# Maryland HB 0578: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings Maryland HB 0578, Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 211) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0578-2026RS - 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 0578 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-28 - Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 211 - Sponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 17 - Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Aquaculture, Birds, Classifications and Designations, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Evaluations and Reviews, Federal Government, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, Legislation -see also- Correct Leg; Cur Leg; Emerg Bills, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Petitions, Plants -see also- Invasive Species; Trees; Weeds, Rules and Regulations, Standards and Best Practices, Time, Wildlands - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (241 yes, 65 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clearer protections for wildlife and plants: benefit, low. The law defines foreseeable future and harm for wildlife and plants. The Secretary must remove a species when the best science shows it is extinct, recovered, or not eligible. The Secretary may name essential habitats and set management rules. The Department must review wildlife and plant lists by… - Regular review of protected state lands rules: benefit, low. The Department must review the Irreplaceable Natural Areas regulations by July 1, 2033. It must review them at least every 10 years after. These rules decide which State lands get special protection and what uses are allowed. - Stronger science rules for endangered fish: benefit, low. The law sets clear terms like foreseeable future and harm for fish. The Secretary must remove a fish from the list when the best science shows it is extinct, recovered, or not eligible. The Department must review endangered and threatened fish lists by July 1, 2026, and at least every 5 years after… - Stricter petitions to list or delist species: cost, low. Anyone who asks to add or remove a species must file a detailed petition. It must show the species’ range in Maryland, habitat needs, and all known threats. For new listings, it must include strong evidence of decline. For removals, it must show extinction, recovery, new science, or taxonomic error… - New migratory bird rules and vulture permits: mixed, low. The state removes the blanket ban on taking migratory birds listed in federal rules as of January 1, 2025. After repeal, the Secretary’s regulations control taking, possession, and similar activities for those birds. Beginning October 1, 2026, if black vultures lose federal protection or the federa… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kris Fair (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jessica Feldmark (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mary A. Lehman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Emily Shetty (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dana Stein (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jen Terrasa (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sarah Wolek (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chao Wu (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 38 | 3 | 3 | | 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 99 | 34 | 3 | | 2026-03-12 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 104 | 28 | 4 | ## Actions (15) - 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 211 - 2026-04-09: Passed Enrolled (House) - 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (99-34) (House) - 2026-04-09: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House) - 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (38-3) (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {453922/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (104-28) (House) - 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments {453420/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House) - 2026-02-02: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-01-28: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_211_hb0578e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0578e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0578t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0578f.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_211_hb0578e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0578e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0578t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0578f.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-HB0578-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).