Shoals as part of carrying out certain duties calculated to increase the productivity or utility of oyster resources in the State.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
NR, §§ 4-1103(a) – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/16 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: Oppose
HB 546 / SB 981
Delegate Arentz, et al
PEDESTRIANS – KENT ISLAND DRAWBRIDGE – FISHING PROHIBITION
Prohibiting a pedestrian from catching or attempting to catch fish by any means on or under the Maryland Route 18 Kent Island Drawbridge over the Kent Narrows in Queen Anne’s County.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
TR, § 21-507(k) – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/17 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
Delegate Jacobs, et al
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES – OYSTER SHELL DREDGING – PERMIT APPLICATION
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to apply, on or before July 1, 2022, to the Department of the Environment and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permits to dredge buried oyster shells on certain oyster bars; and requiring that any shell removed from the oyster bars be relocated to public oyster bottom identified by the county oyster committees and the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s Board of Directors.
EMERGENCY BILL
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/16 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: Oppose (sponsor did not communicate with all shell committees prior to bill introduction)
HB 596 / SB 783
Delegate W. Fisher, et al
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maryland to establish that every person has the fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful and sustainable environment; and requiring the State to serve as the trustee of the State’s natural resources, including the air, land, water, wildlife, and ecosystems of the State, and to conserve, protect, and enhance the State’s natural resources for the benefit of every person, including present and future generations.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – CONTINGENT
Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Art. 48 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/23 at 1:00 pm
Position: Oppose
HB 601 / SB 455
Delegate Jacobs, et al
CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING LICENSE AND RECREATIONAL FISHING – PILOT PROGRAM AND TASK FORCE
Establishing the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License Pilot Program to collect certain recreational fishing information and improve compliance with a certain registration requirement; requiring a certain annual report on the program by December 1, 2023; establishing the Task Force on Recreational Fishing Data Collection and Licensing to study and develop multiyear plans for improving the collection and quality of certain recreational fishing data; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings by December 1, 2022.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
NR, § 4-745.1 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/16 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
HB 644 / SB 900
Cecil County Delegation
CECIL COUNTY – FISHING – RESTRICTIONS
Adding Cecil County to a list of counties to which certain riparian laws do not apply; prohibiting a person from placing nets or establishing a haul seine fishery to catch fish for commercial use in the waters of the Susquehanna River in Cecil County; and repealing certain fishing restrictions that apply in Cecil County.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, §§ 4-712 and 4-717 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/9 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
HB 654
Delegate Long
BACK RIVER AND PATAPSCO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS – WATER QUALITY TESTING AND OVERFLOW AND PIPELINE BREAKAGE NOTIFICATION (ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2022)
Requiring an independent third party to oversee all water quality testing conducted at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant; requiring the Department of the Environment to select the independent third party; specifying the duties of the independent third party; and establishing certain notification requirements for sewage overflows and breaks in certain sewage pipelines at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
EN, §§ 9-255.1 and 9-331.2 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/23 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
HB 716 / SB 367
Delegate Lehman, et al
PATUXENT RIVER COMMISSION – MEMBERSHIP
Adding the Patuxent Riverkeeper as a voting member of the Patuxent River Commission.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
SF, § 5-814 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/23 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
HB 1133
Delegate Otto, et al (Adams, Clark, Hartman, Jacobs, Mautz and Szeliga)
OYSTERS – TRIBUTARY–SCALE SANCTUARIES
Repealing provisions of law that include the Manokin River Oyster Sanctuary in the network of tributary–scale oyster sanctuaries in the Chesapeake Bay and including the Severn River Oyster Sanctuary in the network.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
