# Maryland HB 0947: Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program - Alterations

Maryland HB 0947, Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program - Alterations, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Sheree Sample-Hughes (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 41) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0947-2026RS
- 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 0947
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program - Alterations
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 41
- Sponsor: Sheree Sample-Hughes (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Subjects: Hunting and Fishing, Boundaries, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Emergency Bills, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, Fishing Nets and Devices, Invasive Species -see also- Animals; Insects; Plants, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Pilot Programs, Reports, Sunset
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (172 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Blue catfish pilot for fishers through 2030: benefit, medium. DNR runs a pilot to curb invasive blue catfish. It includes for‑hire/commercial, trotline, and gill net programs, plus other effective methods. DNR coordinates with the Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee. The law took effect April 14, 2026, and lasts through June 30, 2030. DNR must scale up practi…
- More flexible trips and gear for fishers: benefit, medium. DNR can let eligible for‑hire captains run for‑hire and commercial trips at the same time. DNR can change rules to boost the blue catfish harvest. It can allow electrofishing, trotlines up to 2,400 feet, no hook limits, and non‑corrodible hooks. These flexibilities apply during the pilot through Ju…
- Wider trotlines south of Bay Bridge with limits: mixed, medium. DNR authorizes finfish trotlines south of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge to the maximum extent feasible. DNR can close or limit specific areas south of the bridge due to bycatch, user conflicts, or other issues. These rules apply during the pilot through June 30, 2030.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Sheree Sample-Hughes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher T. Adams (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: H. Kevin Anderson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Steven J. Arentz (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Barry Beauchamp (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robin L. Grammer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Wayne A. Hartman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Anne Healey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas S. Hutchinson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jay A. Jacobs (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ryan Nawrocki (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kathy Szeliga (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 129 | 0 | 6 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 41
- 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-02: 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 (129-0) (House)
- 2026-03-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {273129/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-26: Hearing 2/27 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-26: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-02-10: Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-05: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_41_hb0947t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0947t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-05: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0947f.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_41_hb0947t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0947t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0947f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0947-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).