SB 266

Local Government - Regulatory Powers - Regulation of Invasive Trees

Sponsor: Benjamin Brooks (District 10)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Local Government - GenerallyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 209 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the governing body of a county or municipality to adopt certain ordinances to regulate the nonnative, highly invasive, deciduous hardwood tree known as tree of heaven and certain invasive trees; and authorizing the governing body of a county or municipality to establish a bounty or native tree replacement program to incentivize the removal of tree of heaven and certain invasive trees.

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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 (26)

MGA witness list

FAV 22FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendments

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Brown, Jim	Audubon Mid-Atlantic	Position only
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Valeri, Marissa	City of Rockville	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Demiray, Sonia	Climate Communications Coalition	Position only
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Palmer, Harrison	Maryland Department of Agriculture	Written (PDF)
FAV	McPherson, Lydia	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
FAV	McPherson, Lydia	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Brice, Tyler	Maryland Municipal League	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Brooks, Benjamin	Maryland State Senate	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brooks, Benjamin	Maryland State Senate	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Broadman, Dorie	Wild Ones Nation's Capital Region Chapter	Written (PDF)
FAV	Armendariz, Rebecca	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Broadman, Dorothy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Hamilton, Rebecca	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Brooks, Senator Brookslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Brooks, Senator Brookslegislator	Individual	Oral
FWA	Hubbard, Adreon	Habitat Stewards of Overlook Park	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hoffman, Kirsten	Maryland Native Plant Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Fulton, Judith	Sierra Club	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Fonda Allen, Jill	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Audubon Mid-AtlanticFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 2

City of RockvilleFAV 1

Climate Communications CoalitionFAV 1

Habitat Stewards of Overlook ParkFWA 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FAV 2

Maryland Department of AgricultureFAV 1

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesFAV 2

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFAV 1

Maryland Native Plant CoalitionFWA 1

Maryland State SenateFAV 2

Sierra ClubFWA 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Wild Ones Nation's Capital Region ChapterFAV 1

Journey

Jan 19First reading in the SenateAssigned to Education, Energy, and the Environment
Feb 10Education, Energy, and the Environment hearingTue, Feb 10, 1:00 PM
Mar 18Committee report: Favorable with Amendments
Mar 2Second reading (Senate): Passed with Amendments
Mar 3Third reading (Senate): Passed
Mar 7First reading in the HouseAssigned to Environment and Transportation
Apr 1Environment and Transportation hearing (House)Wed, Apr 1, 1:00 PM
Apr 3Committee report (House): Favorable with Amendments
Mar 18Second reading (House): Passed with Amendments
Mar 22Third reading (House): Passed with Amendments
Mar 22Concurred
Mar 22Enacted as Chapter 209Signing date is not in the MGA feed

Documents