Maryland HB34: Municipalities - Open Drainage Inlets - Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law)

What the bill says

An act concerning Municipalities - Open Drainage Inlets - Required Grating Systems Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law) FOR the purpose of requiring a municipality to inventory and prioritize all existing open drainage inlets in the municipality and construct or install a certain approved grating system certain improvements on a new or existing open drainage inlet within the municipality…

From the engrossed text, March 19, 2026:

AN ACT concerning Municipalities - Open Drainage Inlets - Required Grating Systems Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law) FOR the purpose of requiring a municipality to inventory and prioritize all existing open drainage inlets in the municipality and construct or install a certain approved grating system certain improvements on a new or existing open drainage inlet within the municipality; requiring, in certain fiscal years, a certain amount of money appropriated to the comprehensive flood management grant program within the Department of the Environment to be used to provide matching funds to assist municipalities with certain costs; and generally relating to open drainage inlets in municipalities. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Environment Section 5-803(h) Annotated Code of Maryland (2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Local Government Section 4-112 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. Underlining indicates amendments to bill. Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by amendment. *hb0034* HOUSE BILL Annotated Code of Maryland (2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Environment 5-803. (h) (1) There is a comprehensive flood management grant program within the Department. (2) …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Christopher Bouchat (R, HD-005) · primary sponsor
• Kris Fair (D, 3)
• David Moon (D, 20)
• Matthew Schindler (D, HD-002)
• Nick Allen (D, 8)
• Dylan Behler (D, 30A)
• Regina Boyce (D, HD-043)
• Linda Foley (D, 15)
• David Fraser-Hidalgo (D, 15)
• Michele Guyton (D, 42B)
• Jeffrie Long (D, HD-027)
• Robbyn Lewis (D, 46)

Latest actions

1. March 23, 2026: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
2. March 20, 2026: Third Reading Passed (131-0)
3. March 19, 2026: Second Reading Passed with Amendments
4. March 19, 2026: Favorable with Amendments {213326/1 Adopted
5. March 19, 2026: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation
6. January 19, 2026: Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m.
7. January 14, 2026: First Reading Environment and Transportation
8. October 21, 2025: Pre-filed

Votes

• Third Reading Passed (131-0) (March 20, 2026): 131 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB34?

HB34 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Municipalities - Open Drainage Inlets - Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law).

What does HB34 do?

In its own words: An act concerning Municipalities - Open Drainage Inlets - Required Grating Systems Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law) FOR the purpose of requiring a municipality to inventory and prioritize all existing open drainage inlets in the municipality and construct or install a certain approved grating system certain improvements on a new or existing open drainage inlet within the municipality…

What is the status of HB34?

In committee as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (March 23, 2026).

Who sponsored HB34?

Christopher Bouchat (R, HD-005), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB34?

On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0034?ys=2026RS