# Maryland SB 0558: Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established

Maryland SB 0558, Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jack Bailey (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 552) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0558-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0558
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 552
- Sponsor: Jack Bailey (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Hunting and Fishing, Appropriations, Aquaculture, Baltimore City, Bridges and Tunnels, Chesapeake Bay -see also- Chesapeake Bay Restoration, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Debt Management, Dredging, Estates and Trusts -see also- Beneficiaries, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, 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: 3 (219 yes, 5 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Loans for watermen and small seafood businesses: benefit, medium. Maryland creates a Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund run by MARBIDCO starting July 1, 2026. Commercial watermen and small seafood businesses can get loans and other help. MARBIDCO sets who can apply, loan amounts and terms, and any forgiveness based on repayment. The Fund is special and no…
- State funding for oyster restoration: benefit, low. The law creates the Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program to fund oyster propagation and replenishment tied to transportation impacts. Starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor includes $2.25 million each year for the Program. At least $1.5 million each year must pay for oyster propagation and replen…
- Tidal fish license transfer blocked if late: cost, medium. If you hold a tidal fish license and are delinquent on a Fund loan, DNR will not approve a transfer of your license. MARBIDCO must tell DNR when you are delinquent and when you are back in compliance. This rule applies starting July 1, 2026.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jack Bailey (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Malcolm Augustine (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Paul D. Corderman (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Guy Guzzone (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Shelly Hettleman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: J.B. Jennings (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nancy J. King (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karen Lewis Young (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Cory V. McCray (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jim Rosapepe (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johnny Ray Salling (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Craig J. Zucker (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 131 | 5 | 4 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-20 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 41 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (19)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 552
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (47-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (131-5) (House)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {623523/1 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)
- 2026-03-21: Referred Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (41-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Floor Amendment {893820/1 (Senator Bailey) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Motion Returned Second Reading (Senator Bailey) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments {473721/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: First Reading Budget and Taxation (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_552_sb0558e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0558e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0558t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0558f.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_552_sb0558e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0558e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0558t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0558f.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-SB0558-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).