# Maryland SB 0266: Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees

Maryland SB 0266, Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Benjamin Brooks (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 209); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0266-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0266
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-19
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 209
- Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Local Government - Generally, Agriculture, Agriculture -see also- Agritourism; Cannabis Prd; Farm; etc., Civil Offenses, Classifications and Designations, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., Environmental Health, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Insects -see also- Bees; Pest Control, Invasive Species -see also- Animals; Insects; Plants, Laws and Ordinances -see also- Pub Local Laws; Uniform Laws, Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt, Pest Control, Real Property, Standards and Best Practices, Trees
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (199 yes, 19 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Bounties or free native trees for removal: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, counties and cities can offer a bounty or a free native tree when you remove and eradicate trees of heaven or other listed invasive trees. Programs must require correct species ID using the University of Maryland Extension resources. They must also require removal or erad…
- Fines and damage repair for invasive plants: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, counties and cities can require people to fix damage caused by invasive bamboo or listed invasive trees. They can also set civil fines for breaking local invasive-plant rules. Local ordinances decide the duties, fine amounts, and how enforcement works.
- Local bans on selling and planting invasive plants: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, counties and cities can ban selling or planting invasive bamboo, trees of heaven, and any tree on Maryland’s Prohibited Invasive Plants list. Local rules can also bar letting these plants grow on your property without proper upkeep and containment. If your area adopts an…
- What counts as invasive trees and bamboo: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a listed invasive tree means any tree on Maryland’s Prohibited Invasive Plants list. Invasive bamboo means nonnative bamboo that spreads aggressively, including Phyllostachys species. This helps owners, landscapers, and sellers know what species local rules can cover. It…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 36 | 6 | 1 |
| 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 125 | 6 | 5 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 38 | 7 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 209
- 2026-04-09: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (36-6) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (125-6) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable with Amendments {563620/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (38-7) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {363728/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-19: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_209_sb0266e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0266e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0266t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0266f.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_209_sb0266e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0266e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0266t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0266f.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-SB0266-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).