NR, § 4-1014 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/2 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
HB 1149 / SB 537
Delegate Jacobs, et al (Boteler, Buckel, Griffith, Hartman, Mautz, McKay and Otto)
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES – SHRIMP FISHERY REGULATIONS – CLARIFICATION
Clarifying the authority of the Department of Natural Resources to, notwithstanding certain provisions of law, adopt regulations governing any aspect of the shrimp fishery and establishing and implementing a pilot program related to fishing for shrimp.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, § 4-904 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/2 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
HB 1201 / SB 876
Delegate Jacobs, et al
WATER POLLUTION – CIVIL PENALTY SURCHARGE – OYSTER REPLETION FUND
Establishing a surcharge on civil penalties imposed for certain violations that result in the discharge of pollutants into the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries; establishing the Oyster Repletion Fund as in the Department of Natural Resources to finance the repletion of natural oyster bars in waters impacted by water pollution violations; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2022
EN, § 9-342 – amended and NR, § 4-209.1 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/4 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
HB 1217
Delegates Mautz and Adams
NATURAL RESOURCES – OYSTER INSPECTION AND SEVERANCE TAXES – INCREASE
Increasing the amount of the inspection tax levied on marketable oysters shipped in the shell to any place outside the State from 30 cents to $1; increasing the amount of the severance tax levied on oysters caught within certain natural oyster bars from $1 to $2 per bushel; and requiring that $1 of the severance tax levied be distributed to certain county oyster committees for the repletion of natural oyster bars within the waters of the counties.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, § 4-1020(a) through (c) – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/4 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT with amendment to include Baltimore County Oyster Committee in Sec. 4-1020 (c)(3)
Delegate Howard
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY – NATURAL RESOURCES – FISHING WITH A HAUL SEINE
Altering certain provisions of law that restrict the setting and use of haul seines in certain waters of Anne Arundel County.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, § 4-714 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing:
Position: No Position
HB 1228 / SB 830
Delegates Crosby, Clark, Boyce, Barve and Stein
NATURAL RESOURCES – OYSTERS – SPAT, SHELLS, AND SUBSTRATE
Establishing various programs, goals, research requirements, planning requirements, and funding requirements related to oyster spat, oyster shells, and oyster substrate; requiring the Maryland Agricultural and Resource–Based Industry Development Corporation to provide loans and grants up to a certain amount to finance the eligible costs of certain eligible seafood processing projects; replacing the oyster shell recycling tax credit with an annual grant program administered by the Department of Natural Resources; etc.
This bill requires a mandated appropriation in the annual budget bill.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
EC, § 10-519.1 – added, TG, § 10-724.1 – repealed, and NR, Various Sections – added, amended, and repealed
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Friday, 3/4 at 1:00 pm
Position: OPPOSE with recommendation to refer to the Oyster Advisory Commission (oral and written testimony)
Final proposed amendments not available as of HB 1228 hearing.
HB 1242 / SB 826
Delegate Mautz, et al (Adams, Arentz, Hornberger, Jacobs and McComas)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – MARYLAND WATERMEN’S MICROLOAN PROGRAM – ESTABLISHMENT
Establishing the Maryland Watermen’s Microloan Program in the Maryland Agricultural and Resource–Based Industry Development Corporation to provide loans to qualified commercial fishermen to continue commercial operations in the State; providing, beginning July 1, 2025, that generational watermen, beginner watermen, and seafood processing businesses are eligible to receive loans under the Program; requiring a loan made under the Program to be at least $7,000 and not more than $15,000; etc.
This bill requires a mandated appropriation in the annual budget bill.
Effective Date: October 1, 2022
EC, § 10-526 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation and Ways and Means
Bill Hearing in ET: Wednesday, 3/9 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
HB 1298 / SB 960
Delegates Ghrist, Carey, Mautz and Otto
NATURAL RESOURCES – HUNTING AND FISHING OFFENSES – EXPUNGEMENT
Authorizing a person to file a petition for expungement of certain criminal records based on a conviction for certain hunting or fishing offenses; and authorizing a person to file a petition for expungement of certain administrative records for a conviction based on certain hunting offenses.
