Latest news with #MarylandLeadersinEnvironmentallyEngagedFarming
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
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."
