MD Legislative Recap and Budget Defense for Birds

Because of advocacy from Audubon members and plenty of companions, Maryland lawmakers retained most funding for core conservation and environmental packages, amid important finances challenges.  

The information comes on the finish of Maryland’s 90-day legislative session, throughout which Audubon Mid-Atlantic supplied testimony on 29 payments and at 5 finances hearings, advocating for birds and the locations they want. All through the session, our members took motion through postcards, cellphone calls, emails, and lawmaker conferences. Thanks to your assist of Maryland’s setting and the birds that depend on our distinctive landscapes! 

The theme of this yr’s session was the state budgets, together with a $1.5 billion shortfall that meant the environmental neighborhood was on protection – combating for environmental and conservation funding. Even with these finances headwinds, we did see wins for birds.  

The Division of Pure Sources, the Division of the Surroundings, and the Division of Agriculture all noticed slight year-over-year will increase of their annual budgets.  

Moreover, funding for Program Open House, a core conservation program, remained largely untouched, and the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Belief Fund remained adequately funded, making certain important conservation work can proceed even on this fiscally difficult interval.  

Payments that handed supporting birds in Maryland: 

Audubon, our companions, and our community of advocates helped to advance these essential payments this yr in Annapolis. The next payments have handed the legislature and are anticipated to be signed into regulation by the Governor: 

• The Jack Cowl Vernal Pool Wetlands Safety Act of 2026 (HB701/SB523) requires the Division of Pure Sources to establish vernal swimming pools in Maryland and preserve an inventory of their places. This can be a important step in defending very important items of fowl habitat within the state. 

• Endangered Species and Habitat Protections (HB578/SB431) offers the state of Maryland extra powers to guard uncommon, threatened, and endangered species amid federal rollbacks of bedrock conservation packages. Whereas Audubon was disheartened to see the migratory fowl provisions of this invoice amended out resulting from opposition from business, this invoice will increase protections for birds and fowl habitat.