Recent legislation listed are for the past 3 legislative sessions and are related to programs with MDE's Land and Materials Administration. A search of all Maryland laws can be done on the
Maryland General Assembly's Statutes web page.
2024 Legislative Session
The following are bills passed during the Maryland's 2024 Legislative Session that relate to Land and Materials Administration's programs.
- HB0001 and SB0325 - Maryland Paint Stewardship. Requires producers of architectural paint or a representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Paint Stewardship Program to the Department of the Environment by July 1, 2025, in accordance with certain requirements. Requires the Department to review and approve the plans, including the paint stewardship assessment. The bill also prohibits the sale of certain architectural paint beginning January 1, 2026, unless an approved Paint Stewardship Program has been implemented. Sections 9-1701, 9-1702, 9-1705, 9-1707, 9-1733, and 9-1734 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- HB0457 - Environment - Synthetic Turf - Disclosure and Study. Requires a producer or seller of synthetic turf to disclose to a customer typical maintenance practices and costs for removing, replacing, and disposing of synthetic turf. The bill also requires the Department of the Environment, in consultation with representatives of the industry, local environmental and community stakeholders, and synthetic turf producers, retailers, and users, to conduct a study on the synthetic turf industry in the State and report its findings to the General Assembly by July 1, 2026. Sections 9-2601 and 9-2602 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- HB0468 and SB0532 - Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland. Establishes a Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland to study and make legislative, regulatory, programmatic, or other recommendations regarding certain best practices, standards, and guidelines. Requires the Commission to submit an interim progress report to the Legislative Policy Committee by December 1, 2024 and requires the Commission to submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2025
- HB0991 and SB1074 - Agriculture - Food Processing Residuals Utilization Permit. Establishment. Establishes a food processing residuals utilization permit. The bill prohibits a person from utilizing food processing residuals in the State unless the person obtains a permit. It requires the Department of Agriculture to provide notice and information to people in a county where food residuals will be stored. The bill also establishes the Food Processing Residuals Administration Fund to cover the costs of the Department for administration of the Act. Finally, the bill authorizes a representative of the Department to enter and inspect any site where food processing residuals are utilized. Sections 8-1101 through 8-1103 of the Agriculture Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- HB1147 - Environment - Playground Surfacing Materials - Prohibitions. Prohibits, on or after October 1, 2024, a person from installing, supplying, selling, soliciting, or offering for sale playground surfacing materials that contain a certain concentration of lead or a component product, material, or substance to which PFAS chemicals were previously intentionally added for certain purposes. The bill also prohibits a county, municipality, or unit of local government from adopting any ordinance, rule, or regulation related to playground surfacing materials that is less stringent than of the Act. Sections 6-16A-01 through 6-16A-05 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
- HB1466 and SB0808 - Agriculture - Anaerobic Digestion Technology - Coordination and Guidance. Requires the Department of Agriculture to coordinate with the Maryland Energy Administration, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Commerce, the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and certain other stakeholders to ensure anaerobic digestion technology projects are not unduly delayed. It requires the Department, in coordination with certain State agencies, to establish certain guidance for farmers regarding the development and implementation of anaerobic digestion technology. Section 2-2301 of the Agriculture Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
2023 Legislative Session
The following are bills passed during the Maryland's 2023 Legislative Session that relate to Land and Materials Administration's programs.
