# Maryland HB 0613: Department of the Environment - Waivers for Living Shorelines and Nonstructural Shoreline Stabilization Measures - Regulations and Scoring System

Maryland HB 0613, Department of the Environment - Waivers for Living Shorelines and Nonstructural Shoreline Stabilization Measures - Regulations and Scoring System, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Todd B. Morgan (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 321) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0613-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0613
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Department of the Environment - Waivers for Living Shorelines and Nonstructural Shoreline Stabilization Measures - Regulations and Scoring System
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 321
- Sponsor: Todd B. Morgan (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 16
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Environment, Calvert County, Classifications and Designations, Climate Resiliency, Coastal Bays, Construction, Contractors -see also- Construct; Electricians; etc., Electronic Government, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Evaluations and Reviews, Flood Control, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Maps and Charts, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Notices, Open Government, Oysters, Plants -see also- Invasive Species; Trees; Weeds, Real Property, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Shore Erosion, Soil Conservation, Standards and Best Practices, St. Mary's County, Time, Waivers, Weights and Measures, Wetlands
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (301 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Shoreline projects must use living shorelines: mixed, medium. The law requires most shoreline erosion projects to use a living shoreline or other nonstructural measures in areas the Department has not mapped for structural work. The Department can allow a different design only if it finds a living shoreline or nonstructural option is not feasible. The law def…
- New shoreline rules start July 2026: mixed, low. The new shoreline rules and waiver process start on July 1, 2026.
- Waivers and scoring for structural options: mixed, low. You can apply for a waiver when a living shoreline or other nonstructural option is not feasible. If you ask, the Department visits the site within 45 days unless you agree to another time. The local Soil Conservation District gets written notice and 15 days to recommend changes. The Department pub…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Todd B. Morgan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: H. Kevin Anderson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian M. Crosby (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mark N. Fisher (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jefferson L. Ghrist (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas S. Hutchinson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jeffrie E. Long (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jay A. Jacobs (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Matthew Morgan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Stein (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 127 | 0 | 8 |
| 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 41 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 133 | 0 | 5 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 321
- 2026-04-11: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-11: Third Reading Passed (127-0) (House)
- 2026-04-11: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (41-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {273624/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (133-0) (House)
- 2026-03-21: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-21: Favorable with Amendments {833024/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-21: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-10: Hearing 2/25 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_321_hb0613e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0613e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-21: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0613t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0613f.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_321_hb0613e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0613e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0613t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0613f.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-HB0613-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).