Latest news with #ChesapeakeBayLegacyAct
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moore signs Chesapeake Bay bill as federal cuts loom large
Nia Nyamweya, founder of Beauty Bloom Farms in Montgomery County, presents Gov. Wes Moore (D) a basket of greens from her farm for the signing of the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, one of 171 bills signed into law Tuesday. (Photo by Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters) Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed what he called 'the most comprehensive piece of Chesapeake Bay legislation that Maryland has seen in years,' at a time when federal cuts threaten environmental programs for the estuary. The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act was signed Tuesday, one of 171 bills signed into law if the fourth and next to last bill signing ceremony following the 2025 legislative session. The wide-ranging Legacy Act allots 'up to $900,000 per year' to a new certification program for farmers who use sustainable practices that decrease runoff into the bay, establishes a water quality monitoring program to unify current testing efforts and aims to streamline oyster aquaculture leasing, among other provisions. 'At a time when we see how our federal administration has stepped back from protecting our air and our water, Maryland is stepping up,' Moore said. The governor also signed an abortion grant program that will help fund abortion services for uninsured and underinsured individuals, and a bill allowing individuals with autism and other nonapparent conditions to add an identifying symbol to their state IDs. That, and Tuesday saw the approval of a new state mineral, chromite, and a new state cocktail, the Orange Crush. President Donald Trump (R) and his Department of Government Efficiency have already cut positions at the Chesapeake Bay Program, which administers the bay cleanup, as well as at agencies whose work touches the bay, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. DOGE also threw environmental grant programs into chaos by freezing funds, some of which were later unlocked. But advocates say Trump's proposed 'skinny' budget for fiscal 2026 would go considerably further, and 'devastate' efforts to clean up the estuary, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A 'chrometastic' finish for one state symbol bill The bill would hack $5 billion from the EPA, including $2.46 billion in cuts that would 'cripple' programs that help sewage treatment plants reduce pollution into waterways like the bay, according to CBF. Trump's proposal would also slash $1.3 billion in grants and research programs at NOAA and $564 million at the U.S. Geological Survey, eliminating climate-related work to 'focus on achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals.' Allison Colden, the bay foundation's Maryland executive director, said the federal losses make Maryland's Bay Legacy law even more important. 'With federal cuts and rollbacks looming heavily on our state, Maryland's environmental leadership is more important than ever,' Colden said in a statement. 'This Act will help maintain forward momentum and ensure that investments in clean air, clean water, habitats, and local economies are secured.' The new law came in a challenging budget year, during which lawmakers had to correct a multibillion-dollar deficit by cutting programs and raising fees. As drafted, the bill would have allocated $2 million to the Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming, or LEEF, program, but budget-conscious lawmakers cut that to 'up to $900,000' a year. The budget reconciliation process further reduced the sum to $500,000 for next fiscal year, with some of that money contingent on the Maryland Department of Agriculture submitting a plan for program spending. 'Unfortunately, we saw less coming out of the state budget for that program than maybe we would have liked to see,' Colden said. 'But the point is, we have that program established. They have some initial seed funding.' With funding and other incentives, Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said the LEEF program will encourage farmers not only to pursue environmentally friendly practices, but to engage the community and share information about the practices with others. 'It incentivizes them in a way that we believe farmers and the community will rally behind and will make extra progress,' Atticks said. As he signed the bill, Moore was backed by Nia Nyamweya, who brought a basket of leafy greens harvested from her Beauty Bloom Farms in Montgomery County. The produce and flower farm aims to regenerate the soils, formerly used for corn and soybean farming, with organic practices and cover cropping, according to its website. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nyamweya leases her farm land from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Moore said. The bill codifies the practice in state law. 'That kind of partnership is rare, but the Bay Legacy Act will make these kinds of lease agreements easier,' Moore said. The bill drew some early concerns for its massive scope, touching on everything from agricultural practices to a Japanese fish processing technique called ikejime. Delmarva Fisheries Association Chairman Robert Newberry called it 'an ag bill with a side salad of fishery management and aquaculture.' He initially balked at a provision that would have removed DNR's obligation to produce its own fishery management plans for a variety of species, from white perch and blue crabs to croakers and horseshoe crabs, deferring to plans created by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The final law requires DNR to keep producing state-level plans for blue crabs, oysters, white and yellow perch, and a few other species, but it lifts the requirement for others, such as menhaden, spot and black sea bass. In the end, Newberry supported the Bay Legacy bill. In particular, he appreciated an amendment that added specificity to an existing law preventing discrimination against groups of fishermen, adding fishing guides and charter boat captains. Newberry has been among a group of fisherman fighting rules from the Atlantic States Commission limiting charters to one rockfish per person, beginning last year. 