HB 506

Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act

Sponsor: SpeakerCommittee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Hunting and FishingStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 430 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program; establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program Fund to support actions associated with the Program's purpose; altering the definition of 'healthy soils' for purposes of the Maryland Healthy Soils Program; exempting certain holders of certain fishing licenses from the requirement to obtain a food establishment license from the Maryland Department of Health; establishing the Water Quality Monitoring Program; etc.

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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 (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 24FavorableFWA 10Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Conway, Mark	Chesapeake Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Porter, Hollylobbyist	Demarva Chicken Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Virginia	Indivisible HoCo Maryland	Position only
FAV	Nelson, Jen	Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts	Written (PDF)
FAV	Zelaya, Michellelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Atticks, Kevinlobbyist	Maryland Department of Agriculture	Oral
FAV	Jones, Rachel	Maryland Department of Agriculture	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hough, Tylerlobbyist	Maryland Farm Bureau	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coble, Kim	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Ostdahl, Maggielobbyist	National Aquarium	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schurick, Paul	Oyster Recovery Partnership	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Slacum, Ward	Oyster Recovery Partnership	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Progress, Shore	Shore Progress	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sharif, Humnalobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Moore, Rachael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	Thompson, Lindsaylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Jackson, Kristin	Waterman's Association of Worcester County	Written (PDF)
FWA	Newberry, Capt. Robert	Delmarva Fisheries Association Inc	Oral
FWA	Ratul, Saif	Legislative Office of the Governor	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Mortus, Timothy	MWA	Oral
FWA	Kurtz, Josh	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Brown, Robert	Maryland Watermen's Association	Oral
FWA	Haddaway-Riccio, Jeannielobbyist	R&R Solutions	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Riccio, Jeannie	R&R Solutions, LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Croghan, Thomas	The Vineyards at Dodon LLC	Written (PDF)
FWA	Broder, Robin	Waterkeepers Chesapeake	Written (PDF)
FWA	Mullin, James	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

Arundel Rivers FederationFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

Chesapeake ConservancyFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Delmarva Fisheries Association IncFWA 1

Demarva Chicken AssociationFAV 1

Indivisible HoCo MarylandFAV 1

Legislative Office of the GovernorFWA 1

Maryland Association of Soil Conservation DistrictsFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Department of AgricultureFAV 2

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesFWA 1

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentFAV 1

Maryland Farm BureauFAV 1

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Watermen's AssociationFWA 1

MWAFWA 1

National AquariumFAV 1

Oyster Recovery PartnershipFAV 2

R&R SolutionsFWA 1

R&R Solutions, LLCFWA 1

Shore ProgressFAV 1

The Nature ConservancyFAV 1

The Vineyards at Dodon LLCFWA 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Waterkeepers ChesapeakeFWA 1

Waterman's Association of Worcester CountyUNF 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPorter, HollyDemarva Chicken AssociationRegistered for: Delmarva Chicken Association

FAVZelaya, MichelleMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVAtticks, KevinMaryland Department of AgricultureRegistered for: Brewers Association of Maryland; Maryland Distillers Guild; Maryland Wineries Association

FAVHough, TylerMaryland Farm BureauRegistered for: Maryland Farm Bureau

FAVOstdahl, MaggieNational AquariumRegistered for: National Aquarium

FAVSharif, HumnaThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The

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

FWAHaddaway-Riccio, JeannieR&R SolutionsRegistered for: Araminta USA; Dorchester County, Maryland; For All Seasons; Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot Watermen's Association; Tetrus Corp.…