We hope that you, your family, and friends are safe and well. This is an extraordinarily difficult, challenging, and sobering time.

In Annapolis, the General Assembly this past Wednesday ended its 2020 session a month early due to the COVID-19 crisis. This was absolutely necessary. Still, we know that Maryland has much yet to do, and do very soon, to mitigate the climate crisis, reduce plastic waste, and address other significant environmental problems.  

During this session, we made important progress on all our priority bills.  We are very proud of our hard-working staff and volunteer leaders, gratified by the hundreds of grassroots activists who joined our efforts, and thankful for the many incredible environmental champions serving in the legislature. Please email Legislation@mdsierra.org with any questions about how you can participate in our future legislative advocacy efforts.

Unfortunately, none of our priority bills passed, due in large part to the sudden need to shorten the session. But we did achieve significant incremental victories.

• Our bill to ban plastic carryout bags passed the House 95-37.
• Our bill to provide additional emergency funding for public transit passed the House 95-36.
• Our bill to reform the use of public-private partnerships for large transportation projects passed the House 97-37.
• Our bill to require a climate “test” for all Public Service Commission actions passed the Senate 32-14.
• Our bill to set a timetable for ending coal burning in Maryland, and establish a just transition fund for affected workers and communities, did not make it out of committee, however, the ground has been laid for significant ongoing discussions with legislators and stakeholders.

In addition, after a difficult three-year struggle, the General Assembly acted to ban the dangerous, neurotoxin pesticide, chlorpyrifos (wboc news)!  Other significant bills that passed one house included a bill to phase in electric transit buses, and a bill to create a pilot project for local community choice energy.  Overall, we submitted testimony on over 80 bills (a full pdf listing may be viewed here).  

Looking ahead, the General Assembly is planning to return for a special session in a few months. While it is unknown as of now what will be considered, we will make every effort to find the right policy and strategy to advance time-sensitive environmental legislation.  We also are beginning to strategize for the next regular legislative session in 2021. 

These are trying times.  We remain committed to the Sierra Club’s mission to “explore, enjoy, and protect” our beautiful planet. 

Thank you,

Mark Posner             Rosa Hance                Josh Tulkin
Legislative Chair       Chapter Chair             Chapter Director