The 2018 Session was a complicated year for the environment in the Maryland General Assembly. On the one hand, legislators passed several bills of environmental importance and in multiple cases the environment was a bipartisan concern. …

While those bills were important, leaders in the General Assembly failed to vote on many top environmental priorities. This inaction short changes Marylanders from truly understanding where our elected officials stand on these particular top environmental issues and further disenfranchises voters in this key election year.

In more frustrating news, we saw long-time environmental champions fail to support environmental priorities, or refuse to bring them up for a vote. In particular, we are especially concerned at the shelving of top environmental legislation, such as the Styrofoam ban.

The scorecard is based on specified pieces of environmental legislation that received a committee vote, a floor vote, or were “drawered” in committee (not receiving any vote). Examples of legislation counted by the 2018 scorecard included: (1) changes to the Bay Restoration Fund; (2) banning Styrofoam; (3) amending the Forest Conservation Act; (4) offshore wind; and (5) funding for the DC-Metro.

In the Senate, numerous senators were awarded a 100% rating for the 2018 Session. The lowest scoring senator was Johnny Ray Salling (17%). Senators with a 100% lifetime rating include William Smith and Roger Manno. The Senator with the lowest lifetime rating is Gail Bates (16%).

In the House of Delegates, numerous delegates scored at the extremes for the 2018 Session, with many receiving a 100% rating and others receiving a 0% rating. Thirty-two delegates hold a 100% lifetime rating. The delegates with the lowest lifetime scores are Warren Miller and Mark Fisher at 8%.

Useful Links

2018 Scorecard Interactive Map