Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB578: Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings
Status: Signed into law, April 28, 2026
Requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and, if warranted, update regulations related to the Irreplaceable Natural Areas Program by July 1, 2033, and at least every 10 years thereafter; requiring the Secretary to delist an endangered or threatened species under certain circumstances; authorizing the Secretary to adopt management protocols for designated essential habitats; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to promulgate regulations authorizing the taking of black vultures under certain circumstances; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings FOR the purpose of requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and, if warranted, update certain regulations on or before a certain date and at a certain frequency; altering the impacts the Secretary can make reference to when making certain determinations; requiring the Secretary to delist an endangered or threatened species under certain circumstances…
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Fish and Wildlife - Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats, and Takings FOR the purpose of requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and, if warranted, update certain regulations on or before a certain date and at a certain frequency; altering the impacts the Secretary can make reference to when making certain determinations; requiring the Secretary to delist an endangered or threatened species under certain circumstances; requiring a petition to remove a listed species to contain certain information; authorizing the Secretary to designate areas as essential habitats for endangered and threatened species; authorizing the Secretary to adopt management protocols for designated essential habitats; prohibiting a person from taking certain migratory birds; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to promulgate regulations authorizing the taking of black vultures under certain circumstances; and generally relating to fish, wildlife, and endangered and threatened species. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 3-501, 3-502, 4-2A-01(a), (i), and (j), and 10-2A-01(a), (k), and (l), and 10-2A-03(c) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 3-503, 4-2A-04, 4-2A-05, 4-2A-06, 10-2A-03(c), 10-2A-04, 10-2A-05, and 10-2A-06 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - …