Bill > SB946

This bill allows the Secretary of Natural Resources to issue an incidental taking permit for specific bat species (Indiana bat, eastern small-footed bat, northern long-eared bat, and tricolored bat) under certain conditions. The applicant must submit a comprehensive conservation plan that details the potential environmental impact of their activities, outlines steps to minimize and mitigate that impact, provides funding for implementation, explains why alternative actions were not chosen, and includes any additional measures required by the Secretary. For the permit to be granted, the Secretary must determine that the proposed incidental taking will not significantly harm the bat population's survival or recovery, that the applicant will minimize environmental impacts to the extent possible, that adequate funding is available to implement the conservation plan, and that the applicant has obtained the necessary federal authorization for the incidental taking. The bill corrects some minor spelling errors (changing "tricolor" to "tricolored") and adds the eastern small-footed bat to the list of covered species. The legislation will take effect on October 1, 2025, and provides a framework for carefully managing human activities that might otherwise harm these bat species.

Education, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0946?ys=2025RS