The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland authorizes suspension or revocation of shellfish harvester permits for specific violations and sets rules for leaseholders
Last action · April 28, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 305Sponsor: Jack Bailey
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
Maryland authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to suspend harvester permits or registration cards for up to 5 years for a first violation and revoke them for subsequent offenses, effective October 1, 2026. The law prohibits individuals with suspended or revoked credentials from engaging in any aquaculture work and outlines a process for sole leaseholders to remove gear or transfer leases following lease termination.
Shellfish harvesters face loss of professional credentials and employment bans for specific harvesting infractions, while sole leaseholders are granted explicit timelines to remove equipment or transfer leases upon lease termination.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Shellfish aquaculture harvesters
Harvesters face potential permit suspension for up to 5 years or revocation, along with a complete ban on aquaculture work, if found to have committed specific violations.
Shellfish aquaculture leaseholders
Sole leaseholders whose permits are suspended or revoked must follow specific timelines to submit gear removal plans or lease transfer applications to avoid equipment forfeiture.
Department of Natural Resources
The Department is authorized to conduct administrative hearings, suspend or revoke permits, review gear removal and lease transfer plans, and approve lease transfers.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What offenses can lead to the suspension or revocation of a shellfish harvester permit?
Can a person work in aquaculture while their permit is suspended?
What happens to a leaseholder's equipment if their permit is revoked?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
14 actions- Apr 28, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 305
- Apr 8, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (134-0)
- Apr 3, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 3, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Environment and Transportation
- Mar 25, 2026HouseHearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
Show 8 earlier actions
- Mar 20, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Environment and Transportation
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (45-0)
- Mar 18, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 18, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 633824/1 Adopted
- Mar 18, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Jan 16, 2026SenateHearing 2/03 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Oct 1, 2025SenateIntroducedPre-filed
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools