HB 347

Did not advance

Attorney General – Climate Change Actions – Authorization

Sponsor: Sheila Ruth (District 44B)Committee: Health and Government OperationsSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the Attorney General to investigate, commence, and prosecute or defend any suit or action that holds accountable a publicly traded entity with market capitalization greater than $1,000,000,000 or its subsidiaries for any tortious or otherwise unlawful conduct that has contributed to climate change; and authorizing the Attorney General to hire outside counsel on a contingency fee basis to assist with an action under the Act if the Attorney General makes a certain determination.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (29)

MGA witness list

FAV 10FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 17Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Matthews, Megan	Center for Climate Integrity	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McGilvray, Laurie	Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Virginia	Indivisible HoCo Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Desai, Samuel	Maryland Youth Advisory Council	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kemerer, Hannibal	Office of Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Nicholas, Betsy	Potomac Riverkeeper Network	Position only
FAV	Richards, Annie	ShoreRivers	Position only
FAV	Delegate Ruth, Delegate Ruthlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Ruth, S	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Griffin, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Schulze, Dana	USAF Veteran	Position only
UNF	Arshavsky, Svetlana	Individual	Position only
UNF	Atkins, Robert	Individual	Position only
UNF	Diefenbach, Linda	Individual	Position only
UNF	Ditraglia, Frank	Individual	Position only
UNF	D’Orazio , Daniela	Individual	Position only
UNF	Elbourn, James	Individual	Position only
UNF	Kasemeyer, Pam	Individual	Position only
UNF	Katz, Janet	Individual	Position only
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Lang, Kevin	Individual	Position only
UNF	Lee, Mickey	Individual	Position only
UNF	MANOHAR, KRISHNA	Individual	Position only
UNF	Pedersen, Stacy	Individual	Position only
UNF	Williams, Peggy	Individual	Position only
UNF	mcavoy, vince	Individual	Position only
FWA	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Enten, Robert	Md Bankers Assoc	Oral

Organizations on record

Center for Climate IntegrityFAV 1

Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Indivisible HoCo MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationFWA 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Youth Advisory CouncilFAV 1

Md Bankers AssocFWA 1

Office of Attorney GeneralFAV 1

Potomac Riverkeeper NetworkFAV 1

ShoreRiversFAV 1

USAF VeteranUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

UNFGriffin, AndrewMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Subcontractors Association of Baltimore; Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park; Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland; Experience Prince George's; Howard County Chamber of Commerce…

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