Bill > HB517

This bill clarifies and expands the authority of local governments, referred to as political subdivisions, to enact their own rules regarding air pollution and waste management. Specifically, it allows these local entities to set emission standards (rules about what pollutants can be released into the air) and ambient air quality standards (rules about the quality of the air in a specific area), as long as these local rules are at least as strict as the standards set by the state's Department of the Environment and are technically feasible to follow. The bill also clarifies that the Department of the Environment's approval of a county's water and sewerage plan does not prevent a county from setting its own emission or air quality standards, nor does it limit a county's ability to enter into contracts. Furthermore, the Department of the Environment is required to publish information on its website by October 1, 2026, acknowledging the legal right of local governments to create these stricter local rules for clean air and solid waste management.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0517?ys=2026RS