SB 739

Climate Change, Homeowner's Insurance, and Emergency Management - Study

Sponsor: Benjamin F. Kramer (District 19)Committee: FinanceSubject: Insurance - Other than HealthStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 696 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the University System of Maryland to conduct a study to evaluate the relationship between climate change, homeowner's insurance, and emergency and disaster preparedness; requiring the University, by July 1, 2027, to submit a report to the General Assembly on the federal flood insurance program, and private flood insurance programs and make recommendations on actions and modifications to mitigate risks associated with climate change and improve the service and responsiveness of insurers; etc.

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Testimony (26)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Emrick, Preeti	Anne Arundel OEM	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosano, Anthony	Frederick County Division of Emergency Management	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bernadzikowski, Maria	Howard County Office of Emergency Management	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blacklow, Roger	Legislative Advocacy Committee of Leisure World Democratic Club	Position only
FAV	Kinnally, Kevin	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kinnally, Kevin	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rehr, Rebeccalobbyist	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rehr, Rebeccalobbyist	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Written (PDF)
FAV	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richards, Annie	ShoreRivers	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sharif, Humnalobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sharif, Humnalobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Andy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Kramer, Senator Kramerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Kramer, Senator Kramerlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Price, Suzanne	Concerned Citizen	Position only
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
UNF	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FWA	Bevan-Dangel, Jenniferlobbyist	Economic Action Maryland Fund	Written (PDF)
FWA	Clark, Andy	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Anne Arundel OEMFAV 1

Arundel Rivers FederationFAV 1

Concerned CitizenUNF 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 1

Economic Action Maryland FundFWA 1

Frederick County Division of Emergency ManagementFAV 1

Howard County Office of Emergency ManagementFAV 1

Legislative Advocacy Committee of Leisure World Democratic ClubFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FAV 2

Maryland Insurance AdministrationFAV 2

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFAV 2

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCFAV 1

ShoreRiversFAV 1

The Nature ConservancyFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

FAVRehr, RebeccaMaryland League of Conservation VotersRegistered for: Maryland League of Conservation Voters

FAVCastelli, 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…

FAVSharif, HumnaThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The

FWABevan-Dangel, JenniferEconomic Action Maryland FundRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Humane Society of the United States; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Humane World for Animals