HB 131

Environment - Bay Restoration Fund - Septic System Upgrade Program

Sponsor: Dana Stein (District 11B)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 461 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Updating the funding priorities for failing sewage systems and holding tanks; requiring as a second priority those located within the Maryland Chesapeake Bay 8-digit watershed that have a relative effectiveness for total nitrogen reduction of 9.24 or higher based on the Chesapeake Bay watershed model; requiring as a third priority funding for failing systems within the 500-year floodplain, and fourth to certain other failing systems; and expanding certain funding eligibility criteria for on-site and community sewage systems.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 11FavorableFWA 7Favorable with amendments

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Butler, Alex	Maryland Department of the Environment	Oral
FAV	Currey, Lee	Maryland Department of the Environment	Oral
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Brice, Tyler	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ellington, Paullobbyist	State and Local Advisors	Oral
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Delegate Stein, Delegate Steinlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Stein, Dana	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Geckle, Mathew	Back River Precast	Written (PDF)
FWA	Colden, Allisonlobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Harrison, Edward	Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Richards, Annie	ShoreRivers	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Arundel Rivers FederationFWA 1

Back River PrecastFWA 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFWA 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentFAV 3

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFAV 1

Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals AssociationFWA 1

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCFWA 1

ShoreRiversFWA 1

State and Local AdvisorsFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVEllington, PaulState and Local AdvisorsRegistered for: Wicomico County, MD Executive Office; Greater Crisfield Action Committee; Glenn L Martin Maryland Aviation Museum; Maryland Aviation Council; Worcester County Maryland; Optimize Renewables…

FWAColden, AllisonChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

FWACastelli, WilliamRifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCRegistered for: ASC Engineered Solutions; Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&S, LLC; Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, MD; Brown Advisory; Cable Telecommunications Association of Maryland, Delaware and D.C., Inc.; Colonial Pipeline Company…

FWARanson, EmilyRegistered for: Clean Water Action