EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0345*
HOUSE BILL 345
M1, M2 4lr1234
CF SB 916
By: Delegates Palakovich Carr, Lehman, Embry, Foley, Love, Pena–Melnyk, Ruth,
Taveras, and Terrasa Terrasa, Allen, and Guyton
Introduced and read first time: January 17, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Fish and Wildlife – Endangered and Threatened Species – Definitions, Petitions, 2
and Regulations 3
FOR the purpose of requiring certain petitions to review the listing or unlisting of 4
endangered or threatened species to contain certain information; requiring the 5
Secretary of Natural Resources to review and, if warranted, update certain 6
regulations listing endangered or threatened species on or before a certain date, and 7
every certain number of years thereafter; altering the definitions of “fish” and 8
“wildlife” for certain purposes; and generally relating to fish, wildlife, and 9
endangered and threatened species. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Natural Resources 12
Section 4–101(a), 10–101(a), and 10–2A–01(a), (d), (j), (k), and (l) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Natural Resources 17
Section 4–101(j), 4–2A–01, 4–2A–04(f), 4–2A–05(a), 10–101(dd), 10–2A–04, and 18
10–2A–05 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 21
2 HOUSE BILL 345
BY adding to 1
Article – Natural Resources 2
Section 10–2A–01(m) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Natural Resources 8
4–101. 9
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 10
(j) “Fish” means, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N § 4–2A–01 OF THIS TITLE, finfish, 11
crustaceans, mollusks, and amphibians and reptiles which spend the majority of their life 12
cycle in water and any part, egg, offspring, or dead body of any of these species. 13
4–2A–01. 14
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
(b) “Conserve” means to use all methods and procedures for the purpose of 16
increasing the number of individuals within species or populations up to the optimum 17
carrying capacity of their habitat and maintaining these levels. These methods and 18
procedures include all activities associated with scientific resources management such as 19
research, census, law enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live 20
trapping, and transplantation, including the periodic or total protection of species or 21
populations as well as regulated taking. With respect to endangered and threatened 22
species, the term means to use all methods and procedures including those described above 23
which are necessary to bring any endangered or threatened species to the point at which 24
the measures provided for these species pursuant to this subtitle are no longer necessary 25
except that regulated taking as a method and procedure shall be limited to the 26
extraordinary case where population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be 27
otherwise relieved. 28
(c) “Ecosystem” means a system of living organisms and their environment, each 29
influencing the existence of the other and necessary for the maintenance of life. 30
(d) “Endangered species” means any species whose continued existence as a 31
viable component of the State’s fish resources is determined to be in jeopardy including any 32
species of fish determined to be an “endangered species” pursuant to the Endangered 33
Species Act. 34
(e) “Endangered Species Act” means the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 87 Stat. 35
884. 36 HOUSE BILL 345 3
(f) (1) “FISH” MEANS FINFISH , CRUSTACEANS , MOLLUSKS, 1
INVERTEBRATES , AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES THAT SP END THE MAJORITY OF 2
THEIR LIFE CYCLE IN WATER. 3
(2) “FISH” INCLUDES ANY PART , EGG, OFFSPRING, PRODUCT, OR 4
DEAD BODY OF ANY FIS H. 5
(G) “Optimum carrying capacity” means that point at which a given habitat can 6
support healthy populations of fish species, having regard to the total ecosystem, without 7
diminishing the ability of the habitat to continue that function. 8
[(g)] (H) (1) “Species” includes any subspecies of fish and any other group of 9
fish of the same species or smaller taxa in common spatial arrangement that interbreed 10
when mature. 11
(2) “Species” does not include fish which are bred or raised in authorized 12
aquaculture operations in nontidal ponds, lakes, or impoundments. 13
[(h)] (I) “Take” means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, 14
capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. 15
[(i)] (J) “Threatened species” means any species of fish which appears likely, 16
within the foreseeable future, to become endangered, including any species of fish 17
determined to be a “threatened species” pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. 18
4–2A–04. 19
(f) (1) The Secretary shall adopt rules and regulations containing a list of all 20
species of fish normally occurring within the State determined to be endangered species 21
and a list of all species determined to be threatened species. 22
(2) Each list shall refer to the species by scientific and common names and 23
shall specify with respect to each species over what portion of its range it is endangered or 24
threatened. 25
(3) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, AND AT LEAST EVERY 5 YEARS 26
THEREAFTER , THE SECRETARY SHALL REVIE W AND, IF WARRANTED , UPDATE THE 27
REGULATIONS REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N. 28
4–2A–05. 29
(a) (1) Except with respect to species of fish determined to be endangered or 30
threatened pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary, upon the petition of an 31
interested person THAT MEETS THE REQUI REMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 32
