Les Knapp, MACo Legal and Policy Counsel, presented testimony to the House Environment and Transportation Committee advocating to support with amendments HB 881, Maryland Shoreline Risk Assessment, Preparation and Adaptation Act on March 4, 2015. This bill would provide information and tools to address the potential impacts caused by climate change.

The amendment that MACo recommends is to remove the unnecessary requirement to incorporate complex policy areas into local comprehensive plans.

The written testimony explains:

MACo does not object to the State components of the bill, including the ongoing climate change impact assessments and model local ordinances. Such information and tools assist counties in forming their own climate change adaptation strategies. However, MACo does object to the requirement of having to incorporate yet another major policy component into local comprehensive plans that are already burgeoning with mandated information.

For more on MACo’s 2015 legislation, visit the Legislative Database.