Bill > SB432

This bill, titled the Attorney General Actions and Climate Crimes Accountability Fund Act, authorizes the Maryland 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 be guided by specific legal principles regarding liability and settlements, similar to those applied to the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident. The bill also establishes a special, nonlapsing Climate Crimes Accountability Fund, which will receive money from judgments or settlements against these entities and will be used to pay for programs that prevent, mitigate, or repair harms caused by climate change, such as air pollution, flooding, and vectorborne diseases, as well as to cover the expenses of the Attorney General's actions. This fund is explicitly excluded from a state law that generally directs interest earnings on special funds to the General Fund, ensuring its dedicated use for climate-related purposes.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0432?ys=2026RS