Bill > SB526

Introduced Session

AN ACT concerning Natural Resources - Forest Preservation and Retention FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “qualified conservation” for purposes of provisions of law related to forest mitigation banks; establishing and authorizing altering exemptions from certain afforestation, reforestation, and preservation requirements; altering certain alternative methods of calculating forest afforestation, reforestation, and preservation requirements; altering the development projects for which afforestation or reforestation credits granted may not exceed a certain percentage of forest conserved; authorizing local jurisdictions to adopt certain alternative afforestation, reforestation, and preservation requirements; altering rules for the use of qualified conservation to meet afforestation or reforestation requirements; adding certain tree plantings and practices as methods that certain municipal corporations may use to meet afforestation or reforestation requirements; adding certain areas and vegetation considered to be a priority for forest retention and protection under certain circumstances; lowering the acreage threshold in certain counties for participation in the forest conservation and management program; providing for judicial review of certain plans and determinations; extending the time period for the Department of Natural Resources to spend certain money deposited in the Forest Conservation Fund; requiring the Department to update the State Forest Conservation Technical Manual; requiring the Department to establish a workgroup to evaluate and recommend incentives for private landowners to conserve forests; and generally relating to forest preservation and retention. BY repealing Article - Natural Resources Section 5-101(i) and 5-102(b)(1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY renumbering Article - Natural Resources Section 5-101(j) through (m) and 5-1601(hh) through (qq) 5-102(b)(2) through (8) to be Section 5-101(i) through (l) and 5-1601(ii) through (rr) 5-102(b)(3) through (9), respectively Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 5-101(a), 5-1601(a), and 5-1602(a), and 5-1610(b) Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 5-101(e), 5-1601(gg), 5-1602(b)(5), 5-1602(b)(4), (5), (12), and (13), 5-1603(a)(1) and (c)(3)(ii), 5-1605(d), 5-1606, and 5-1607, 5-1610(e), and 5-1610.1(c) Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Natural Resources Section 5-101(m), 5-102(b)(1) and (2), 5-1601(hh), 5-1602(b)(14) through (17), and 5-1606.1 Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Tax - Property Section 8-211(a) and (b) Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Tax - Property Section 8-211(c) Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Chapter 645 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021 Section 11

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Sarah Elfreth (D)*,  Dawn Gile (D),  Guy Guzzone (D),  Katie Hester (D),  Shelly Hettleman (D),  Ben Kramer (D),  Clarence Lam (D),  Mary Washington (D),  Chris West (R),  Craig Zucker (D), 

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 542 (on 05/08/2023)

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Official Document