# Maryland SB 0250: Department of the Environment - Fees, Penalties, Funding, and Regulation Maryland SB 0250, Department of the Environment - Fees, Penalties, Funding, and Regulation, is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 432); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0250-2025RS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0250 - State: Maryland - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Department of the Environment - Fees, Penalties, Funding, and Regulation - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2024-10-12 - Last action: 2025-05-13, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 432 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Environment, Administrative Agencies, Air Pollution, Assessments and Taxation, Department of, Attorneys' Fees, Attorney General, Boats and Ships, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Certifications, Civil Actions -see also- Small Claims, Classifications and Designations, Coal, Comptroller, Construction, Consumer Price Index, Emergencies -see also- Pandemics, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Forms, Fuel -see also- Coal, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Interest, Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, Leases and Rent, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Liens, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Mining, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Notices, Open Government, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Real Property, Reclamation, Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Sewage, Shore Erosion, Storage, Time, Treasurers, Waivers, Water -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc., Water Pollution, Wells -see also- Hydraulic Fracturing; Water, Wetlands - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (146 yes, 85 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 12 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New fund helps repair private dams: benefit, medium. The law creates the Private Dam Repair Fund, administered by the Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration. It supports Department-directed repairs, upgrades, and removals of private dams, plus Department emergency work and related administrative costs. Money can come from dam fees, lo… - Clean air money stays dedicated: benefit, low. Money deposited in the Maryland Clean Air Fund stays there instead of going to the General Fund. The law removes the old rule sending deposits above the $2 million fund limit to the General Fund. The Department can use the fund to identify, monitor, reduce, and regulate air pollution. Spending stil… - Wetlands funding targets protection and delays: benefit, low. The Wetlands and Waterways Program Fund can support management and protection of Maryland's wetlands and waterways. This includes Tier II high-quality waters and watersheds. The Department must prioritize better service for permit applicants and take steps to reduce processing delays and repeated w… - Dam owners face new yearly fees: cost, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, covered dam owners must register annually and pay $200 for low hazard, $500 for significant hazard, or $1,000 for high hazard. Federal dams and specified permit-exempt facilities are excluded; hardship waivers must give priority to individual homeowners. The Department mu… - Dam owners must repay state work: cost, medium. The Department can arrange required dam work when an owner misses the deadline in its notice. It can also act when statutory emergency conditions involving imminent danger or dam failure and inadequate owner action exist. Owners must repay the Department's costs; demanded amounts unpaid for 30 days… - New fees for wells and sewage: cost, medium. The Department can charge up to $575 for covered on-site sewage disposal or individual well construction permits it issues. A licensed environmental health specialist must review and approve the permit. The Department sets fees by regulation, with Washington-area inflation adjustments capped at 3%… - Water-use violators face higher penalties: cost, low. The maximum civil penalty for covered water appropriation and use violations rises from $5,000 to $10,000 per violation. This includes violations of related regulations, orders, or permits. Each day a violation occurs or continues counts separately. - Higher air permit fee ceiling: cost, low. The maximum air permit fee rises from $50 to $200 per ton of regulated emissions. Carbon dioxide does not count toward this calculation. Washington-area inflation adjustments are allowed, with annual increases capped at 3%. The charge applies to regulated emission sources, not directly to household… - Higher wetlands and waterways permit fees: cost, low. Covered application fees rise to $980 for minor projects or general permits, $330 for minor modifications, and $1,950 for major modifications. Major-project fees depend on permanent impact area: under ¼ acre, $1,950; ¼ to under ½ acre, $3,890; ½ to under ¾ acre, $5,830; ¾ to under 1 acre, $7,780; a… - Stored coal waste affects generator fees: cost, low. The Department must consider stored coal waste volume when setting fees for generators of coal combustion by-products. This covers waste remaining in Maryland landfills or other storage units subject to inspection and monitoring. Waste used in cement, mine reclamation, or other Department-approved… - Dam repair loans carry repayment duties: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2028, owners of private dams deemed unsafe can apply for repair or removal loans. Award rules may require an approved emergency plan, an inspection documenting problems within 24 months, repair efforts, and ability to repay. Loans cover reasonable, necessary costs unpaid by other… - Oil transfer fees fall in 2030: mixed, low. Licensed owners pay 9 cents per barrel when oil is first transferred into Maryland, before July 1, 2030. Beginning July 1, 2030, the rate drops to 5 cents per barrel. The former rate before July 1, 2024, was 7.75 cents. The fee applies only once and supports the Maryland Oil Disaster Containment, C… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - (none) ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-07 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 44 | 1 | | 2025-03-17 | Senate | Floor Amendment {403029/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected | fail | 17 | 27 | 1 | | 2025-03-17 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 33 | 14 | | ## Actions (21) - 2025-05-13: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 432 - 2025-04-07: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Third Reading Passed (96-44) (House) - 2025-04-04: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2025-04-04: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House) - 2025-03-20: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2025-03-20: Hearing canceled (House) - 2025-03-19: Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2025-03-18: Referred Environment and Transportation (House) - 2025-03-17: Third Reading Passed (33-14) (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Floor Amendment {223522/1 (Senator Hester) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Floor Amendment {403029/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected (17-27) (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Floor Amendment {393225/1 (Senator Corderman) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {103023/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-14: Motion Laid Over (Senator Hershey) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-14: Favorable with Amendments {103023/1 (Senate) - 2025-03-14: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2025-01-08: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2024-10-12: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2025-05-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_432_sb0250t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2025-03-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0250t.pdf) - First Reading, 2025-01-08: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0250f.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed) - HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed) - SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law) - HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_432_sb0250t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0250t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0250f.pdf) ## Related - [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS) - [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS) - [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS) - [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS) - [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS) - [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS) - [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-SB0250-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).