# Maryland HB 0250: Environment - Appropriation or Use of Water and Dam Safety - Enforcement Maryland HB 0250, Environment - Appropriation or Use of Water and Dam Safety - Enforcement, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Darrell Odom (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 273) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0250-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland HB 0250 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Environment - Appropriation or Use of Water and Dam Safety - Enforcement - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-09-25 - Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 273 - Sponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Environment, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Health, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Hearings, Liens, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Personal Property, Real Property, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Waivers, Water -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc., Water Pollution, Wetlands - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (202 yes, 241 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Penalty money supports water and dam repairs: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland sends penalties collected under its water-use and dam-safety enforcement law to dedicated funds. The Maryland Clean Water Fund receives the money, including administrative penalties. Money tied to unsafe dam conditions goes to the Private Dam Repair Fund instead. Th… - Fewer enforcement tools for unlawful dredging: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland repeals a dredging and filling enforcement section. That section allowed civil penalties up to $10,000 for violations of the law or related rules, permits, licenses, and orders. It also allowed court orders to stop violations and restore unlawfully dredged or filled… - Water users face fines and safeguards: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland expands enforcement orders and hearing rules across its water-use and dam-safety laws. After serving a complaint, the Department of the Environment can require fixes, reports, or hearing appearances. New administrative fines reach $5,000 per violation, capped at $10… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 32 | 12 | 1 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Floor Amendment {993025/1 (Delegate Adams) Rejected | fail | 37 | 97 | 3 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Floor Amendment {773227/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected | fail | 37 | 95 | 6 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 37 | 3 | ## Actions (17) - 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 273 - 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (32-12) (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-03: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (96-37) (House) - 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-18: Floor Amendment {773227/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (37-95) (House) - 2026-03-18: Floor Amendment {993025/1 (Delegate Adams) Rejected (37-97) (House) - 2026-03-17: Motion Special Order until 03/18 (Delegate Adams) Adopted (House) - 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {933520/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House) - 2026-01-19: Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House) - 2025-09-25: Pre-filed (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_273_hb0250t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0250t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0250f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_273_hb0250t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0250t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0250f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0250-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).