The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of environment policy in the 2026 General Assembly session.
Counties remain on the front lines of environmental policy, tasked with implementing and 
enforcing ambitious statewide goals while balancing local realities. As such, MACo continues to advocate for practical, flexible solutions that empower counties to meet environmental objectives without imposing unworkable mandates or unfunded burdens.
Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal strain, as slowing revenues and rising costs forced difficult conversations about priorities across all levels of government. Even within these constraints, the General Assembly advanced a robust slate of environmental proposals ranging from climate and energy initiatives to land use and resource management, many of which carry direct implications for county governments. MACo’s legislative committee guided the association’s positions on hundreds of bills, yielding many productive compromises and gains spanning counties’ uniquely wide portfolio.
Follow these links for more coverage on our Conduit Street blog and Legislative Database.
Environmental Bills:
MACo supported HB 833/SB 553 – Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland – Reestablishment. This bill renews the Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland, extending its charge to evaluate policy challenges and solutions regarding battery safety. This bill DID pass the 2026 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 35/SB 266 – -Local Government – Regulatory Powers – Regulation of Invasive Trees. This bill provides additional powers to local jurisdictions for the regulation and control of the invasive Tree of Heaven, the preferred plant for Spotted Lanternflies to lay their eggs. This bill DID pass the 2026 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 1599 – Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program – Established and its cross-file, SB 558 – Chesapeake Bay – Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund – Established. This bill would have established the Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program to support oyster propagation and replenishment projects in areas of the Chesapeake Bay affected by development associated with the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. This bill DID pass the 2026 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 517 – Emission Standards, Ambient Air Quality Standards, and Solid Waste Management – Local Authority. This bill would have clarified the intent of the General Assembly that counties have the power to regulate outdoor air quality and enact regulations that are as strict or stricter than the federal and state floors. This bill DID NOT pass the 2026 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
As amended, MACo took no position on HB 429/SB 599 – On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program – Established. Before being amended, this bill would have established several local grant programs to expand composting, strengthen environmental stewardship, and improve recycling outcomes. This bill DID pass the 2026 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
Parks & Recreation:
MACo opposed HB 1237 – Pesticide Applications – Subscription Contract Requirements and Registry Establishment. This bill would have established the Residential Pollinator Protection and Neighbor Notification Registry within the Department of Agriculture for individuals to receive advance notification of pesticide applications on neighboring properties. Counties addressed operational concerns with the legislation and worked on an amendment to address these concerns, but the Environment and Transportation Committee did not move the bill. This bill DID NOT pass the 2026 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
