HB 146

Environment - On-Site Wastewater Systems - Requirements for Inspection and Pumping Services and Implementation Dates

Sponsor: Michele Guyton (District 42B)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Senate Refuses to Recede (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a landlord of property that is served by an on-site wastewater system to ensure, on or before July 1, 2028, and before each new tenant occupies the property thereafter, that the system has been inspected and pumped out in a certain manner; requiring a delegated approval authority to approve, to the extent practicable, the repair or replacement of any failed components of a drain field of a failing on-site wastewater system; extending certain dates; etc.

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Testimony (21)

MGA witness list

FAV 11FavorableFWA 7Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Geckle, Mathew	Back River Precast	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guyton, Michele	Delegate Michele Guyton	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richards, Annie	ShoreRivers	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Parham, Martinna	Waterkeepers Chesapeake	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Guyton, Delegate Guytonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Zillig, Robert	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Sharpe, Charlene	Worcester County	Written (PDF)
FWA	Jones, Dwayne	Jones Pump Service	Written (PDF)
FWA	Moritz, Heather	MD Conference of Environmental Directors & MACHO	Written (PDF)
FWA	Harrison, Edward	Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Frick, Ryan	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Minahan, Nancy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Powell, James	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	von Gunten, Eugene	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Arundel Rivers FederationFAV 1

Back River PrecastFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

Delegate Michele GuytonFAV 1

Jones Pump ServiceFWA 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentFAV 1

Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals AssociationFWA 1

MD Conference of Environmental Directors & MACHOFWA 1

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCUNF 1

ShoreRiversFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Waterkeepers ChesapeakeFAV 1

Worcester CountyUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVRanson, EmilyRegistered for: Clean Water Action

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

UNFCastelli, 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…