[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6621785,"mediaKeyId","2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13","parentId",2796493,"title","Environment and Transportation committee hears several short bills, including school-board ethics certification and transportation crossfiles","audioSeconds",5110,"startMs",5110000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13&start=5110&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13/thumbnail_5110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621785/Maryland/Environment-and-Transportation-committee-hears-several-short-bills-including-school-board-ethics-certification-and-transportation-crossfiles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621785-dcbe7602e0396eb1f5207ddc9f040872/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437871&Signature=CAb4OlMkXyuYMJL3yPHN~7sozHSNsxZ8rQuS4RBOsD8yh6cVI7e6AeJGmR8jSolu-VWdkumLeVHgyom~kWbAp1uILdlZSBC7Js35~v1lqnnlTuc4TK6U~8kQBz-UY8Nb6eT~CNDHL-~Z6ykg2YS-nUTtjJe2VjhIXTomvza6EryXBqfPVPDIoDIk6sbN2h5JpjQHxDp6oeBay7MqTyWU2Tnpa5boPCsttfVjcSME261Bfpkbld4ovePcgJNfhXLhVfM7xiKn5UXpx6TZY~D78Dc86HHDZC-TcmG2~RAYLB228Ua3ZDRoL4pp84sluTZeMBhk2jc-5fKzkUlYKmNbuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Environment and Transportation","date","2025-03-27T18:05:25.33Z","article","The House Environment and Transportation Committee received short presentations and requests for favorable reports on multiple measures during the March 27 hearing.

SB109 (Sen. Feldman) — Naomi Nicholas, an intern presenting for Sen. Brian Feldman, summarized the bill adding county boards of education to the state public‑ethics certification requirement. Under current law, local governments must annually certify compliance with state ethics laws; SB109 would require county boards of education, including the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, to submit the same certification. The presenter asked for a favorable report.

SB281 (Sen. Simon Ayer) — Cara Cantino presented SB281 as a Senate crossfile of House Bill 475 (previously passed by the committee). She requested a favorable report; the bill was described as identical to its House counterpart.

SB590 (Sen. King) — Patty Horton presented SB590 as the Senate crossfile of a house measure addressing reckless, negligent and aggressive driving; she said the bill mirrors a House measure that passed the committee and requested a favorable recommendation.

SB915 (Senate/House sponsor not present for extended discussion) — The sponsor described a pilot program to authorize Baltimore County police to enforce motor‑vehicle laws in a townhouse/HOA community that requested traffic enforcement. The measure would authorize a pilot in a specific HOA community to allow county police traffic enforcement where state law otherwise prohibits enforcement on private roads. The sponsor said the Senate amended the bill to authorize the pilot and offered to answer questions.

SB251 (State Ethics Commission departmental bill) — Jennifer Alger, executive director of the Maryland State Ethics Commission, presented SB251 (crossfile of HB230). The commission is sponsoring the departmental bill, which contains the same amendments the House previously passed; Alger asked for a favorable report.

SB179 (veterans’ vehicle fee exemption) — The sponsor presented a crossfile aiming to exempt some low‑income or totally disabled veterans from certain motor‑vehicle fees; the sponsor said the Transportation Trust Fund’s capacity limited movement on the bill in the House and asked for questions.

SB618 (Chair Smith) and SB471 (three‑hour roadway requirement updates) — Multiple sponsors and committee members noted these crossfiles are identical or substantially similar to House measures the committee had previously passed; representatives asked for favorable reports.

None of these brief presentations resulted in a committee vote at the March 27 session. Presenters generally requested favorable reports or indicated the bills mirror companion House measures already advanced by the committee.