Effective Date: October 1, 2022
CP, § 10-110(a) and (c) – amended and NR, § 10-1109 – added
Committee: Judiciary
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 3/8 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
HB 1310
Delegate Mautz, et al (Adams, Arentz, Buckel, Hornberger, Jacobs and McComas)
TIDAL FISH LICENSES – OYSTER AUTHORIZATIONS – REVOCATION
Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Department of Natural Resources to revoke a person’s authorization to catch oysters if the Department finds or concludes that the person has knowingly committed one of certain offenses; and authorizing a person whose authorization to catch oysters is revoked under certain provisions of law to apply for reinstatement of the authorization after 5 years.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, § 4-1210 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation and Ways and Means
Bill Hearing in ET: Wednesday, 3/9 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT (written and oral testimony)
HB 1311
Delegate Mautz, et al
CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION FUND – AUTHORIZED USES (CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION FUND LOCKBOX ACT OF 2022)
Restricting the use of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund to certain purposes directly related to addressing pollution from wastewater treatment facilities, on–site sewage disposal systems, sewer systems, and stormwater management systems; repealing provisions of law requiring certain amounts to be transferred from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund to the Clean Water Commerce Account, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund, and the Department of Agriculture; etc.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
AG, § 8-706, EN, §§ 9-1605.2(a) and (i) and 9-1605.4(a) through (e), (f)(1), (g), (h), (q)(2), and (r), and NR, § 8-1911(e) – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation and Appropriations
Bill Hearing in Appropriations: Thursday, 3/10 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
SENATE BILLS
SB 190
Chair (By Request – Department of Natural Resources)
TIDAL FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMISSION – MEMBERSHIP TERM – ALTERATION
Altering the term of the members of the Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission from 2 years to 4 years.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, § 4-204(a) – amended
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 1/18 at 2:30 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
SB 366
Senator Simonaire
CHESAPEAKE AND ATLANTIC COASTAL BAYS 2010 TRUST FUND – USE OF FUNDS (CHESAPEAKE BAY LOCKBOX PROTECTION ACT OF 2022)
Establishing a Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to provide financial resources for certain nonpoint source pollution control projects in the State; and prohibiting the transfer of funds in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to the General Fund or a special fund of the State except under certain circumstances.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – CONTINGENT
Maryland Constitution, Art. III, § 53A – added
Committees: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs and Budget and Taxation
Bill Hearings: Wednesday, 2/24 at 1:30 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position:
SB 367
Senator Pinsky (Dist. 22) and Senators Patterson (Dist. 26) and Jackson (Dist. 27)
PATUXENT RIVER COMMISSION – MEMBERSHIP
Adding the Patuxent Riverkeeper as a voting member of the Patuxent River Commission.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
SF, § 5-814 – amended
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday 2/24
Position: No Position
SB 455 / HB 601
Senator Bailey
CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING LICENSE AND RECREATIONAL FISHING – PILOT PROGRAM AND TASK FORCE
Establishing the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License Pilot Program to collect certain recreational fishing information and improve compliance with a certain registration requirement; and establishing the Task Force on Recreational Fishing Data Collection and Licensing to study and develop multiyear plans for improving the collection and quality of certain recreational fishing data.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
NR, § 4-745.1 – added
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/01 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position:
SB 537
Senators Carozza (Dist. 38) and Hershey (Dist. 36), Simonaire (Dist. 31), Bailey (Dist. 29)
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES – SHRIMP FISHERY REGULATIONS – CLARIFICATION
Clarifying the authority of the Department of Natural Resources to, notwithstanding certain provisions of law, adopt regulations governing any aspect of the shrimp fishery and establishing and implementing a pilot program related to fishing for shrimp.
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
NR, § 4-904 – amended
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 3/01 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position:
SB 580
Senator Bailey
SEWER SYSTEMS AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS – WATER POLLUTION – SHELLFISH HARVESTER RESTITUTION
Requiring a person responsible for a sewer overflow, treatment plant bypass, or unlawful discharge from a wastewater treatment plant that results in an area being closed to shellfish harvesting to pay restitution to certain shellfish harvesters.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2022
EN, § 9-342.3 – added
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 3/1 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
SB 713 / HB 1215
Senator Reilly
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY – NATURAL RESOURCES – FISHING GEAR
Establishing that certain fishing gear restrictions applicable in certain Anne
Arundel County waters apply only to commercial finfish harvesters; and authorizing a
person to use archery equipment to commercially harvest finfish in certain Anne Arundel County
waters.
