Bill > HB572

This bill, titled the Attorney General Actions and Climate Crimes Accountability Fund Act, authorizes the Attorney General to investigate and sue publicly traded companies, including their subsidiaries, with a market capitalization exceeding $1 billion that are or were involved in extracting, refining, or processing coal, oil, or gas, if their actions have contributed to climate change through fraud, deception, or other unlawful conduct. The Attorney General can hire outside legal counsel if deemed necessary and will establish a special, nonlapsing fund called the Climate Crimes Accountability Fund. This fund will be used to pay for programs that prevent, mitigate, or repair harms caused by climate change, such as air pollution, extreme temperatures, flooding, and vectorborne diseases, as well as to cover the expenses of investigations and litigation related to these climate accountability actions. The bill also clarifies that interest earned on this fund will accrue to the fund itself, not the General Fund, and establishes specific rules for how liability is determined and settlements are handled in actions brought under this act, ensuring that settlements reduce the liability of other responsible parties based on their proportionate share of fault or the settlement amount.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0572?ys=2026RS