Ending: The committee scheduled a voting session later that day; the short‑form presentations indicate crossﬁles and departmental bills are moving through standard legislative steps, with final votes to occur during the committee’s voting session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ENT Committee Session, 3/27/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members received brief presentations and requests for favorable reports on several bills including SB109 (school boards ethics certification), SB281 (transportation crossfile), SB590 (reckless driving), SB915 (Baltimore County HOA pilot), and departmental ethics bills.","taxTitle","Environment and Transportation Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15060,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621796,"Maryland committee hears debate on SB901 to create extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper",1392,229000,1621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13&start=229&end=1621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13/thumbnail_229000.jpg","/articles/6621796/Maryland/Maryland-committee-hears-debate-on-SB901-to-create-extended-producer-responsibility-program-for-packaging-and-paper","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621796-4771730a3908297670fe6b9de887cd8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437871&Signature=d6ZmResvlnkxWt93Fz3RQV~tFNLb0~AmEqmGE3aZeRVTFT5-biPMoG1yPLhGxGDhNmnyshxlL2FbtE2cXS4ukWEpnDApHe-jM00wFadPcZv7aBjDtiRmRH7b07Jm6oK58ZbrnnzJdeHo-lLkrZgYeQkHCvDLiz2FCOPTdzdd0iCci3ODixlCgte44mUwrCE-dUn-YfJjIQsdKHF9~p2CS1JHVgrNE~HMGDEhQ-vIT3TN3ohozzIlXLncUP2~OOY6rjCKbAvm85JW~mmP1q~GdmtyaQn31tlmnnl4~UU9eGW3XqTWdDZqdG8Y4GkYXqrD8sIjUKYZSQLk44PHcDvA2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Malcolm Augustine, sponsor of Senate Bill 901, told the House Environment and Transportation Committee on March 27 that SB901 would establish an extended producer responsibility program for covered packaging and paper products and asked the committee for a favorable report. \"This is a consensus bill,\" Augustine said, describing the legislation as built from the committee's 2023 needs assessment and the advisory council's recommendations.

The bill would require the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to maintain a decennial needs assessment and to approve producer responsibility plans developed by a producer responsibility organization (PRO). Augustine explained that plans would be updated every five years and would set performance targets, reimbursement processes and producer fee structures. \"Those things will go into this producer responsibility plan that will... draw heavily on the needs assessment,\" he said.

Under the draft read at the hearing, the program phases in reimbursement to service providers over five years, starting with reimbursement at roughly 50% of eligible costs and \"lever[ing] up to 90% cost recovery by February,\" Augustine said. Reimbursable items described at the hearing included capital improvements, collection and transportation, processing and contamination removal, reuse and composting systems, and public education. Service providers must register with MDE to be eligible for reimbursement.

The committee heard testimony from dozens of stakeholders. Trade groups representing producers and packaging manufacturers — including the Flexible Packaging Association, McCormick & Company, AmeriPEN and the Maryland-Delaware-DC Beverage Association — urged passage and said the bill aligns with models used in other states, particularly Minnesota. Tiffany Harvey of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Beverage Association said the bill \"carries some best practices\" from prior state laws and described her group as supportive. Drew Fells of McCormick highlighted advisory-council involvement and the company’s role in that process.

Recyclers and materials organizations also testified in favor, typically \"favorable with amendments.\" The Association of Plastic Recyclers urged clarity around terms such as \"responsible end markets\" and harmonization with other states. The Glass Packaging Institute and the Biodegradable Products Institute asked for changes to reimbursement language and fee proportionality for smaller material streams, respectively. Just Zero and the Circular Action Alliance urged stronger statutory direction on performance goals and clearer definitions for reusable/refillable materials. Jeremy D. Baker, testifying for MDE, called the bill aligned with the advisory council’s recommendations and asked for a small drafting change to clarify MDE’s ability to recoup regulatory costs beyond calendar year 2026.

Several stakeholders raised points the bill does not place in statute but leaves to the PRO-plans. Committee members asked whether statutory targets (such as recycled-content requirements) would be in the bill or in plan-level goals. Augustine said many targets would be plan-based rather than statutory, noting the choice reflects negotiated compromises: \"It will be incorporated into the plan itself not into the statute...\" Delegate questions also addressed rural counties’ costs and participation. Augustine said the statute and the PRO structure are intended to shift costs away from local jurisdictions and toward producers, and to provide funding and incentives for jurisdictions lacking recycling infrastructure.

Opponents and cautious stakeholders asked for modifications. The American Forest & Paper Association and some paper-industry witnesses urged protections to avoid cross-subsidization (paper subsidizing lower-performing materials), stressed differences in paper recycling markets and requested exemptions or off-ramps for materials that have already met program goals. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association pressed for restoring an exemption for dietary supplement packaging; witnesses said that federal packaging requirements constrain design changes for that sector.

