# Maryland SB 0523: Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources - Identification of Vernal Pools (Jack Cover Vernal Pools Act of 2026)

Maryland SB 0523, Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources - Identification of Vernal Pools (Jack Cover Vernal Pools Act of 2026), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mary Washington (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 164) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0523-2026RS
- 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 0523
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources - Identification of Vernal Pools (Jack Cover Vernal Pools Act of 2026)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 164
- Sponsor: Mary Washington (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Environment, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Boundaries, Classifications and Designations, Dredging, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Flood Control, Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, Maps and Charts, Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Natural Resources, Department of, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Plants -see also- Invasive Species; Trees; Weeds, Rivers, Streams, and Lakes, Rules and Regulations, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, State Universities and Colleges, Water -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc., Water Pollution, Wetlands
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (220 yes, 125 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Clear rules for vernal pool status: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law sets a clear test for a “vernal pool.” It must hold surface water for at least 2 straight months between November and May. Water typically drops to 6 inches or less between June and September. The pool is under 5 acres, has less than 30% emergent plants when full,…
- Public list and trained staff find pools: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the state keeps a public list of qualified vernal pools. The Natural Resources Department runs the list with the Environment Department and uses maps, science, and expert input, including from the University of Maryland. The list appears on the DNR website. The Environmen…
- Wetland rules still apply to pools: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law keeps the Environment Department’s authority over vernal pools that also count as nontidal wetlands. Existing wetland permit and buffer rules still apply to those sites. This does not reduce current obligations for landowners or developers near those wetlands.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mary Washington (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 97 | 36 | 6 |
| 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 41 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-04-09 | House | Floor Amendment {843526/1 (Delegate Adams) Rejected | fail | 38 | 89 | 9 |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 |   |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 164
- 2026-04-10: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (41-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (97-36) (House)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-09: Floor Amendment {843526/1 (Delegate Adams) Rejected (38-89) (House)
- 2026-04-09: Motion Special Order until Later This Session (Delegate Adams) Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments {213420/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {103120/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_164_sb0523e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0523e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0523t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0523f.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_164_sb0523e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0523e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0523t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0523f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0523-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).