On Monday, Maryland crossed a critical legislative deadline called “Crossover.” Except in extraordinary circumstances, a bill must have made substantial progress by this deadline to keep moving forward. With less than three weeks to go until the end of Maryland’s legislative session, here are the Clean Water priorities that are alive, dead, and in between - and how you can take action!
✅Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Grants (HB42/SB134): This great bill funds Zero Waste infrastructure for food waste: composting, wasted food diversion and reduction, and usable food rescue. The House of Delegates passed this bill on Monday, although without the dedicated surcharge funding source. Now, all eyes are on the Senate to pass this Zero Waste priority. Click here to take action!
✅Septic System Safety (HB747): The House of Delegates passed this bill to require that septic systems be inspected when a home is sold or rented. This common sense requirement, which is already required by most mortgage lenders, will make sure that homes have functioning systems and will allow failing systems to be discovered and repaired before catastrophic failure, protecting drinking water and local streams.
⁉️Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (HB220/SB10): This priority climate & environmental justice bill deletes trash incineration from Maryland’s renewable energy program, redirecting the millions of dollars we waste every year subsidizing trash incineration toward actual renewable energy instead. Despite overwhelming support - including from the Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Energy Administration, and Baltimore City and Montgomery County governments - legislative leaders chose not to schedule the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act for a vote before Monday’s deadline. Leaders are saying they can still fix this environmental injustice this year - but we’ll need to work hard to make sure that happens. Click here to take action!
⁉️Bottle Bill (HB232/SB346): Otherwise known as the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, this great Zero Waste bill will set up a deposit-based system for collecting beverage containers to reduce litter and increase recycling. This bill made progress in the House, but didn’t make it all the way by Monday. With a push it could still pass! Click here to take action.
❌ CHERISH Our Communities Act (HB1484/SB978): This community-led environmental justice bill would have filled a huge gap in Maryland’s system of controlling pollution by ensuring that Maryland address the cumulative impacts of concentrated pollution on communities’ health. Unfortunately, in the face of amendments that would have exempted some of the biggest polluters in Baltimore, the community-led coalition had to decide not to move the bill forward this year. We will keep working for environmental justice and for a strong CHERISH Our Communities Act in 2026.
❌ Banning PFAS in Pesticides (HB386/SB345): This bill would have phased out the use of pesticides containing PFAS, a class of chemicals linked to cancer, immune system suppression, liver damage, reproductive harm, and developmental issues in children. It referenced the definition of PFAS already written in MD law and would have ensured strong protections - but the House of Delegates adopted a terrible industry-backed amendment that created an essentially meaningless definition of PFAS and set an awful precedent. While the House passed the bill with this amendment, we are working to oppose the bill now in the Senate - because passing no bill would be better than passing this amended bill. Click here to take action.
With just under three weeks to go before the end of Maryland’s legislative session on April 7, we’ll keep working for clean air, clean water, and healthy communities in Maryland! Please join us by taking action.