Effective Date: June 1, 2022
NR, § 4-714 – amended
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 3/1 at 1:00 pm
Position: No Position
SB 783 / HB 596
Senator Smith, et al
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maryland to establish that every person has the fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful and sustainable environment; and requiring the State to serve as the trustee of the State’s natural resources, including the air, land, water, wildlife, and ecosystems of the State, and to conserve, protect, and enhance the State’s natural resources for the benefit of every person, including present and future generations.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – CONTINGENT
Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Art. 48 – added
Committees: Judicial Proceedings and Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing in JPR: Wednesday, 3/9 at 1:00 pm
Position: OPPOSE
SB 826 / HB 1242
Senator Klausmeier, et al
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – MARYLAND WATERMEN’S MICROLOAN PROGRAM – ESTABLISHMENT
Establishing the Maryland Watermen’s Microloan Program in the Maryland Agricultural and Resource–Based Industry Development Corporation to provide loans to qualified commercial fishermen to continue commercial operations in the State; providing, beginning July 1, 2025, that generational watermen, beginner watermen, and seafood processing businesses are eligible to receive loans under the Program; requiring a loan made under the Program to be at least $7,000 and not more than $15,000.
This bill requires a mandated appropriation in the annual budget bill.
Effective Date: October 1, 2022
EC, § 10-526 – added
Committee: Finance
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 3/1 at 1:00 pm
Position: SUPPORT
JOINT RESOLUTIONS
SJ 6 (Senate Joint Resolution)
Senator Bailey (Dist. 29)
ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION – ATLANTIC MENHADEN – PROHIBITION ON COMMERCIAL REDUCTION FISHING
Requesting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to consider prohibiting the commercial reduction fishing of Atlantic menhaden, including the use of purse seines and spotter planes, in the Chesapeake
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 3/01 at 1:00 pm
Position: recommend OPPOSE
2022 MGA Session Dates of Interest
January 12 GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES (noon, Wednesday)
18 7th Day – SENATE AND HOUSE BILL REQUEST GUARANTEE DATE
19 Final date for the Governor to introduce budget bill
19 Final Date for the Governor to introduce capital budget bill
21 10th Day – Final date for submission of Executive Orders reorganizing the Executive Branch of State Government; either Chamber may disapprove by resolution within 50 days
24 13th Day –Administration bills introduced in the Senate after this date referred to Senate Rules Committee
26 15th Day — Final date for introduction of Governor’s Salary Commission, General Assembly Compensation Commission, and Judicial Compensation Commission recommendations. Legislative action must be taken within 50 days after introduction of the joint resolutions of the Governor’s Salary Commission and the Judicial Compensation Commission.
February 2 Governor delivers the State of the State Address (noon)
7 27th Day – SENATE BILL INTRODUCTION DATE
Senate bills introduced after this date referred to the Senate Rules Committee
11 31st Day – HOUSE BILL INTRODUCTION DATE
“Hopper” will close at 5 P.M. on February 10
Senate bills introduced after this date referred to the Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.
