SB 229

General Provisions – Commemorative Month – Maryland Native Plant Month

Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (District 10)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsStatus: Hearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Governor to annually proclaim May as Maryland Native Plant Month in recognition of the benefits that native plants have on Maryland's natural environment; and requiring the proclamation to urge educational and environmental organizations and businesses to observe Maryland Native Plant Month properly.

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Testimony (35)

MGA witness list

FAV 33FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Brown, Jim	Audubon Mid-Atlantic	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lambrow, Kathy	Baltimore Bird Club, Conservation Committee	Written (PDF)
FAV	johnson, barbara	Blue Water Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Colden, Allisonlobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Carbary, Brandon	Ecoplantia	Oral
FAV	Stewart, Frances	Elders Climate Action Maryland	Position only
FAV	Schlaggar, PhD, Hristina	Green Towson Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vazquez, Claudio	Izel Native Plants	Written (PDF)
FAV	Crump, Patrick	MEPPN	Written (PDF)
FAV	Palmer, Harrison	Maryland Department of Agriculture	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McPherson, Lydia	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoffman, Kirsten	Maryland Native Plant Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson, Brenda	Maryland Native Plant Supporters	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brooks, Benjamin	Maryland State Senate	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dennison, Rich	Maryland Trout Unlimited	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kinsey, Kathy	Mobilize Frederick	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bonney, Esther	Nurture Natives	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Southerland, Mark	Safe Skies Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelleher, Zack	ShoreRivers	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rogers, Jimmy	Vibrant Gardening LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Marlene	Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Chapter	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, Carey	Wild Ones Greater Frederick Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Boado, Alexi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Broadman, Dorothy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cheston, Susan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	LAPORTE, MARIE	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	McDonagh, Kevin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	McDonagh, Meredith	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Pease-Scheeler, Mary Ellen	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruffin, Martha	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Brooks, Senator Brookslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Smith, Marlene	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Brown, Miner	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Kuder, Lisa	University of Maryland Extension	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Audubon Mid-AtlanticFAV 1

Baltimore Bird Club, Conservation CommitteeFAV 1

Blue Water BaltimoreFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1

EcoplantiaFAV 1

Elders Climate Action MarylandFAV 1

Green Towson AllianceFAV 1

Izel Native PlantsFAV 1

Maryland Department of AgricultureFAV 1

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesFAV 1

Maryland Native Plant CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Native Plant SupportersFAV 1

Maryland State SenateFAV 1

Maryland Trout UnlimitedFAV 1

MEPPNFAV 1

Mobilize FrederickFAV 1

Nurture NativesFAV 1

Safe Skies MarylandFAV 1

ShoreRiversFAV 1

University of Maryland ExtensionINFO 1

Vibrant Gardening LLCFAV 1

Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay ChapterFAV 1

Wild Ones Greater Frederick MarylandFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVColden, AllisonChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation