Advocacy Update: Sustainability in 2026 Maryland State Legislation

The Maryland legislative session often begins with around 2600 bill proposals, resulting in about one-third passing each year. ASLA’s Environmental Sustainability Policy Statement includes the belief that “environmental sustainability is the stable coexistence of natural and built ecosystems and human activity”. In this installment of the Maryland ASLA - Legislative Awareness series, we look at sustainability in four proposed bills progressing through chambers and why each bill is considered relevant to landscape architects and designers. We hope this helps mobilize designers to have creative, solution-oriented conversations with their state representatives on legislation throughout the year!

1. Subject Matter: Nonprofit Green Loans HB0695 (SB0023)

   
   

   Summary (from Fiscal and Policy Note): “Provide financial assistance in the form of no-interest loans to nonprofit organizations for the planning, purchase, and installation of qualifying energy systems in the State”

   
   

   Sustainability Highlights and Impacts: Maryland is home to hundreds of environmental nonprofits of all sizes that employ a portion of landscape architects and designers in the state. This bill prioritizes nonprofits with less than $1 million in annual budget and includes no interest loans for planning, purchasing, and installment of these energy systems that work to meet State environmental and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. What is not currently included is any accompanying landscape solutions to further improve energy efficiency or reductions, nor does it allow for the loans to be used for long-term maintenance of the energy systems.

   
   

2. Subject Matter: Carbon Dioxide Capture HB0817 (SB0625)

   
   

   Summary (from Bill Synopsis): “... each State agency shall use available funding sources to fund carbon removal projects that utilize certain carbon removal technology and practices”

   
   

   Sustainability Highlights and Impacts: The main premise of the bill is to establish a State regulatory program that permits a variety of methods and technologies specifically for carbon removal. This is an important step to track, implement, or fund solutions that progress State sustainability goals, which may range from afforestation/reforestation to air or ocean-based carbon dioxide removal and storage. In the future, if adopted, this could lead to increased service requests from landscape architectural firms and the like. Both building and landscape carbon removal technologies are currently on the table in this bill. What is not clear yet is which carbon removal practices will be included, how many additional staff are needed for both planning and long-term implementation stages, any incentives or alternatives, or what exact building types would be required to implement these solutions. Luckily, there is plenty of time to talk with your representatives after this session about what you believe should or should not be

   included in this future program!

   
   

3. Subject Matter: Environmental Justice Permitting HB1268 (SB0781)

   
   

   Summary (from Bill Synopsis): Requires “the Department of the Environment to issue a determination as to whether approving a covered individual environmental permit will cause or contribute to adverse environmental or public health stressors” for a site or facility in an at-risk census tract.

   
   

   Sustainability Highlights and Impacts: While this bill has an uncertain outcome at the time of this article, it is an important topic that cities around the country are grappling with in a variety of contexts. There is a lengthy fiscal and policy note included for those interested in the details! Some highlights include a likely increase to permitting time and costs per project associated with producing and analyzing what are referred to as BURDEN reports, but would likely result in additional community engagement sessions and protections for communities encumbered by unsuitable air quality or other environmental stressors. There are questions as to what happens to a project/service if a renewal permit is denied, or the implications on future transportation projects. This is a great chance for firms engaged in potentially associated projects (both in topic and in communities they currently service) to chat with legislators on ways improved environmental conditions might be met with less impacts on costs or future critical infrastructure projects!

There is a fourth bill worth noting regarding the established Tree-Mendous Maryland Program. House Bill 255 proposes to expand the current program around planting native trees and shrubs to include community participation in planting, stewardship, and maintenance. This means that additional community efforts as well as maintenance of these trees and shrubs may be funded through the Tree-Mendous program. This is a great example of how amendments to existing programs established through legislative efforts can improve sustainability holistically!

We thank you for your continued commitment to sustainability in practice!