2021 Legislative Session Review

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned on Monday, April 12th, bringing an end to the largely remote session due to the  COVID-19 pandemic. The legislature was hard at work making up for time lost since the 2020 session ended early, and considered a wide range of issues impacting our access to clean air to breath, clean water to drink, and clean energy to power our lives. We are grateful for the effort the general assembly put in this year to consider bills on climate action, and are ready to continue pushing these policies forward. 

Our 2021 State Legislative Agenda covered a wide range of environmental issues, including bills to address climate change and plastic pollution, and to support energy solutions in public schools and universities. 

The Maryland legislature made progress on important reforms to shift to clean energy, reduce organic waste and electrify our transportation system. Gov. Hogan now decides which of these bills will become law.

Environmental Victories

• School energy bill: a bill to require school districts to make energy plans and set climate goals. We testified in support of this bill because it encourages school districts to be more mindful of their energy use and their ability to reduce emissions. This bill passed both chambers and is on its way to the governor.

• Organic Waste: a bill to expand composting systems. We testified in support of this bill because we need composting as a way to eliminate waste, especially food waste, and help fight climate change. This bill passed both chambers and is on its way to the governor. 

• Zero Emission Bus Transition Act: a bill prohibiting the Maryland Transit Administration from purchasing new busses that are not zero emissions vehicles, beginning in 2023. We testified in support of this bill. It passed both chambers and is on its way to the governor. 

• Community Choice Energy: a bill to establish a community choice energy pilot program in Montgomery County. Community choice energy gives residents control over the type of electricity purchased by their local utility, and can help communities turn to more renewable options and negotiate lower prices. The bill was led by Del. Charkoudian and our friends at Food and Water Watch. It passed both chambers and is on its way to the governor. 

Unfortunately, some of our top priorities did not make it across the finish line. We’ll keep working to reduce plastic waste and support solutions to our climate crisis. 

Wildlife Over Waste

• Plastic Bag Reduction Act (PBRA): a bill to ban single use plastic bags. Nothing we use for 5 minutes should pollute our world for centuries. We know that we must greatly reduce our plastic use to ensure clean air, clean water, healthy wildlife and a livable climate for generations to come and this bill which would have banned plastic bags is a huge step in the right direction. 

• As one of the leaders of a statewide coalition supporting the Plastic Bag Reduction Act, we met with dozens of state legislators, testified in support of the bill, and made calls urging legislators to act on this issue. The bill passed through the house, but did not receive a vote on the Senate floor before adjournment. 

• Producer responsibility: a bill to require producers of waste materials to take responsibility for their end of life outcomes. We know that it is critical that the producers of waste step up and take responsibility for their role in polluting our environment and communities, and we need legislation to hold them accountable. You can read our testimony in support of the bill here. Unfortunately, this bill died in committee when the legislature adjourned. 

• Plastic to fuel ban: Plastic to fuel is a toxic, emissions heavy, distraction from upstream solutions to plastic pollution and cannot be allowed in Maryland. That is why we testified in support of this bill , which prohibited the construction of plastic to fuel facilities in Maryland and specified that these processes should not be considered recycling. This bill did not pass out of committee. 

Global Warming Solutions

• Appliance Energy Standards: a bill to create new and updated energy standards for 13 different appliances. This bill passed out of the Senate but did not receive a vote in the house before the legislature adjourned. Read our testimony in support of this bill.

• FUTURE Act: a bill requiring higher education institutions in Maryland to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Read our testimony in support of this bill here. This bill did not pass out of committee. 

• Climate Solutions Now Act: This bill sets emissions reduction targets for the state, provides for the planting of new trees, and helps Maryland take a step in the right direction on climate change. The bill passed through both houses and was brought to a conference committee on the final day of session, but the two chambers were unable to reach a compromise. Read our testimony in support of this bill here.

As we all navigate our ever changing world in the year ahead, we will continue prioritizing our efforts for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. 

As a small donor funded, grassroots organization, it takes all of us to make a difference. And through public education, community organizing and political advocacy, we continue to make progress on our most pressing issues. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for our email list to stay up to date on all of our work.