SUBSECTION , shall conduct a review of any listed or unlisted species proposed to be 33 4 HOUSE BILL 345
removed from or added to the lists published pursuant to § 4–2A–04(f) of this subtitle, if 1
[he] THE SECRETARY makes and publishes a public notice that the person has presented 2
substantial evidence which warrants a review. 3
(2) A PETITION SUBMITTED B Y AN INTERESTED PERS ON UNDER 4
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL INCLUDE : 5
(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE B IOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTI ON OF THE 6
SPECIES IN THE STATE; 7
(II) THE LIFE NEEDS AND HABITAT RE QUIREMENTS OF THE 8
SPECIES; 9
(III) EVIDENCE: 10
1. OF THE SPECIES ’ DECLINE, IF THE SPECIES IS AN 11
UNLISTED SPECIES ; OR 12
2. THAT THE SPECIES IS M ORE COMMON THAN 13
PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED AND DOCUMENTED , IF THE SPECIES IS A LISTED SPECIES; 14
(IV) ALL KNOWN THREATS THA T JEOPARDIZE THE CON TINUED 15
EXISTENCE OF THE SPE CIES; 16
(V) ANY OTHER RELEVANT BI OLOGICAL AND ECOLOGI CAL 17
DATA OR OTHER LIFE H ISTORY INFORMATION P ERTINENT TO THE STAT US OF THE 18
SPECIES; 19
(VI) EVIDENCE THAT THE SPE CIES IS RECOGNIZED AS A VALID 20
SPECIES OR AN INFRAS PECIFIC TAXON OF REG IONAL OR NATIONAL SI GNIFICANCE; 21
AND 22
(VII) ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATIO N THAT THE SPECIES O CCURS 23
NATURALLY AND IS PER MANENTLY ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE. 24
10–101. 25
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 26
(dd) (1) “Wildlife” means, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N § 10–2A–01 OF THIS 27
TITLE, every living creature, not human, wild by nature, endowed with sensation and 28
power of voluntary motion. 29
HOUSE BILL 345 5
(2) “Wildlife” includes mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles which 1
spend a majority of their life cycle on land or any part, egg, offspring, or dead body of any 2
of them. 3
10–2A–01. 4
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(d) (1) “Endangered species” means any species whose continued existence as 6
a viable component of the State’s wildlife or plants is determined to be in jeopardy. 7
(2) “Endangered species” includes any species of wildlife or plant 8
determined to be an “endangered species” pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. 9
(j) “Species” includes any subspecies of wildlife or plant and any other group of 10
wildlife of the same species or smaller taxa in common spatial arrangement that interbreed 11
when mature. 12
(k) “Take” means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, 13
or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. 14
(l) “Threatened species” means any species of wildlife or plants which appears 15
likely, within the foreseeable future, to become endangered including any species of wildlife 16
or plant determined to be a “threatened species” pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. 17
(M) (1) “WILDLIFE” MEANS EVERY LIVING CREATUR E, NOT HUMAN, WILD 18
BY NATURE, ENDOWED WITH SENSATI ON AND POWER OF VOLU NTARY MOTION ANY 19
NONDOME STICATED SPECIES OR SUBSPECIES OF THE AN IMAL KINGDOM . 20
(2) “WILDLIFE” INCLUDES: 21
(I) MAMMALS, BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS, MOLLUSKS, 22
INVERTEBRATES , CRUSTACEANS , AND REPTILES THAT SP END A MAJORITY OF TH EIR 23
LIFE CYCLE ON LAND ; AND 24
(II) ANY PART, EGG, OFFSPRING, PRODUCT, OR DEAD BODY OF 25
ANY WILDLIFE. 26
10–2A–04. 27
(a) (1) Any species of wildlife or plant determined to be endangered species 28
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act shall be deemed to be an endangered species under 29
the provisions of this subtitle and any species of wildlife or plant determined to be a 30
threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act shall be deemed to be a 31
threatened species under the provisions of this subtitle. 32
6 HOUSE BILL 345
(2) The Secretary may determine, in accordance with this section, that any 1
threatened species is an endangered species throughout all or any portion of the range of 2
the species within the State. 3
(b) In addition to the species deemed to be endangered or threatened pursuant to 4
the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary, by regulation, shall determine whether any 5
species of wildlife or plant normally occurring within the State is an endangered or 6
threatened species due to any of the following factors: 7
(1) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of 8
its habitat or range; 9
(2) Overutilization for commercial, sporting, scientific, educational, or 10
other purposes; 11
(3) Disease or predation; 12
(4) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or 13
(5) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence 14
within the State. 15
(c) (1) The Secretary shall make determinations required by subsection (b) of 16
this section on the basis of the best scientific, commercial, and other data available to and 17
after consultation, as appropriate, with federal agencies, other interested State agencies, 18
other states having a common interest in the species, and interested persons and 19
organizations. 20
(2) In determining whether any species of wildlife or plant is an 21
endangered species or a threatened species, the Secretary shall take into consideration any 22
actions being carried out or about to be carried out by the federal government, other states, 23
other agencies of this State, or political subdivisions, or by any other person which may 24
affect the species under consideration. 25
(d) Except with respect to species of wildlife or plants determined to be 26