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HB0032 and SB0124 - Maryland Food System Resiliency Council. Establishes that the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council is in the Office of Resilience in the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. The bill alters the membership of the Council to include a representative of the seafood industry. Also, the bill alters the process for electing a cochair of the Council and requires the Department to provide staff for the Council. Sections
14-1101 and
14-1102 of the Public Safety Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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SB0222 and HB0284 – Environment - Reducing Packaging Materials – Producer Responsibility. Requires the Department of the Environment to approve a single producer responsibility organization to represent the interests of producers by October 1, 2023. The bill establishes a producer responsibility advisory council to provide advice and make recommendations regarding establishing and implementing a producer responsibility program in the State for packaging materials. Also, the bill requires the Office of Recycling in the Department to hire an independent contractor to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment and to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before July 30, 2024. Sections 9-1702, 9-1702.2, 9-1707, 9-2501 through 9-2510 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB0253 and SB0262 – Environment – On Farm Composting Facilities- Permit Exemption. Requires the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations to exempt an on-farm composting facility from the requirement to obtain a permit if the on-farm composting facility uses 10,000 square feet of area or less for active food scrap composting, composts only certain materials, records the amount and source of off-site type 2 organics composted and the date and time the off-site type 2 organics arrived on the farm. The bill also requires that the on-farm composting facility retains the records for 5 years, provides records on request, and meets any other condition for a permit exemption; etc. Sections 9-1701 and 9-1725 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB0319 and SB0158 – Pesticides – PFAS Testing -Study. Requires the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with certain State and federal agencies, to study the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticides in the State. The bill requires the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment, and the House Health and Government Operations Committee on or before November 1, 2023
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HB0470 and SB0256 - Environment – Fire-Fighting Training – Oriented Strand Board – Prohibition. Prohibits the setting on fire or burning of oriented strand board for certain fire-fighting training. The bill establishes an administrative penalty not exceeding $500 for a first violation of the Act and a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation of the Act. Section 6-1701 of the Environment Article,
Annotated Code of Maryland.
2022 Legislative Session
The following are bills passed during the Maryland's 2022 Legislative Session that relate to Land and Materials Administration's programs.
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HB 649 Ch. 22 - Environment - Discharge Permits - Inspections and Administrative Continuations. Establishing inspection and reporting requirements for certain permit holders; requiring the Department of the Environment maintain on its website a list of certain noncompliant permit holders and provide certain Senators and Delegates with a link to the list by monthly e-mail; establishing administrative penalties for certain permit holders determined to be in significant noncompliance of certain State or federal water quality standards, effluent limitations, or other requirements; etc. Sections
9-328 and
9-328.1 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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SB 528 Ch. 38 – Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Requiring the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by altering statewide greenhouse gas emissions goals, establishing of a net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions goal, developing certain energy efficiency and emissions reduction requirements for certain buildings, requiring electric companies to increase their annual incremental gross energy savings, establishing certain zero-emission vehicle requirements for the State fleet, and establishing an electric school bus pilot program; etc. Section 2-1901 of the Agriculture Article; Sections
10-801,
10-854, and
10-855 of the Economic Development Article; Section
5-303 of the Education Article; Sections
1-205,
1-701,
1-702,
2-1201,
2-1204.1,
2-1204.2,
2-1205,
2-1206,
2-1210,
2-1303 through
2-1305,2-1501,
2-1505,
2-1601 through
2-1603 of the Environment Article; Section
4-211 of the Housing and Community Development Article; Section
3-416 of the Labor and Employment Article; Sections
8-1913 through
8-1915,
8-1920,
8-1921, and
8-1923.1 of the Natural Resources Article; Sections
12-501,
12-503,
12-505 of the Public Safety Article; Sections
7-211,
7-217,
7-801 through
7-804 of the Public Utilities Article; Sections
14-418,
4-810,
6-226 of the State Finance and Procurement Article; Section
9-2010 of the State Government Article; and Section
7-237 of the Tax - Property Article;
Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 1110 Ch. 86 – Environment - Lead Poisoning Prevention - Elevated Blood Lead Level. Altering the elevated blood lead level that initiates certain case management, environmental investigation, notification, and lead risk reduction requirements; and requiring the Department of the Environment to study and report on the most effective means of incorporating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Blood Lead Reference Value into the State's lead poisoning prevention programs on or before December 31, 2022. Sections
6-304,
6-305,
6-801,
6-819 and
6-846 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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SB 171 Ch. 93 – Environment - Public Participation Modernization Act. Authorizing the Department of the Environment to hold certain public meetings and hearings regarding certain licensing, permitting, and regulatory responsibilities using teleconference or Internet-based conferencing technology under certain circumstances; requiring that certain hearings regarding sewage sludge permits be held in accordance with provisions of law regarding public participation rather than with the Administrative Procedure Act; etc. Sections
