EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1473*
HOUSE BILL 1473
M2 4lr3517
CF SB 983
By: Delegate Stewart
Introduced and read first time: February 14, 2024
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Hunting – Lead and Lead–Based Ammunition – Phase–Out 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish a certain 3
process to phase out on or before a certain date the use of lead or lead–based 4
ammunition for hunting; requiring the Department to establish a process to certify 5
ammunition as nonlead ammunition; and generally relating to phasing out the use 6
of lead or lead–based ammunition for hunting. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Natural Resources 9
Section 10–428 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Natural Resources 15
10–428. 16
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “NONLEAD AMMUNITION ” INCLUDES: 17
(1) AMMUNITION IN WHICH T HERE IS NO LEAD CONT ENT, EXCEPT 18
TRACE AMOUNTS OF LEA D; AND 19
(2) ANY FEDERALLY APPROVE D NONTOXIC SHOTGUN A MMUNITION. 20
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1473
(1) ESTABLISH A PROCESS T O PHASE OUT AND, ON OR BEFORE 1
DECEMBER 31, 2026, PROHIBIT THE USE OF LEAD OR LEAD –BASED AMMUNITION 2
FOR HUNTING ; 3
(2) ESTABLISH A PROCESS T O CERTIFY AMMUNITION AS NONLEAD 4
AMMUNITION ; AND 5
(3) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTI ON. 6
(C) THE PROCESS TO PHASE OUT LEAD OR LEAD –BASED AMMUNITION 7
SHALL PRIORITIZE DEE R HUNTING. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
1, 2024. 10