20 40th Day – “Green Bag” appointments submitted by Governor (Delivered on Friday, February 18)
March 7 55th Day – Final date for introduction of bills without suspension of Rules
15 63rd Day – Committee Reporting Courtesy Date
Each Chamber’s committees to report their own bills by this date
21 69th Day – Opposite Chamber Bill Crossover Date
Each Chamber to send to other Chamber those bills it intends to pass favorably
Opposite Chamber bills received after this date subject to referral to Rules Committees (Senate Rule 32(c), House Courtesy Date)
April 4 83rd Day – Budget bill to be passed by both Chambers
11 90th Day – ADJOURNMENT “SINE DIE” (Monday)
May 11 Final date for an extended session (Wednesday)
2021 Legislative Session:
HB 82 / SB 151
Delegate W. Fisher, et al
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
Proposing an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to establish that every person has an inalienable right to a healthful environment; declaring that the State’s natural resources are the common property of every person and the State is the trustee of the natural and historic resources of the State; establishing that every person has the right to intervene in an action brought by the State or a political subdivision to protect certain rights; submitting the amendment to the qualified voters of the State; etc.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – CONTINGENT
Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Art. 48 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 1/20 at 1:30 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
HB 145
Delegate Boyce (Dist. 43)
UNLAWFUL TAKING OF OYSTERS FROM SUBMERGED LAND LEASES, AQUACULTURE LEASES, AND WATER COLUMN LEASES – PENALTIES
Requiring, rather than authorizing, the Department of Natural Resources to suspend a certain tidal fish license on conviction of the license holder for a certain violation; requiring a certain person who has a tidal fish license suspended under the Act to complete a certain class at the person’s expense; prohibiting a person who has a seafood dealer authorization from purchasing, offering to purchase, or possessing oysters that were unlawfully harvested from a certain lease under certain circumstances; providing certain penalties; etc.
Effective Date: July 1, 2021
NR, §§ 4-11A-16 and 4-1201 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 1/20 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: Support with Amendments
(that guarantee equal treatment under the law for TFL holders, licensed seafood dealers AND aquaculture leaseholders)
HB 427
Delegate Jacobs (Dist. 36)
FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT – AUTHORITY OF STATE
Prohibiting the State from entering into an agreement that waives the State’s authority under § 401 of the federal Clean Water Act as part of exercising the State’s authority and carrying out the State’s duties under the federal Clean Water Act and State law, including the State’s authority and duties related to the federal relicensing of the Conowingo Dam.
EMERGENCY BILL – CONTINGENT
EN, § 9-353 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/3 at 1:30 pm
Position: SUPPORT
(as a means of leverage for State of Maryland re Conowingo Factor)
HB 545
Delegate Hornberger (Dist. 35A)
NATURAL RESOURCES – LICENSES, PERMITS, REGISTRATIONS, AND CERTIFICATES – DIGITAL OR ELECTRONIC FORMAT
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to make available and, on request, issue certain licenses, permits, registrations, and certificates in a digital or electronic format; establishing that an individual may satisfy certain requirements to possess or display a license, permit, registration, or certificate by possessing or displaying the document in a digital or electronic format as provided by the Department; and requiring the Department to design certain digital or electronic documents in a certain manner.
Effective Date: October 1, 2021
NR, § 1-403.1 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/3 at 1:30 pm
Position:
SB 151 / HB 82
Senator Patterson (Dist. 26)
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
Proposing an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to establish that every person has an inalienable right to a healthful environment; declaring that the State’s natural resources are the common property of every person and the State is the trustee of the natural and historic resources of the State; establishing that every person has the right to intervene in an action brought by the State or a political subdivision to protect certain rights; submitting the amendment to the qualified voters of the State; etc.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – CONTINGENT
Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Art. 48 – added
Committees: Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Judicial Proceedings
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 1/26 at 1:00 pm (Judicial Proceedings)
Position: No Position
SB 203
Senator Bailey (Dist. 29)
AQUACULTURE LEASE APPLICATIONS – NOTICES, PROTESTS, MEETINGS, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Altering the property owners that the Department of Natural Resources is required to notify of applications for certain aquaculture leases to be issued in the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Coastal Bays; requiring the Department to work with a certain petitioner and a certain applicant to mitigate certain concerns and to consider conflict resolution between shoreline property owners and aquaculture lease applicants before issuing a lease; etc.
Effective Date: June 1, 2021
NR, § 4-11A-09(g) – amended
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/10 at 1:00 pm
Position:
SB 318
Senators Baily (Dist. 29) and Simonaire (Dist. 31)
NATURAL RESOURCES – FISHING AND HUNTING RIGHTS
Stating certain findings of the General Assembly related to the value of fishing and hunting to the cultural and social heritage and the economy of the State; and establishing that it is the intent of the General Assembly that residents of the State have a right to fish and to hunt subject to regulations and restrictions under laws that the General Assembly enacts.
