HB 596

Did not advanceConstitutional amendmentCrossfile SB 783

Constitutional Amendment - Environmental Rights

Sponsor: Delegate Fisher, W.Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Hearing 2/23 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 15, 2022)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maryland to establish that every person has the fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful and sustainable environment; and requiring the State to serve as the trustee of the State's natural resources, including the air, land, water, wildlife, and ecosystems of the State, and to conserve, protect, and enhance the State's natural resources for the benefit of every person, including present and future generations.

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Testimony (103)

MGA witness list

FAV 86FavorableUNF 17Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Moore, Thomas Earle	3rd Rock Research	Written (PDF)
FAV	MacGillis, Harry	Baltimore Beyond Plastic	Written (PDF)
FAV	Avins, Miriam	Baltimore City Commission on Sustainability	Written (PDF)
FAV	Burke, Camille	CEJSC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilkinson, nanci	Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Environmental Justice Ministry	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schmitt, Katlyn	Center for Progressive Reform	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Robin Jessicalobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Isaacson, Evan	Chesapeake Legal Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	DuBois, Gwen	Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Day, Jacob	City of Salisbury	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McGilvray, Laurie	Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jakuta, Joseph	Climate Parents of Prince George's	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cowan, Eleanorlobbyist	Compass Advocacy	Position only
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bartlett, Olivia	DoTheMostGood	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peltier, Laurel	Energy Supplier Reform Coalition-will testify	Written (PDF)
FAV	Norton, Ruth Ann	Green & Healthy Homes Initiative	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rose, Jodilobbyist	Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lacock-Nisly, Jonathan	Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hunter, Caseylobbyist	League of Women Voters of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	shahinian, katharine	Linda Boyd & Episcopal Diocese of MD	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carella, Veronika	MD CEHC Legislative Director	Written (PDF)
FAV	Martinez, Madelinlobbyist	MD Legislative Latino Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tulkin, Joshlobbyist	MD Sierra Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	McClellan, Maureen	MDEHR	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harris, Debbie	Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller, Claire	Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kraska, MJ	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cleghorn, J. Stephen	Maryland Catholics for Our Common Home	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Simon, Robert	Maryland Catholics for Our Common Home	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phelps, Ken	Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Position only
FAV	Todd, Robin	Maryland Ornithological Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Eck, Raimee	Maryland Public Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	hill, barry	Maryland environmental and human rights coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hartwell, Staci	NAACP	Written (PDF)
FAV	DeMartino, Mary Beth	National Association of Social Workers - Maryland Chapter	Position only
FAV	Valantine, Diane	None	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kemerer, Hannibal	Office of Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Goldstein, Mathew	Secular Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hance, Rosalobbyist	Sierra Club Maryland Chapter	Oral
FAV	Neuman, Margaret	Sierra Club Maryland Chapter	Written (PDF)
FAV	Raindrop, Bonnie	Smart on Pesticides	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kranz, Rhonda	Takoma Park Mobilization Environment Committee	Written (PDF)
FAV	McGilvray, Laurie	Takoma Park Mobilization Environment Committee	Written (PDF)
FAV	Barrett, Nancy	UMD's SGA Sustainability Committee	Written (PDF)
FAV	Webster, Phil	UULM-MD	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson, Sacoby	University of Maryland	Oral
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Ashley-Williams, Wandralobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Avula, Vennela	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ball, Teresa	Individual	Oral
FAV	Boyd, David	Individual	Oral
FAV	Breen, John	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cardin, Nina	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Chitalia, Suhani	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cook, Cara	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dahl, Elizabeth	Individual	Written (PDF)

Showing 60 of 103

Organizations on record

3rd Rock ResearchFAV 1

Baltimore Beyond PlasticFAV 1

Baltimore City Commission on SustainabilityFAV 1

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

CEJSCFAV 1

Center for Progressive ReformFAV 1

Central Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

Chesapeake Legal AllianceFAV 1

Chesapeake Physicians for Social ResponsibilityFAV 1

City of SalisburyFAV 1

Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Climate Parents of Prince George'sFAV 1

Compass AdvocacyFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

DoTheMostGoodFAV 1

Energy Supplier Reform Coalition-will testifyFAV 1

Evans & Associates, LLCUNF 1

Gordon Feinblatt, LLCUNF 1

Green & Healthy Homes InitiativeFAV 1

Interfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeFAV 1

Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA)FAV 1

International Council of Shopping CentersUNF 1

League of Women Voters of MarylandFAV 1

Linda Boyd & Episcopal Diocese of MDFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)UNF 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human RightsFAV 2

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Catholics for Our Common HomeFAV 2

Maryland environmental and human rights coalitionFAV 1

Maryland Episcopal Public Policy NetworkFAV 1

Maryland Farm BureauUNF 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueUNF 1

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 1

Maryland Ornithological SocietyFAV 1

Maryland Public Health AssociationFAV 1

Maryland RealtorsUNF 1

MD CEHC Legislative DirectorFAV 1

MD Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

MD Legislative Latino CaucusFAV 1

MD Sierra ClubFAV 1

MDEHRFAV 1

NAACPFAV 1

National Association of Social Workers - Maryland ChapterFAV 1

NoneFAV 1

Office of Attorney GeneralFAV 1

Rural Maryland CouncilUNF 1

Secular MarylandFAV 1

Sierra Club Maryland ChapterFAV 2

Smart on PesticidesFAV 1

Takoma Park Mobilization Environment CommitteeFAV 2

UMD's SGA Sustainability CommitteeFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

University of MarylandFAV 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

Wicomico County ExecutiveUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVClark, Robin JessicaChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation; American Heart Association; Indivior, Inc.

FAVCowan, EleanorCompass AdvocacyRegistered for: Acusensus; Alley Cat Allies; American Society of Travel Advisors, Inc; Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association (CHESSA); Critical Response Group; Giffords…

FAVRose, JodiInterfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeRegistered for: Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake

FAVHunter, CaseyLeague of Women Voters of MarylandRegistered for: League of Women Voters of Maryland

FAVMartinez, MadelinMD Legislative Latino CaucusRegistered for: Catholic Charities

FAVTulkin, JoshMD Sierra ClubRegistered for: Sierra Club Maryland Chapter

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

FAVHance, RosaSierra Club Maryland ChapterRegistered for: Enhanced Impact LLC; Potomac Riverkeeper Network; Sierra Club Maryland Chapter; Advanced Energy United; American Whitewater; Waterkeepers Chesapeake…

FAVAshley-Williams, WandraRegistered for: Climate XChange

FAVMartinez, MadelinRegistered for: Catholic Charities

FAVStoica, IoanaRegistered for: Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF); Jews United for Justice

UNFClark, RachelEvans & Associates, LLCRegistered for: Accenture LLP; Arundel Amusements/Bingo World; Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence; CALSTART; Carvana; Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 89…

UNFPowell, MichaelGordon Feinblatt, LLCRegistered for: Aligned Data Centers; COPT Defense Properties; Constellation Energy Generation, LLC; Honeywell International, Inc.; Maryland Building Industry Association; National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Maryland…

UNFGraf, LoriMaryland Building Industry AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Building Industry Association

UNFPorter, HollyRegistered for: Delmarva Chicken Association

UNFThompson, LindsayRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Farmland Trust; CropLife America; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Denali Water Solutions; Horizon Farm Credit…