| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. | |
| 4 | 4 | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. | |
| 5 | - | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | - | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | - | amendment. | |
| 8 | 5 | *hb0446* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | HOUSE BILL 446 | |
| 11 | - | M2 | |
| 8 | + | M2 5lr2418 | |
| 12 | 9 | CF SB 186 | |
| 13 | 10 | By: Delegates T. Morgan, Addison, Beauchamp, Ciliberti, Davis, Foley, Hartman, | |
| 14 | - | Hutchinson, Jacobs, Otto, and Ziegler Ziegler, Behler, Boyce, J. Long, and | |
| 15 | - | Ruth | |
| 11 | + | Hutchinson, Jacobs, Otto, and Ziegler | |
| 16 | 12 | Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025 | |
| 17 | 13 | Assigned to: Environment and Transportation | |
| 18 | - | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 19 | - | House action: Adopted | |
| 20 | - | Read second time: February 25, 2025 | |
| 21 | 14 | ||
| 22 | - | ||
| 15 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 23 | 16 | ||
| 24 | 17 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 25 | 18 | ||
| 26 | 19 | Commercial Blue and Flathead Catfish Finfish Trotline License – Prohibited 2 | |
| 27 | 20 | Regulations 3 | |
| 28 | - | Natural Resources – Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program 4 | |
| 29 | 21 | ||
| 30 | - | FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain regulations adopted by the Department of Natural 5 | |
| 31 | - | Resources from prohibiting the holder of a commercial blue and flathead catfish 6 | |
| 32 | - | finfish trotline license from fishing in a certain part of the Chesapeake Bay; and 7 | |
| 33 | - | generally relating to the commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license 8 | |
| 34 | - | establishing the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program to curb the spread of the 9 | |
| 35 | - | invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; and generally 10 | |
| 36 | - | relating to the establishment of the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program. 11 | |
| 22 | + | FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain regulations adopted by the Department of Natural 4 | |
| 23 | + | Resources from prohibiting the holder of a commercial blue and flathead catfish 5 | |
| 24 | + | finfish trotline license from fishing in a certain part of the Chesapeake Bay; and 6 | |
| 25 | + | generally relating to the commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license. 7 | |
| 37 | 26 | ||
| 38 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, | |
| 39 | - | Article – Natural Resources | |
| 40 | - | Section 4–701.2 | |
| 41 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland | |
| 42 | - | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) | |
| 27 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8 | |
| 28 | + | Article – Natural Resources 9 | |
| 29 | + | Section 4–701.2 10 | |
| 30 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 11 | |
| 31 | + | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12 | |
| 43 | 32 | ||
| 44 | - | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, | |
| 45 | - | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: | |
| 33 | + | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13 | |
| 34 | + | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14 | |
| 46 | 35 | ||
| 47 | - | Article – Natural Resources 19 | |
| 36 | + | Article – Natural Resources 15 | |
| 37 | + | ||
| 38 | + | 4–701.2. 16 | |
| 39 | + | ||
| 40 | + | (a) There is a commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license. 17 | |
| 41 | + | ||
| 42 | + | (b) (1) The license authorizes the holder to catch for sale blue and flathead 18 | |
| 43 | + | catfish in the tidal waters of the State using a finfish trotline, as defined in Department 19 | |
| 44 | + | regulations. 20 | |
| 45 | + | ||
| 46 | + | (2) (I) A licensee shall fish in accordance with Department regulations. 21 | |
| 48 | 47 | 2 HOUSE BILL 446 | |
| 49 | 48 | ||
| 50 | 49 | ||
| 51 | - | 4–701.2. 1 | |
| 50 | + | (II) REGULATIONS ADOPTED U NDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 1 | |
| 51 | + | THIS PARAGRAPH MAY NOT PR OHIBIT A LICENSEE FR OM FISHING IN THE MA IN STEM 2 | |
| 52 | + | OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY THAT IS SOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE. 3 | |
| 52 | 53 | ||
| 53 | - | (a) There is a commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license. 2 | |
| 54 | + | (c) A person who wishes to obtain the license shall complete and submit an 4 | |
| 55 | + | application for the license to the Department or any person designated by the Department. 5 | |
| 54 | 56 | ||
| 55 | - | (b) (1) The license authorizes the holder to catch for sale blue and flathead 3 | |
| 56 | - | catfish in the tidal waters of the State using a finfish trotline, as defined in Department 4 | |
| 57 | - | regulations. 5 | |
| 57 | + | (d) An applicant for the license does not need to hold a tidal fish license under § 6 | |
| 58 | + | 4–701 of this subtitle to be eligible for the license. 7 | |
| 58 | 59 | ||
| 59 | - | (2) (I) A licensee shall fish in accordance with Department regulations. 6 | |
| 60 | + | (e) The term of the license is 1 year from September 1 through August 31 the 8 | |
| 61 | + | following year. 9 | |
| 60 | 62 | ||
| 61 | - | (II) REGULATIONS ADOPTED U NDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 7 | |
| 62 | - | THIS PARAGRAPH MAY N OT PROHIBIT A LICENS EE FROM FISHING IN THE MAIN STEM 8 | |
| 63 | - | OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY THAT IS SOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE. 9 | |
| 63 | + | (f) The annual license fee is $15. 10 | |
| 64 | 64 | ||
| 65 | - | (c) A person who wishes to obtain the license shall complete and submit an 10 | |
| 66 | - | application for the license to the Department or any person designated by the Department. 11 | |
| 65 | + | (g) A licensee may not transfer a license issued under this section. 11 | |
| 67 | 66 | ||
| 68 | - | ( | |
| 69 | - | ||
| 67 | + | (h) A licensee shall have a commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline 12 | |
| 68 | + | license in the licensee’s possession when the licensee fishes under the license. 13 | |
| 70 | 69 | ||
| 71 | - | | |
| 72 | - | ||
| 70 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 14 | |
| 71 | + | 1, 2025. 15 | |
| 73 | 72 | ||
| 74 | - | (f) The annual license fee is $15. 16 | |
| 75 | - | ||
| 76 | - | (g) A licensee may not transfer a license issued under this section. 17 | |
| 77 | - | ||
| 78 | - | (h) A licensee shall have a commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline 18 | |
| 79 | - | license in the licensee’s possession when the licensee fishes under the license. 19 | |
| 80 | - | ||
| 81 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20 | |
| 82 | - | 1, 2025. 21 | |
| 83 | - | ||
| 84 | - | (a) The Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the Invasive 22 | |
| 85 | - | Catfish Advisory Committee, shall establish the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program. 23 | |
| 86 | - | ||
| 87 | - | (b) The purpose of the Pilot Program is to curb the spread of the invasive blue 24 | |
| 88 | - | catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. 25 | |
| 89 | - | ||
| 90 | - | (c) The Pilot Program consists of: 26 | |
| 91 | - | ||
| 92 | - | (1) the For–Hire/Commercial Blue Catfish Program; 27 | |
| 93 | - | ||
| 94 | - | (2) the Mid– and Lower–Bay Blue Catfish Trotline Program; and 28 | |
| 95 | - | ||
| 96 | - | (3) any other program that the Department determines to be effective in 29 | |
| 97 | - | curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. 30 HOUSE BILL 446 3 | |
| 98 | - | ||
| 99 | - | ||
| 100 | - | ||
| 101 | - | (d) (1) Under the For–Hire/Commercial Blue Catfish Program, the 1 | |
| 102 | - | Department may: 2 | |
| 103 | - | ||
| 104 | - | (i) authorize eligible participants to run for–hire and commercial 3 | |
| 105 | - | fishing trips simultaneously; and 4 | |
| 106 | - | ||
| 107 | - | (ii) make any regulatory or administrative changes it believes will 5 | |
| 108 | - | increase the commercial harvest of blue catfish. 6 | |
| 109 | - | ||
| 110 | - | (2) (i) Under the Mid– and Lower–Bay Blue Catfish Trotline Program, 7 | |
| 111 | - | the Department shall authorize the use of finfish trotlines south of the William Preston 8 | |
| 112 | - | Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge to the maximum extent feasible to harvest blue catfish. 9 | |
| 113 | - | ||
| 114 | - | (ii) The Department may restrict the areas south of the William 10 | |
| 115 | - | Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge where finfish trotlines may be used to harvest blue 11 | |
| 116 | - | catfish based on potential bycatch, user conflicts, or other issues it considers relevant. 12 | |
| 117 | - | ||
| 118 | - | (e) In implementing the Pilot Program, the Department shall consider for the 13 | |
| 119 | - | harvest of blue catfish: 14 | |
| 120 | - | ||
| 121 | - | (1) authorizing the use of electrofishing; 15 | |
| 122 | - | ||
| 123 | - | (2) authorizing the use of finfish trotlines of up to 2,400 feet in length; 16 | |
| 124 | - | ||
| 125 | - | (3) eliminating any limits on the number of hooks used on a finfish trotline; 17 | |
| 126 | - | and 18 | |
| 127 | - | ||
| 128 | - | (4) authorizing the use of hooks that are not corrodible. 19 | |
| 129 | - | ||
| 130 | - | (f) The Department shall: 20 | |
| 131 | - | ||
| 132 | - | (1) expand the use of practices determined to be effective under the Pilot 21 | |
| 133 | - | Program throughout the duration of the Pilot Program; and 22 | |
| 134 | - | ||
| 135 | - | (2) continue to implement and update the Pilot Program until the 23 | |
| 136 | - | termination date of this Act. 24 | |
| 137 | - | ||
| 138 | - | (g) On or before December 1, 2025, the Department shall report to the Governor 25 | |
| 139 | - | and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly 26 | |
| 140 | - | on its findings and recommendations under the Pilot Program. 27 | |
| 141 | - | ||
| 142 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 28 | |
| 143 | - | measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 29 | |
| 144 | - | been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 30 | |
| 145 | - | each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 31 | |
| 146 | - | enacted. It shall remain effective through June 30, 2026, and, at the end of June 30, 2026, 32 4 HOUSE BILL 446 | |
| 147 | - | ||
| 148 | - | ||
| 149 | - | this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 1 | |
| 150 | - | of no further force and effect. 2 | |
| 151 | - | ||
| 152 | - | ||
| 153 | - | ||
| 154 | - | ||
| 155 | - | Approved: | |
| 156 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 157 | - | Governor. | |
| 158 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 159 | - | Speaker of the House of Delegates. | |
| 160 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 161 | - | President of the Senate. |