# Maryland HB 0784: Aquaculture - Placement of Shellfish, Bags, Nets, and Structures on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - Extension

Maryland HB 0784, Aquaculture - Placement of Shellfish, Bags, Nets, and Structures on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - Extension, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dana Jones (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 255) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0784-2026RS
- 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 0784
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Aquaculture - Placement of Shellfish, Bags, Nets, and Structures on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - Extension
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 255
- Sponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Hunting and Fishing, Aquaculture, Fishing Nets and Devices, Leases and Rent, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Plants -see also- Invasive Species; Trees; Weeds, Sunset, Time
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (177 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Shellfish farmers keep access with limits: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, the law extends limited farming access among underwater plants through June 30, 2030. Qualifying Maryland aquaculture leaseholders need prior written approval from the Department of Natural Resources to place shellfish, bags, nets, or structures there. The Department cannot…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 3 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 255
- 2026-04-09: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-06: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Hearing 3/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-10: Favorable Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-04: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_255_hb0784t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0784t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0784f.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_255_hb0784t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0784t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0784f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0784-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).