Effective Date: October 1, 2021
NR, §§ 4-103 and 10-102 – added
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/10 at 1:00 pm
Position:
SB 442
Senator Klausmeier (Dist. 8)
AQUACULTURE LEASES AND SHELLFISH NURSERY OPERATIONS – WETLANDS
Exempting under certain circumstances certain activities and the use of certain equipment associated with an aquaculture lease or a shellfish nursery operation from the requirement to obtain certain licenses from the Department of the Environment or the Board of Public Works; establishing that certain aquaculture activity and the installation of certain equipment on a pier for the cultivation of shellfish seed under a certain permit are lawful uses on private wetlands; etc.
Effective Date: October 1, 2021
EN, §§ 16-101(i), 16-202(h), and 16-304 and NR, § 4-11A-23(d) – amended and NR, § 4-11A-10(d-1) – added
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/10 at 1:00 pm
Position:
SJ 4 (Senate Joint Resolution) / HJ 1
Senator Guzzone (Dist. 13)
NATURAL RESOURCES – FISHING – WILD–CAUGHT BLUE CATFISH
Opposing certain inspection rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture which have drastically impeded the harvest and sale of blue catfish and thus rendered the State unable to adequately use the commercial harvest as a form of control over the invasive blue catfish species; urging the U.S. Congress to amend 21 U.S.C. § 601(w) to exempt the wild catch of domestic catfish from certain inspection requirements; and requiring a copy of the Resolution be forwarded to certain elected officials.
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: Tuesday, 1/21 at 11:00 am
Position: recommend SUPPORT
HJ 1 (House Joint Resolution) / SJ 4
Delegate Stein (Dist. 11)
NATURAL RESOURCES – FISHING – WILD–CAUGHT BLUE CATFISH
Opposing certain inspection rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture which have drastically impeded the harvest and sale of blue catfish and thus rendered the State unable to adequately use the commercial harvest as a form of control over the invasive blue catfish species; urging the U.S. Congress to amend 21 U.S.C. § 601(w) to exempt the wild catch of domestic catfish from certain inspection requirements; and requiring a copy of the Resolution be forwarded to certain elected officials.
Assigned to: House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee
Bill Hearing: TBD
Position: recommend SUPPORT
SJ 6
Senator Baily (Dist. 29)
ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION – ATLANTIC MENHADEN – POPULATION EVALUATION AND PROHIBITION ON COMMERCIAL REDUCTION FISHING
Requesting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to evaluate the population of Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay; and requiring the Commission to consider prohibiting the commercial reduction fishing of Atlantic menhaden, including the use of purse seines and spotter planes, in the Chesapeake Bay.
Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Bill Hearing: TBD
Position:
2020 Legislative Session:
HB 856 / SB 689
Delegates Boyce, Bridges, Conaway, McIntosh and Stewart
UNLAWFUL TAKING OF OYSTERS FROM SUBMERGED LAND LEASES AND
WATER COLUMN LEASES – PENALTIES
Establishing a minimum fine of $2,000 and maximum fine of $3,000 for unlawfully taking
oysters from a submerged land lease or water column lease under certain circumstances;
requiring a person who unlawfully takes oysters from a submerged land lease or water column lease to complete a certain class at the person’s expense; providing that a person who commits a certain second or subsequent offense is guilty of the crime of theft and subject to certain criminal penalties; etc.
