# Maryland HB 1599: Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established

Maryland HB 1599, Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jay A. Jacobs (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 553) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1599-2026RS
- 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 1599
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-16
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 553
- Sponsor: Jay A. Jacobs (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 18
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Hunting and Fishing, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Appropriations, Aquaculture, Baltimore City, Bridges and Tunnels, Chesapeake Bay -see also- Chesapeake Bay Restoration, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Dredging, Industry and Manufacturing, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Meat, Poultry, Seafood -see also- Clams; Crabs; Food; Oyster, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Notices, Oysters, Ports, Public Benefits -see also- Housing; MedAsst; SupplNutrAsstP, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Shipping -see also- Delivery Services, Small Business, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (172 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New loans for Maryland seafood businesses: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland creates the Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund. The Agricultural and Resource–Based Industry Development Corporation runs it. It can give loans and other help to commercial watermen and small seafood businesses. The Corporation sets who can apply, a…
- New program funds oyster replenishment: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland creates the Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program. The Department of Natural Resources runs it. It funds oyster propagation and replenishment projects that address harm from transportation projects to the State’s oyster population. The program may also use money for…
- Tidal fish license transfers paused if delinquent: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, if you hold a tidal fish license and are delinquent on a loan under this law, the Corporation notifies the Department of Natural Resources. After that notice, the Department may not approve a transfer of your license or authorization. The hold ends only when the Corporation…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jay A. Jacobs (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: H. Kevin Anderson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Steven J. Arentz (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Barry Beauchamp (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jefferson L. Ghrist (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: Jeffrie E. Long (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sheree Sample-Hughes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Stein (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Todd B. Morgan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 126 | 6 | 7 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 553
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Rereferred to Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Referred Rules (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (126-6) (House)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {773327/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-13: Hearing 3/13 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-13: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing 3/13 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-10: Rereferred to Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-16: First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_553_hb1599t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1599t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-16: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1599f.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_553_hb1599t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1599t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1599f.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-HB1599-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).