EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0983*
SENATE BILL 983
M2 4lr2144
By: Senator Lewis Young
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
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 THERE IS NO LEAD CONTENT , EXCEPT 18
TRACE AMOUNTS OF LEA D; AND 19
(2) ANY FEDERALLY APPROVED N ONTOXIC SHOTGUN AMMU NITION. 20
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 21
2 SENATE BILL 983
(1) ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO PHASE OUT AND, ON OR BEFORE 1
DECEMBER 31, 2026, PROHIBIT THE USE OF LEAD OR L EAD–BASED AMMUNITION 2
FOR HUNTING; 3
(2) ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO CERTIFY AMMUNITION AS NONLEA D 4
AMMUNITION ; AND 5
(3) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION . 6
(C) THE PROCESS TO PHASE OUT LEAD OR LEAD –BASED AMMUNITION 7
SHALL PRIORITIZE DEER HUNTING. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
1, 2024. 10