Effective Date: July 1, 2020
NR, § 4-1201 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/26 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Fiscal and Policy Note – view here
Position: OPPOSE (refer to new apolitical OAC)
Legislation proposed per Aquaculture Coordinating Council (Oyster Theft Workgroup)
HB 517 [withdrawn by sponsor]
Delegate Stewart, et al
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
Proposing an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to establish that every person has the right to a certain clean and healthy environment; establishing that every person has the right to intervene in an action brought by the State or a political subdivision of the State to protect certain rights; prohibiting the State or a political subdivision of the State from causing diminution of or degradation to the State’s natural resources; submitting the amendment to the qualified voters of the State for their adoption or rejection; etc.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – CONTINGENT
Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Art. 48 – added
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/19 at 1:00 pm (view committee hearing here)
Position: No Position
WITHDRAWN by sponsor
HB 210 / SB 342 [withdrawn by sponsor]
Senator Crosby
AQUACULTURE – LEASES IN WATER COLUMN – RIPARIAN RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
Establishing that a riparian property owner or lessee shall have the right of first refusal to apply for and, if approved, obtain a water column lease, or an aquaculture lease for use in the water column in an Aquaculture Enterprise Zone, applicable to a certain area that fronts the riparian property, subject to certain standards and requirements; requiring a person other than the riparian owner who applies for a certain lease in an area subject to a right of first refusal to provide a certain notice of the lease application; etc.
Effective Date: June 1, 2020
NR, §§ 4-11A-05 and 4-11A-08 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/12 at 1:00 pm [Hearing Cancelled]
Position: OPPOSE (refer to new apolitical OAC)
HB 95 / SB 162
Delegates Howard, Bagnall, Bartlett, Cain, Carey, Chang, Chisholm, Henson, Malone, Rogers
and Saab
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY – NATURAL RESOURCES – FISHING WITH A HAUL SEINE
Repealing certain provisions of law that restrict the length of a haul seine that a person may use in certain waters of Anne Arundel County; and authorizing a person to use a haul seine to fish in the waters of Anne Arundel County except under certain circumstances.
Effective Date: October 1, 2020 NR, § 4-714 – amended
Committee: Environment and Transportation
Bill Hearing: Wednesday, 2/19 at 1:00 pm
Position: No Position
2019 Legislative Session:
House Bill 1, House Bill 40 & Senate Bill 145 – Prohibition on Dredging Man O’War Shoals
– DFA Written Testimony for House here and Senate here.
– Oral Testimony for House here and Senate here.
House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 448 – Tributary-Scale Sanctuaries
– DFA Written Testimony for House here and Senate here.
– Oral Testimony for House here and Senate here.
House 348 and Senate Bill 362 – Shell First
– DFA Written Testimony for House here and Senate here.
– Oral testimony for the Senate here.
House Bill 720 and Senate Bill 830 – Oyster FMP
– DFA Written Testimony for Senate here.
– Oral testimony for House here and Senate here.
Senate Bill 683 – Oyster Harvest Impact
– DFA Written Testimony for Senate here.
– Oral testimony here.
House Bill 921 – Conowingo WQC
– DFA Written testimony for House here.
Other Bills of Interest can be viewed here.
Correspondence of Note
DFA Chairman Opposes HB 1455 re: Man O’War Shoals, 7 Mach 2018
DFA Requests that DNR Extends Oyster Season, 5 March 2018
Message from MSRC to Members re: Seafood and Aquaculture Economic Impacts, 12 October 2017
Governor Hogan’s Letter to USDA re: Blue Catfish, 8 August 2017
DFA’s Letter to USDA re: Bule Catfish, 26 July 2017
Congressman Andy Harris Writes to NOAA re: Atlantic Sturgeon DPS, 6 June 2017
DFA Writes to DNR Secretary Belton re: Man O’War Shoals, 9 May 2017
DFA Writes to DNR Concerning Conowingo Sediment Plume, 13 April 2017
– DNR’s Response to DFA
DFA Joins CCC in Commenting on Strawman Oyster Management Plan, 13 March 2017
Kent County Commissioner Ron Fithian Writes to the Oyster Advisory Commission, 9 February 2017
Kent County Commissioner Ron Fithian Writes to DNR re: New Oyster Sanctuaries, 29 September 2016
DFA Submits Accident Reports from Harris Creek, 18 February 2016
Cease and Desist Letter re: False Comments, 19 January 2016
DFA’s Letter to the ASMFC re: Menhaden, 2 December 2015
DFA’s Outreach to DNR, 24 November 2015
DFA Thanks DNR Secretary for Support, 6 November 2015
DFA Requests Support re: Harvest Reserve Areas, 29 October 2015