# Maryland SB 0978: Environmental Permits - Requirements for Public Participation and Impact and Burden Analyses (Cumulative Harms to Environmental Restoration for Improving Shared Health - CHERISH Our Communities Act)

Maryland SB 0978, Environmental Permits - Requirements for Public Participation and Impact and Burden Analyses (Cumulative Harms to Environmental Restoration for Improving Shared Health - CHERISH Our Communities Act), is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Clarence K. Lam (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0978-2025RS
- 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 0978
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Environmental Permits - Requirements for Public Participation and Impact and Burden Analyses (Cumulative Harms to Environmental Restoration for Improving Shared Health - CHERISH Our Communities Act)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-03
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
- Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Environment, Air Pollution, Boundaries, Census, Coal, Contracts -see also- Procurement, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Electronic Government, Energy Matters -see also- Fuel; NuclearMatt; PwrPlnts; etc., Environment, Department of the, Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Fuel -see also- Coal, Hazardous and Toxic Substances -see also- Asbestos; Radiatn, Health, Department of, Industry and Technology, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Mining, Noise, Nuclear Matters -see also- Power Plants, Nuisances -see also- Noise; Weeds, Open Government, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Pollution -see also- Air Pollution; Litter; Water Pollution, Power Plants, Public Officials -see also- Atty Gen; Compt; Coun Admin; etc, Public Service Commission, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Recycling, Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Rules and Regulations, Sewage, Storage, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Water Pollution
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2025-02-04: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- First Reading, 2025-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0978f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (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
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0978f.pdf)

## Related
- [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)
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [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-SB0978-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).