# Maryland SB 0431: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings

Maryland SB 0431, Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Benjamin Brooks (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 212) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0431-2026RS
- 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 0431
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 212
- Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Aquaculture, Birds, Classifications and Designations, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Evaluations and Reviews, Federal Government, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, Legislation -see also- Correct Leg; Cur Leg; Emerg Bills, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Petitions, Plants -see also- Invasive Species; Trees; Weeds, Rules and Regulations, Standards and Best Practices, Time, Wildlands
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (195 yes, 28 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Black vulture control if feds delist: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, if federal protection for black vultures ends, Maryland will allow taking them under rules like a federal depredation permit. This helps farmers and landowners control birds that damage livestock or property when the federal change occurs.
- Stricter bans on harming wildlife: cost, medium. The law bans taking, selling, moving, or possessing endangered plants and animals. It lets the Department issue limited permits for science or to help a species survive. The law defines “harm” to wildlife and fish to also include major habitat changes that stop breeding, feeding, or sheltering. Thi…
- How species get listed or removed: mixed, medium. The law sets clear rules to list or remove endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, and plants. The Secretary must use the best science and a “foreseeable future” test. Anyone can petition for a review with strong evidence. The lists must name species and areas and be reviewed by July 1, 2026 and…
- New habitat protections and land tools: mixed, medium. The Department must run programs to conserve nongame, threatened, and endangered species. It can buy land or water habitat interests, name “essential habitats,” and set management rules with maps, threats, and allowed or banned uses. Other agencies must work with the Department to avoid harming lis…
- Irreplaceable Natural Areas on state lands: mixed, low. The state creates an Irreplaceable Natural Areas Program on state‑owned lands. The Department must adopt rules by July 1, 2023 that map each area, note key features and threats, and list allowed and banned activities. The rules must be reviewed by July 1, 2033 and at least every 10 years. This prot…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 108 | 26 | 6 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 1 | 3 |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 1 |   |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 212
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (43-1) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (108-26) (House)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {113026/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-17: Referred Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-13: Third Reading Passed (44-1) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Favorable with Amendments {553726/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Motion Special Order until 3/11 (Senator Mautz) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments {553726/1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_212_sb0431e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0431e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0431t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0431f.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_212_sb0431e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0431e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0431t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0431f.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-SB0431-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).