1-601,
1-603,
1-604,
16-307,
2-303,
2-404,
5-204,
7-239,
9-204.2,
9-234,
9-234.1, and
9-324 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 275 Ch. 138 and
SB 273 Ch. 139 – Environment - PFAS Chemicals - Prohibitions and Requirements (George Walter Taylor Act). Prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2024, a person from using, manufacturing, or knowingly selling or distributing Class B fire-fighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals in the State; prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2024, a person from manufacturing, selling, or distributing a certain rug or carpet in the State; prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2024, a manufacturer or distributor from manufacturing, selling, or distributing certain food packaging intended for direct food contact in the State; etc. Sections
6-1601 through
6-1605, and
9-1901 through
9-1905 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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SB 124 Ch. 205 – Public Schools - Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste. Establishing the Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste to award grants to county boards of education and public schools to develop and implement programs for reducing food waste and to establish composting of pre- and post-consumer waste; requiring the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education to review grant applications and select recipients to be awarded grants by the State Department of Education; etc. Section
7-129 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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SB 90 Ch. 352 – Department of the Environment - Supplemental Environmental Projects Database. Requiring the Department of the Environment to create and maintain a database of supplemental environmental projects that the Department may consider for implementation as part of a settlement of an enforcement action; and requiring the Department to prioritize the selection of a supplemental environmental project located in the same geographic area as the alleged violation and to ensure that the scope and cost of a chosen project are sufficient to allow the Department and the alleged violator to reach a settlement. Section
1-306 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 76 Ch. 415 – Community Solar Energy Generating Systems - Exemption From Property Taxes. Exempting certain community solar energy generating systems from personal property taxes; prohibiting the supervisor of a county or a municipal corporation from accepting applications for the exemption after December 31, 2024; and requiring the Department of Assessments and Taxation to report to certain committees of the General Assembly, by October 1 each year, on the number and location of projects that, in the immediately preceding taxable year, have received the exemption. Section
7-237 of the Tax-Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 107 Ch. 664 – Cooperative Housing Corporations, Condominiums, and Homeowners Associations - Reserve Studies - Statewide. Requiring the governing body of certain cooperative housing corporations, condominiums, or homeowners associations to have a reserve study conducted of the common elements of the cooperative housing corporation, condominium, or homeowners association and to update the study every 5 years; imposing certain requirements relating to the annual budget of a cooperative housing corporation, condominium, or homeowners association; etc. Section
5-6B-26.1 of the Corporations and Associations Article; and
11-109,
11-109.2,
11-109.4,
11-110,
11B-106.1,
11B-112.2,
11B-112.3, and
11B-117 of the Real Property Article; Annotated Code of Maryland
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HB 133 Ch. 709 and
SB 372 Ch. 710 – Environment - Sealant Products - Prohibitions (Safer Sealant Act of 2022). Prohibiting, on or after October 1, 2023, a person from supplying, selling, or offering for sale a high-PAH sealant product for application to a driveway or parking area in the State; prohibiting on or after October 1, 2023, a person from applying or soliciting the application of a high-PAH sealant product to a driveway or parking area in the State; establishing a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for each violation and an administrative penalty of up to $2,500 for each violation, but not exceeding $100,000 total; etc. Sections
9-2401 through
9-2405, and
9-320 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 1200 Ch. 588 – Environment - Permit Applications - Environmental Justice Screening. Requiring a person applying for a certain permit from the Department of the Environment to include in the application the EJ Score from the Maryland EJ tool for the census tract where the applicant is seeking the permit; requiring the Department, on receiving a certain permit application, to review the EJ Score for the census tract where the applicant is seeking a permit using the Maryland EJ tool to verify the applicant's information; etc. Section
1-101,
1-601.1, and
1-602 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 174 Ch. 729 – Landlord and Tenant - Repossession for Failure to Pay Rent - Registration of Affected Property. Establishing that information regarding the status of a rental property as an affected property under certain lead-based paint abatement laws may be an issue of fact at trial. Section
8-401 of the Real Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
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HB 1039 Ch. 658 and
SB 860 Ch. 659 – Property Tax - Community Solar Energy Generating Systems - Agrivoltaics. Exempting certain community solar energy generating systems from personal property taxes; requiring the Department of Assessments and Taxation to assess certain land used by a community solar energy generating system in a certain manner; requiring the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation to grant a tax credit against the property tax imposed on real property on which a certain community solar energy generating system is installed; establishing a tax credit against the State property tax imposed on certain real property; etc. Sections
7-237,
8-209, and 9-112 of the Tax-Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
