EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1023*
HOUSE BILL 1023
M3 5lr3418
By: Delegates Hutchinson and Adams
Introduced and read first time: February 3, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Environment – Wetlands – Landward Boundaries 2
FOR the purpose of requiring certain land created under a tidal wetlands license to be 3
described in a certain manner; requiring the Department of the Environment to 4
update, to a certain standard, the landward boundaries of certain wetlands following 5
the completion of improvements consisting of certain shoreline stabilization 6
measures; and generally relating to wetlands. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Environment 9
Section 16–103 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Environment 14
Section 16–206 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Environment 20
16–103. 21
(a) Except as specifically provided in this title, a riparian owner may not be 22
deprived of any right, privilege, or enjoyment of riparian ownership that the riparian owner 23
had prior to July 1, 1970. 24
2 HOUSE BILL 1023
(b) The provisions of this title do not transfer the title or ownership of any land 1
or interest in land. 2
(C) ANY FAST LAND CREATED UNDER A TIDAL WETLAN DS LICENSE SHALL 3
BE DESCRIBED BY METES A ND BOUNDS. 4
16–206. 5
(A) (1) FOLLOWING THE COMPLET ION OF ANY IMPROVEME NTS 6
CONSISTING OF SHOREL INE STABILIZATION ME ASURES AUTHORIZED UN DER § 7
16–201(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PREC ISELY UPDATE THE 8
LANDWARD BOUNDARIES OF THE RELEVANT WETLAND S. 9
(2) THE LANDWARD BOUNDARI ES OF THE WETLANDS S HALL BE 10
SHOWN ON SUITABLE MA PS OR AERIAL PHOTOGR APHS ON A SCALE OF 1 INCH TO 200 11
FEET. 12
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THE 13
PROVISIONS OF THIS S ECTION. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2025. 16