SB 117

Environment - Bay Restoration Fund - Septic System Upgrade Program

Sponsor: Katie Fry Hester (District 9)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 460 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prioritizing funding first to failing sewage systems and holding tanks in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, second to 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, third to failing systems with 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 16FavorableFWA 9Favorable with amendments

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Brice, Tyler	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fry Hester, Katie	Maryland Senate	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richards, Annie	ShoreRivers	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Hester, Senator Hesterlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Hester, Senator Hesterlegislator	Individual	Oral
FWA	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Geckle, Mathew	Back River Precast	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Stegman, Matt	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	Written (PDF)
FWA	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Schmidt-Perkins, Dru	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

Arundel Rivers FederationFAV 1FWA 1

Back River PrecastFWA 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1FWA 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 2

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentFAV 2

Maryland Municipal LeagueFAV 1

Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals AssociationFWA 1

Maryland SenateFAV 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 2

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCFWA 1

ShoreRiversFAV 1FWA 1

YearFAV 1FWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVRanson, EmilyRegistered for: Clean Water Action

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