'I wanted to have the fisheries specifically defined,' Newberry said. 'So that protects us.' Maryland will also have a new grant program that will help fund abortion services for uninsured and underinsured individuals using a stockpile of unused premium surcharges, now that Moore signed House Bill 930 and Senate Bill 848 into law. State officials, advocates fear impact of expected Medicaid cuts in House bill 'Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access,' Moore said. The legislation prompts the Department of Health to tap into about $25 million in premium surcharges that were required as part of the federal Affordable Care Act but have not yet been spent down. That money is the $1-a-month fee that insurers in the ACA marketplace are required to collect on every policy to fund abortion services for their policyholders. But that fund has been growing by about $3 million annually as collections have outpaced need. Moore said the legislation builds off previous efforts to expand abortion access in the state, calling it the 'next chapter in our work to protect and defend basic health care rights.' Moore also signed legislation known as 'Eric's ID Law' that will let people with nonapparent disabilities, including autism, have a butterfly icon added to their driver's licenses, to alert police officers and other officials that they are interacting with someone with a disability that may not be immediately visible. Lt. Gov Aruna Miller noted that the 'thoughtful and compassionate initiative' was inspired by Eric Carpenter-Grantham, a 20-year-old Montgomery County resident with autism, one of the nonapparent disabilities identified in House Bill 707 and Senate Bill 618. Eric's Law has been in the works for several years, in collaboration with members of the disability community, finally receiving House and Senate approval this past session, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) noted.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland Gov. Moore will sign 170 bills into Maryland law, covering abortion access, reckless driving, and more
Maryland Governor Wes Moore will sign 170 bills into law on Tuesday, covering abortion access, reckless driving, environmental responsibility, and more. Here's a look at some of the bills that will become law. Improving the Chesapeake Bay water quality The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act (HB 506) aims to improve the bay's water quality while driving economic growth in the region. The act supports farmers in developing more efficient farming methods and improves oyster aquaculture. It also introduces the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming program and establishes water quality trading credits for oyster restoration projects. Recently, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said it was concerned about the Trump administration's plans to propose budget cuts to the NOAA, a decision which could jeopardize bay restoration progress. Environmental responsibility Moore will also sign SB 901, which aims to increase recycling rates, reduce waste, and promote the use of sustainable packaging. The law requires producers to submit a five-year plan by July 2028, establish goals for recycled content and recycling rates, and conduct statewide needs assessments every decade. Reproductive healthcare funding The Public Health Abortion Grant Program (HB 930) will establish a dedicated fund to improve access to abortion care services in Maryland, particularly for those with limited financial resources. Administered by the Maryland Department of Health, the program will provide grants to eligible organizations that provide or fund abortion services, with at least 90% of appropriated funds going directly to grants. The program also includes confidentiality protections for staff, practitioners, and individuals receiving service. Abortion has been a popular topic among Maryland voters. In January, Gov. Moore signed a proclamation enshrining access to abortion into the state's constitution after voters approved ballot question 1 in the 2024 election. Reckless driving Senate Bill 590, the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, amends Maryland's motor vehicle laws to strengthen penalties for reckless, negligent, and aggressive driving. The bill is named after a Montgomery County Police officer who was paralyzed after being struck by a reckless driver. In addition, the measure adjusts Maryland's driver point system, assigning 2 points for negligent driving and 6 points for speeding 30 mph or more over the limit. It also expands the definition of aggressive driving to include behaviors such as disobeying traffic control devices, unsafe passing, and failing to yield to pedestrians. Maryland has made other efforts to ramp up traffic enforcement. In May, the penalties for speed camera violations in work zones increased to $80, with a tiered system penalizing offenders based on how much faster they are going beyond the speed limit. The full list of bills expected to be signed are available here.