Committee members asked technical questions about how the EPR program would treat jurisdictions without existing curbside collection, how producer fees would be eco‑modulated based on recyclability, whether bottle-deposit laws would conflict, and how compostable products would be handled. Augustine said the bill contains harmonization language for a potential bottle-deposit law and that lists of covered materials will be informed by the needs assessment. Several witnesses requested specific, statutory performance goals for clarity in future rulemaking; others said setting goals at plan level would preserve flexibility.

The hearing concluded with multiple organizations offering written amendments and an agreement by the department and sponsor to continue technical discussions prior to any committee vote. The committee did not take a formal vote on SB901 at the hearing.

Ending: The bill remains under committee consideration; sponsors and stakeholders signaled general consensus on the framework but asked for statutory clarifications on enforcement, goal-setting, exemptions and fee structure before the committee advances the measure.","Sen. Malcolm Augustine asked the House Environment and Transportation Committee for a favorable report on SB901, a bill to establish an extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products that would require producers to fund collection, processing, capital improvements and public education.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621791,"Senate bill to create Off‑Highway Vehicle oversight board advances with DNR support",0,4464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13&start=4464&end=4464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796493-91280dedfaea7139084c2cde6d784c13/thumbnail_4464000.jpg","/articles/6621791/Maryland/Senate-bill-to-create-OffHighway-Vehicle-oversight-board-advances-with-DNR-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621791-3e1f7cdfb4c86a5bb6cc20fc9808fd09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437871&Signature=gNQwngvkBr-8ZYyM1vuovWZLzEZlDpAmBGGVwQHKEY9b5EaY6aYQagw-huNzJN8zJ~zg-JmhCJs8UCwqkp6HzHYxiggPFEa3kshjo6UUFN9kA4X5haKBh8ulopJLzS26e99E5Jp2U75Bxr6vHgvx4S6kIlFQyx4iLNXf50VAAN1sqkuMcBv4xm3ANie6B088t3WepYTTpY1jROUq~hNrW277ZXyMN46B-rKJHgBfDyFvenLH6GVQZ3Ydz4l9F5AbeoOYu8NoqsTjOUr9aQiLCqaGkAfQzVk65tekl93UlFVwzzyFoEne8~~S~g6vygPyarDtdbzTGBN~bzE~bvE2og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Mike McKay told the House Environment and Transportation Committee on March 27 that SB711 would create an oversight board for the Off‑Highway Vehicle (OHV) title tax fund and provide users a formal seat with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to guide use of the fund. \"The creation of this oversight board as written is common among DNR funds designated for special purposes,\" McKay said.

McKay said the OHV tax fund is funded by vehicle sales and is the principal source for trail creation and maintenance. The bill, as amended in the Senate, would expand the fund’s allowable uses beyond trails to include camps, parking lots and other amenities related to OHV facilities. McKay said that change would help OHV sites be more self‑funding and reduce pressure on DNR’s general fund.

Steve Linsonmeyer, board member of the Maryland OHV Alliance, described two existing OHV properties — St. John's Rock State Forest and Wolf Den Run State Park in Garrett County — and reported economic benefits tied to those sites. \"These two parks alone raise about $2.5 million annually for the economy,\" Linsonmeyer said, adding the alliance represents more than 15,000 OHV community members and has seen roughly 10,000 visitors to the state parks since opening.

Committee members asked what kinds of vehicles the measure covers. Testimony from McKay and Linsonmeyer clarified the statute’s scope includes ATVs, side‑by‑sides (utility task vehicles), off‑road motorcycles and similar vehicles; witnesses said some OHV activity can include snowmobiles when local conditions and trail rules allow.

McKay said DNR submitted amendments that the Senate adopted and that DNR supports the bill as amended. No formal committee vote was recorded at the hearing.

Ending: Supporters urged a favorable recommendation so users who fund the OHV tax have formal input into funding and facility decisions; DNR’s support and the Senate amendments were highlighted as steps to implementation.","Sen. Mike McKay presented SB711 to create an oversight board for the Off‑Highway Vehicle (OHV) tax fund, expand allowable uses for certain facilities, and give user groups a formal role. Supporters, including the Maryland OHV Alliance, said the fund is self‑sustaining and helps local economies; DNR offered amendments and support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Environment and Transportation committee hears several short bills, including school-board ethics certification and transportation crossfiles

Maryland committee hears debate on SB901 to create extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper

Senate bill to create Off‑Highway Vehicle oversight board advances with DNR support