Maryland General Assembly 2025 Legislative Session Recap
- Maryland ASLA
- May 27
- 2 min read
The 447th Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly officially concluded on April 7th, 2025, amid state budgetary challenges and a range of political pressures. This 90-day session required tough decisions on spending, revenue, and policy priorities to ensure Maryland’s long-term fiscal stability. Given ongoing uncertainty around federal funding and a possible economic slowdown, a special legislative session may be convened later this year to address additional budget reductions or revenue measures for FY2026.
MDASLA Legislative Activity
Of the 2,605 bills introduced this session, the Maryland Chapter of ASLA tracked 121 bills and agency budget proposals aligned with ASLA's policies and our chapter’s priorities. One of the most significant advocacy wins this session was the defeat of HB1554 / SB1045, a broad Sales and Use Tax expansion that would have imposed new taxes on essential business-to-business (B2B) services, including those used by landscape architects.
Working in coalition with other professional organizations like AIA, our Chapter helped ensure that this harmful measure did not pass—continuing our track record of defeating similar sales tax expansions in prior years.View the March 12th Opposition Letters to Committee Chairs Atterbeary & Guzzone from Chapter President Michael Pullano.
Select Legislation of Interest to Landscape Architects
✅ HB506 – Chesapeake Legacy Act (Passed)
Establishes the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program to incentivize sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil health and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
❌ HB1554 / SB1045 – Sales & Use Tax on Business Services (Failed)
Would have imposed a 2.6% tax on various B2B services, including those potentially used in the design professions.
✅ HB1036 / SB931 – Renewable Energy Certainty Act (Passed)
Streamlines permitting for solar development and energy storage while protecting environmental and community interests. Notably, the law affirms that certain site plan elements must be specified in a landscaping plan prepared by a qualified professional landscape architect.
❌ HB628 – Highways – Sidewalks and Bicycle Pathways - Alterations (Vetoed)
Would have mandated the State Highway Administration to prioritize funding for sidewalks and bicycle pathways adjacent to highways, especially within Complete Streets and Vision Zero programs. Vetoed by Governor Moore on May 16, 2025 due to concerns over limiting the agency's project prioritization flexibility.
✅ HB453 – Anne Arundel County Impact Fees (Passed)
Grants flexibility to the County Council to revise exemptions or credits in development impact fee structures to better align with planning goals.
✅ HB1155 / SB722 – Definition of Ecological Restoration (Passed)
Adds a formal definition of “ecological restoration” to Maryland law, aligning with recommendations from the Ecological Restoration Permitting Study and enhancing consistency in regulatory review.
❌ HB270 / SB116 – Data Center Impact Analysis (Vetoed)
Would have required a comprehensive report on the environmental and economic impacts of data center development. Vetoed by Governor Moore on May 17, 2025, citing policy reasons.
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