HB 286

Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy - Planning Principles

Sponsor: Chair, Environment and Transportation CommitteeCommittee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Economic DevelopmentStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 63 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Providing certain planning principles that are collectively intended to create sustainable communities and to protect the environment utilizing active public participation; altering the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy to consist of planning principles for advancing sustainable growth in the State; and requiring the publisher of the Annotated Code of Maryland, along with the Department of Legislative Services, to correct cross-references and terminology in the Code that are rendered incorrect by the Act.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 10FavorableFWA 8Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Cook, Chuck	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	BaucumColbert, Jordan	M-NCPPC - Governement Affairs Liaison	Written (PDF)
FAV	Roques, Carmel	Maryland Department of Aging	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sierra, Anna	Maryland Department of Emergency Management	Written (PDF)
FAV	Boyd, Charles	Maryland Department of Planning	Written (PDF)
FAV	Flora, Rebecca	Maryland Department of Planning	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson, Andrew	Maryland Department of Planning	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sharif, Humnalobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee, Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee	Individual	Oral
UNF	Scepaniak, Michael	BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cort, Cheryllobbyist	Coalition for Smarter Growth	Written (PDF)
FWA	Bailey, Owen	Eastern Shore Land Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FWA	Kirkwood, Kristin	Forever Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	McHenry, Steve	MARBIDCO (Maryland Ag/RBI Development Corp.)	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hill, Beth	Maryland Forests Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ballentine, Tom	NAIOP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ellington, Paullobbyist	State and Local Advisors	Oral
FWA	Davis, Charlotte	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented PlacesUNF 1

Coalition for Smarter GrowthFWA 1

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFAV 1

Eastern Shore Land ConservancyFWA 1

Forever MarylandFWA 1

M-NCPPC - Governement Affairs LiaisonFAV 1

MARBIDCO (Maryland Ag/RBI Development Corp.)FWA 1

Maryland Department of AgingFAV 1

Maryland Department of Emergency ManagementFAV 1

Maryland Department of PlanningFAV 3

Maryland Forests AssociationFWA 1

NAIOP MarylandFWA 1

State and Local AdvisorsFWA 1

The Nature ConservancyFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVSharif, HumnaThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The

FWACort, CherylCoalition for Smarter GrowthRegistered for: Coalition for Smarter Growth dba Piedmont Environmental Council

FWAEllington, 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…