Legislative Priorities: Leading Maryland Forward

Maryland’s ninety-day legislative session ran from January 12 to April 13, 2021. From climate change to police reform, equity to Covid-19, the General Assembly was faced with immense challenges.

In order to protect the health and safety of legislators, state employees, agency members, lobbyists, advocates, and others, as much work as possible was completed virtually with very limited and highly restricted in-person legislator meetings.

The Maryland/DC chapter's Government Relations team worked hard to promote our priority legislation, targeting issues key to TNC's mission: climate mitigation, climate adaptation and clean water. 

• Reduce Carbon Emissions: During the 2021 legislative session we provided testimony on bills that aim to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, which is the largest carbon-emitting sector in Maryland. The Zero-Emission Bus Transition Act passed, which means that Maryland residents will soon see more environmentally-friendly state transit services.
• Clean the Bay: The Clean Water Commerce Act of 2021 also passed in Maryland’s legislative session. This will provide $20 million annually to projects that reduce nutrient and sediment loads in the Chesapeake Bay and that further Maryland’s clean water goals.