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Prince George's delegation approves committee amendments to tree‑clearing bill, requires liens and county remediation
Summary
Delegates voted to accept standing‑committee amendments to HB 1470 (MC/PG 113‑25), narrowing application to sub‑5‑acre noncommercial parcels in Prince George's County, requiring DPIE to record liens within 90 days for tree‑clearing violations, clarifying administrative‑vs‑judicial remedies, and removing a two‑year sunset so the changes remain indefinite.
At the March 28 meeting the Prince George's County House delegation voted to accept standing‑committee amendments to HB 1470 (codified MC/PG 113‑25), a measure addressing enforcement and remediation for unlawful tree clearing.
Staff summarized the prior committee amendments and the standing‑committee tweaks. The amended bill, as described by counsel, now applies in Prince George's County only to noncommercial parcels under five acres. Under the amendments the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) must record a lien on property subject to a tree‑clearing violation within 90 days of issuing notice; a properly recorded lien is required to hold a current property owner liable for cutting and clearing performed by a previous owner or user.
The amendments would apply retroactively to violations occurring on or before Nov. 7, 2018, but only with respect to a current owner who purchased the property in good faith after the prior owner committed the violation and was cited. Previously adopted language would require county government and the Planning Board to vacate administrative enforcement actions and release any recorded liens for the retroactive application, and to reimburse the current property owner for costs and fees and to pay for mitigation or reforestation. The standing committee clarified that vacatur applies only to administrative actions (not judicial orders), removed a two‑year sunset (making the provisions indefinite), and added language describing enforcement and remediation when liens were not properly recorded — including the county's authority to pursue prior owners and to enter property to perform mitigation or reforestation.
Delegate Kevin M. Harris urged support, saying the changes "provide restoration" to a citizen harmed in the described situation. The roll call as conducted for members present on camera produced 13 recorded "aye" votes and Chair Nicole Williams declared the matter passed. The delegation agreed to send a letter of support to the Environment and Transportation Committee and to inform Montgomery County of the delegation's favorable action on the amendments.
The amendments change enforcement mechanics and create new remediation obligations at the county level; they do not, as described at the meeting, override judicial actions or court orders.
