HB1023 amends Maryland’s Environment Article to change how certain wetlands-related land is documented and mapped. First, it requires any “fast land” created under a tidal wetlands license to be described by metes and bounds, a formal surveying method that precisely defines property boundaries. Second, it directs the Department of the Environment to update the landward boundaries of wetlands after completion of approved shoreline stabilization improvements, and to show those boundaries on maps or aerial photographs at a specified scale.
The bill is aimed at improving clarity and precision in wetlands boundary records after shoreline stabilization projects. It would add a new statutory section requiring the Department to make these updates and to adopt regulations to implement the process. The act would take effect October 1, 2025, and would affect the Department of the Environment, property owners involved in tidal wetlands licensing, and projects involving coastal erosion or shoreline protection.
Impact
HB1023 would amend existing wetlands law in the Environment Article by adding a new requirement for metes-and-bounds descriptions of fast land created under tidal wetlands licenses and by mandating that the Department of the Environment update landward wetlands boundaries after certain shoreline stabilization measures are completed. It would also require the Department to promulgate regulations and use maps or aerial photographs at a 1 inch to 200 feet scale for boundary documentation. The practical effect is to tighten surveying, mapping, and administrative recordkeeping for tidal wetlands and shoreline stabilization projects, potentially affecting permitting, property descriptions, and boundary disputes along Maryland’s coast.
Sentiment
Based on the available record, there is no committee transcript or vote history showing debate, amendments, or opposition, so the bill’s sentiment cannot be measured from discussion. The text itself suggests a technical, administrative measure focused on boundary precision and regulatory clarity rather than a broad policy change. The available status indicates the bill had a House hearing scheduled, which is consistent with early-stage consideration.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of concern, based on the bill text, could include how the Department will determine and update wetlands boundaries after shoreline stabilization, the burden on property owners or permit holders to obtain metes-and-bounds descriptions, and whether the new mapping requirements could affect coastal development or existing riparian expectations. However, these concerns are inferred from the bill’s subject matter rather than from recorded testimony or votes.