CBS News
24-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Chesapeake Bay Foundation challenges permit for proposed Cecil County salmon farm
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation filed a petition Monday in Circuit Court for Cecil County challenging a permit for a proposed salmon farm. The CBF is contesting the Maryland Department of the Environment's approval of a discharge permit that would allow AquaCon, a seafood production company, to release 1.9 million gallons of purge water per day directly into the river, which provides half of the total freshwater input to the Chesapeake Bay. "Land-based salmon farms are relatively new and unpredictable," Paul Smail, CBF's Vice President for Litigation said. "Knowing the prior failures of these types of plants, and that the Susquehanna River is already overloaded with nutrient pollution, MDE's permit must protect against these risks." What are the environmental concerns? The CBF argues that additional discharge would contribute to nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution in the river, which could promote algae growth and create low-oxygen dead zones. These conditions would reduce water clarity that underwater grasses in the Susquehanna Flats need to survive, according to CBF Maryland Staff Scientist Gussie Maguire. "The Susquehanna River is already overloaded with nitrogen and sediment pollution that runs off of farms and suburban developments," Maguire said. "While we have made tremendous progress reducing that pollution, development pressure continues to strain the health of our waterways." AquaCon's property is about five miles upriver from the Susquehanna Flats underwater grass beds, which provide habitat for many species including American and hickory shad, blueback herring, and alewife, the CBF said. Chesapeake Bay restoration Maryland leaders and environmental advocates have made ongoing efforts to improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. On Monday, Gov. Moore signed the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, a bill introduced by the Moore-Miller Administration that seeks to improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality. The act includes provisions for water quality trading credits for oyster restoration and updates to fisheries management. Maryland's $600 million seafood industry and $3.2 billion tourism economy depend on improved water quality and habitat restoration, according to state leaders. Maryland's shellfish aquaculture has an estimated economic impact of more than $13 million annually, with the state seeing a record number of aquaculture harvests within the last three years. The Environmental Protection Agency says water clarity improvements like the ones being done to the bay could increase property values in the state.
CBS News
19-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act set to drive economic growth, protect Maryland's natural resources
The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, a bill introduced by the Moore-Miller Administration in February that seeks to improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality, is one step closer to becoming a reality. The bill was signed into law by Governor Moore earlier this month, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. According to the Moore-Miller Administration, the act supports farmers in developing more efficient farming methods and improves oyster aquaculture. Overall, this will create new sources of income for farmers and uplift Maryland's most crucial industries. "I think a lot of things kind of came together. This was the culmination of years of study, of working with partners to develop this piece of legislation," Josh Kurtz, Maryland's Department of Natural Resources Secretary, said. Kurtz explained that once the bill takes effect, they plan to hit the ground running. "We put together these suites of policies that touch several state agencies that really directly look at improving water quality and driving economic increases across many, many communities in the state of Maryland, and that touch the bay and are not anywhere near the bay," he said. Kurtz also says the bill aligns with the planned updates to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and introduces reforms like the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) program. "Whether it's water quality, best management practice, a conservation practice for wildlife habitat, or an opportunity for bringing people onto the farm to educate them, feeding our local really is a holistic approach to thinking about agriculture in that conservation space," he explained. The act includes provisions for water quality trading credits for oyster restoration and updates to fisheries management. "It gives us the opportunity to really recognize and continue to incentivize our farmers who are doing really good conservation work, and it allows us to kind of identify, evaluate, and give credit for multiple things that these farmers are doing, " Kurtz added. Cleaner waterways support Maryland's tourism economy, which generates $3.2 billion in economic activity around the Chesapeake Bay. Cleaner water and improved habitat also benefit Maryland's seafood industry, which contributes about $600 million annually to the state's economy. As estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency, future water clarity improvements could significantly increase property values in the state. The legislation also expands water quality monitoring programs to help evaluate and speed up restoration efforts. The bill outlines several other changes for Bay restoration, including updates that would: "The focus here is, how we, you know, keep our eye very much on that bigger water quality picture, but get much more into the local benefits that we can, we can really help drive from a centralized program," Kurtz said. These reforms would support an important industry in the state, Maryland's shellfish aquaculture, which has an estimated economic impact of more than $13 million annually. Within the last three years, the state has seen over 90,000 oyster bushels, a record number of aquaculture harvests. Oyster aquaculture proves to be a sustainable industry, providing multiple benefits to water quality as private investment ensures they're replaced soon after they're sold. "This legislation is driving economic growth while protecting our natural resources," MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain affirmed. "From creating hundreds of jobs through innovative aquaculture projects to boosting farm profitability and supporting tourism, these initiatives strengthen our economy and ensure a sustainable future for all Marylanders."