endangered or threatened species under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the 27
Secretary may not add a species to nor remove a species from any list published unless the 28
Secretary first: 29
(1) Publishes a public notice of the proposed action; 30
(2) Furnishes notice of the proposed action to the Governor of any state 31
sharing a common border with the State and in which the subject species is known to exist; 32
and 33
(3) Allows at least 30 days following publication for comment from the 34
public and other interested parties. 35 HOUSE BILL 345 7
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, if the 1
Department determines that an emergency situation exists involving the continued 2
existence of the species as a viable component of the State’s wildlife or plants, the 3
Department may add the species to the lists if the Department publishes a public notice 4
that an emergency situation exists together with a summary of facts which support this 5
determination. 6
(f) (1) The Secretary shall adopt regulations containing a list of all species of 7
wildlife and plants normally occurring within the State determined to be endangered 8
species and a list of all species determined to be threatened species. 9
(2) Each list shall refer to the species by scientific and common names and 10
shall specify with respect to each species over what portion of its range it is endangered or 11
threatened. 12
(3) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, AND AT LEAST EVERY 5 YEARS 13
THEREAFTER , THE SECRETARY SHALL REVIEW AND , IF WARRANTED , UPDATE THE 14
REGULATIONS REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N. 15
10–2A–05. 16
(a) (1) Except with respect to species of wildlife or plants determined to be 17
endangered or threatened pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary, upon the 18
petition of an interested person THAT MEETS THE REQUI REMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (2) 19
OF THIS SUBSECTION , shall conduct a review of any listed or unlisted species proposed to 20
be removed from or added to the lists published pursuant to § 10–2A–04(f) of this subtitle, 21
if the Secretary publishes public notice that the person has presented substantial evidence 22
which warrants a review. 23
(2) A PETITION SUBMITTED B Y AN INTERESTED PERS ON UNDER 24
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL INCLUDE : 25
(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE B IOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTI ON OF THE 26
SPECIES IN THE STATE; 27
(II) THE LIFE NEEDS AND HA BITAT REQUIREMENTS O F THE 28
SPECIES; 29
(III) EVIDENCE: 30
1. OF THE SPECIES ’ DECLINE, IF THE SPECIES IS AN 31
UNLISTED SPECIES ; OR 32
8 HOUSE BILL 345
2. THAT THE SPECIE S IS MORE COMMON THA N 1
PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED AND DOCUMENTED , IF THE SPECIES IS A LISTED SPECIES; 2
(IV) ALL KNOWN THREATS THA T JEOPARDIZE THE CON TINUED 3
EXISTENCE OF THE SPE CIES; 4
(V) ANY OTHER RELEVANT BI OLOGICAL AND ECOLOGI CAL 5
DATA OR OTHER LIFE H ISTORY INFORMATION PERTINEN T TO THE STATUS OF T HE 6
SPECIES; 7
(VI) EVIDENCE THAT THE SPE CIES IS RECOGNIZED A S A VALID 8
SPECIES, OR INFRASPECIFIC TAX A OF REGIONAL OR NAT IONAL SIGNIFICANCE ; AND 9
(VII) ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATIO N THAT THE SPECIES O CCURS 10
NATURALLY AND IS PERMANENTLY ESTAB LISHED IN THE STATE. 11
(b) (1) When any species of wildlife or plant is listed as a threatened species 12
pursuant to § 10–2A–04(f) of this subtitle, the Secretary shall adopt regulations necessary 13
and advisable to provide for the conservation of the species. 14
(2) The Secretary, by regulations, may prohibit with respect to any 15
threatened species of wildlife or plant any act prohibited under subsection (c) of this section. 16
(c) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section and § 10–2A–05.1 of this 17
subtitle, with respect to any endangered species of wildlife, a person may not: 18
(1) Export the species from the State; 19
(2) Take the species within the State; 20
(3) Possess, process, sell or offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport, or ship 21
the species by any means; or 22
(4) Violate any regulation pertaining to the conservation of the species or 23
to any threatened species of wildlife listed pursuant to this subsection and adopted by the 24
Secretary pursuant to authority provided by this section. 25
(d) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, with respect to any 26
endangered species of plant, a person may not: 27
(1) Export the species from the State; 28
(2) Possess, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport, or ship the 29
species by any means; or 30
HOUSE BILL 345 9
(3) Violate any regulation pertaining to the species or to any threatened 1
species of plant listed pursuant to § 10–2A–04(f) of this subtitle and adopted by the 2
Secretary. 3
(e) Any endangered species of wildlife or plant which enters the State from 4
another state or from a point outside the territorial limits of the United States and which 5
is transported to a point within or beyond the State may enter and be transported without 6
restriction in accordance with the terms of any federal permit or permit issued under the 7
laws or regulations of another state. 8
(f) The Secretary may permit, under the terms and conditions [he] THAT THE 9
SECRETARY prescribes, any act otherwise prohibited by subsections (c) and (d) of this 10
section for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected 11
species. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2024. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.