SB 558

Chesapeake Bay - Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund - Established

Sponsor: Jack Bailey (District 29)Committee: Budget and TaxationSubject: Natural Resources - GenerallyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 552 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program in the Department of Natural Resources to provide funding for certain oyster propagation and replenishment projects that mitigate the effects of certain transportation projects on the State's oyster population; establishing the Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund to provide financial assistance to certain commercial watermen and small businesses; prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from making certain approvals for tidal fish licenses; etc.

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Testimony (43)

MGA witness list

FAV 27FavorableFWA 12Favorable with amendmentsINFO 4Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Scerbo, William	Anne Arundel Waterman’s Association	Oral
FAV	DeMinco, Lynne	BCRW	Position only
FAV	Colden, Allisonlobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral
FAV	Smith, Virginia	IndivisibleHoCoMD	Position only
FAV	Mortus, Timothy	MWA	Oral
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown, Robert	Maryland Waterman's Association	Oral
FAV	Brown, Robert	Maryland Watermen's Association	Oral
FAV	Vogel, Chrissy	National Rarities	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jarrell, Stephanie	Queen Anne's County Commissioners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Haddaway-Riccio, Jeannielobbyist	R&R Solutions	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Snow, Ryanlobbyist	R&R Solutions	Oral
FAV	Riccio, Jeannie	R&R Solutions, LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Tull, Jody	Somerset County Watermans Association	Oral
FAV	Harrison, Jeff	Talbot Watermen Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bailey, Jack	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dean, Rachel	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mullin, James	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mullin, James	Individual	Oral
FAV	Nelson, Mary	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Bailey, Senator Baileylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Bailey, Senator Baileylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Wittig, Grace	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Colden, Allisonlobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Stegman, Matt	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Kubofcik, Stacy	MARBIDCO	Oral
FWA	McHenry, Steve	MARBIDCO (Maryland Ag/RBI Development Corp.)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Olszewski, Marisa	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Written (PDF)
FWA	DeCheubel, Leeza	Rural Maryland Council	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ford, Benjamin	ShoreRivers	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ford, Benjamin	ShoreRivers	Written (PDF)
FWA	Dietz, Michellelobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FWA	Sharif, Humnalobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
INFO	McPherson, Lydia	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
INFO	McPherson, Lydia	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
INFO	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)
INFO	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Anne Arundel Waterman’s AssociationFAV 1

Arundel Rivers FederationFWA 2

BCRWFAV 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 1FWA 2

IndivisibleHoCoMDFAV 1

MARBIDCOFWA 1

MARBIDCO (Maryland Ag/RBI Development Corp.)FWA 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FAV 2

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesINFO 2

Maryland Department of TransportationINFO 2

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFWA 1

Maryland Waterman's AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Watermen's AssociationFAV 1

MWAFAV 1

National RaritiesFAV 1

Queen Anne's County CommissionersFAV 1

R&R SolutionsFAV 2

R&R Solutions, LLCFAV 1

Rural Maryland CouncilFWA 1

ShoreRiversFWA 2

Somerset County Watermans AssociationFAV 1

Talbot Watermen AssociationFAV 1

The Nature ConservancyFWA 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVColden, AllisonChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

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

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

FWAColden, AllisonChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

FWADietz, MichelleThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The

FWASharif, HumnaThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The