Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund (SB 213/ HB 369)

UPDATE: HB 369 was approved by the General Assembly and has been sent to the governor. SB 213 passed the Senate (46-0) on Friday March 7th! See how your Senator voted. This bill was heard in the House Environmental Matters Committee on March 26th.  On March 18, HB 369 passed out of the House (118-17). See how your delegated voted here.  The House version of this bill was heard in the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on March 28th.

In addition, legislators on a joint budget conference committee voted to allocate $25 million in the budget for next year to the dedicated clean-up fund established during special session!

Download testimony:  Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund (Senate) 114.12 Kb,  Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund (House) 113.71 Kb

Download factsheet:  Green Fund Factsheet 40.43 Kb

What you can do: Email your legislators and ask them to fully fund the Bay fund!

Environmental Challenge: During the Special Legislative Session of 2007, Maryland created a dedicated funding source – the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund  – to clean up Maryland’s waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund replaced previous proposals for a “Green Fund” and relies on existing tax revenues. The legislature authorized $50 million annually for clean water programs but did not detail how the monies were to be allocated.

While $50 million is significant, there must be appropriate oversight and the funds must be targeted and leveraged in order to achieve the greatest nutrient reductions and water quality improvements.

Bill Framework: The good news is, we are off to a great start; also during the Special Session, House Bill 23 sponsored by Chairman Maggie McIntosh passed the House of Delegates which specified targeted allocation and scientific oversight for annual plans to use the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund.

Similar legislation will be introduced to make certain funds allocated to Bay restoration are spent efficiently by ensuring there is oversight, and accountability for the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund.

If Enacted: This legislation will detail the plan for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and will allow Maryland to significantly increase its ability to meet the goals outlined in the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.

For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, Patuxent Riverkeeper, 301-249-8200, x9, Jennifer@PaxRiverkeeper.org 

Cindy Schwartz, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, 410-280-9855, cschwartz@mdlcv.org

Kim Coble or Jenn Aiosa, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 410-268-8816, kcoble@cbf.org or jaiosa@cbf.org