US Federal Senate Bill SB3986

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/26
• Refer: 3/4/26

Caption

Maryland Whole Watershed Program Federal Partnership Act of 2026

Summary

SB3986, titled the Maryland Whole Watershed Program Federal Partnership Act of 2026, would authorize the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to participate as an advisory member of the State Management Team for Maryland’s Whole Watershed Program and any other substantially similar state watershed program. The bill is aimed at strengthening coordination between federal, state, and local partners on watershed restoration and protection efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region. In addition to the advisory role, the bill expressly allows the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to coordinate with state and local governments and federal agencies, and to provide technical assistance and financial resources for projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The measure is framed as a partnership and support bill rather than a regulatory overhaul, with its focus on collaboration, expertise-sharing, and funding support for watershed projects.

Impact

The bill would amend the practical role of the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, an office established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, by giving it explicit authority to serve in an advisory capacity on certain state watershed programs. It would not appear to create new environmental standards or enforcement powers, but it would expand federal participation in state watershed planning and implementation, especially for Maryland’s Whole Watershed Program and similar programs in other states. The main affected parties would be the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Maryland and other state watershed program administrators, local governments, and federal agencies involved in Chesapeake Bay restoration.

Sentiment

The available record suggests a generally positive and cooperative posture toward the bill, as reflected by its bipartisan sponsorship from Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen and its referral to committee without any recorded opposition, amendments, or votes. The bill’s language emphasizes partnership, technical assistance, and resource coordination, which typically signals support for collaborative environmental restoration efforts. No committee transcript or vote history is available to indicate substantive debate or controversy.

Contention

There is no recorded committee discussion or voting history showing active disagreement, so no specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. Potential issues that could arise, based on the bill’s structure, would likely concern the scope of federal involvement in state watershed programs, the use of federal technical and financial resources, and whether similar advisory authority should extend beyond Maryland to other states with comparable programs. However, none of these concerns are explicitly raised in the provided record.