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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0092*
HOUSE BILL 92
M3 6lr0676
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegates Schindler, Behler, Guyton, Kaufman, Mireku–North, and Ziegler
Requested: August 11, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Environment – Beverage Containers Connected With Plastic Rings – Restriction 2
on Sale 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing for 4
sale beverage containers that are connected to other beverage containers with a 5
plastic ring connector unless the plastic ring connector is made of a biodegradable 6
material; and generally relating to beverage containers and plastic ring connectors. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Environment 9
New part designation “Part I. Labeling of Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic 10
Products” to immediately precede Section 9 –2101; Section 9 –2108 through 11
9–2110 to be under the new part “Part II. Plastic Ring Connectors” 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Environment 16
Section 9–2101(a) and 9–2105 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the new part designation “Part I. Labeling of Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic 21
Products” be added to immediately precede Section 9–2101 of Article – Environment of the 22
Annotated Code of Maryland. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 24
as follows: 25
2 HOUSE BILL 92
Article – Environment 1
9–2101. 2
(a) In this [subtitle] PART the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
9–2105. 4
(a) A person that violates this [subtitle] PART is subject to: 5
(1) For a first violation, a civil penalty of $500; 6
(2) For a second violation, a civil penalty of $1,000; and 7
(3) For a third and subsequent violation, a civil penalty of $2,000. 8
(b) Any penalties collected under this section shall be paid to the county, 9
municipality, or other local government that brought the enforcement action. 10
9–2106. RESERVED. 11
9–2107. RESERVED. 12
PART II. PLASTIC RING CONNECTORS. 13
9–2108. 14
IN THIS PART , “BIODEGRADABLE MATERI AL” MEANS A MATERIAL THA T IS 15
ABLE TO BE BROKEN DO WN INTO NATURAL , HARMLESS SUBSTANCES BY LIVING 16
MICROORGANISMS. 17
9–2109. 18
(A) A PERSON MAY NOT SELL, OFFER FOR SALE, OR DISTRIBUTE FOR SALE, 19
BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO OTHER BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 20
WITH A PLASTIC RING CONNECTOR UNLESS THE PLASTIC RING CONNECTOR IS MADE 21
OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL. 22
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO ADM INISTER AND 23
ENFORCE THIS SECTION. 24
9–2110. 25
(A) THE PROVISIONS OF §§ 9–334 THROUGH 9–344 OF THIS TITLE APPLY TO 26
ENFORCE VIOLATIONS OF: 27
HOUSE BILL 92 3
(1) THIS PART; 1
(2) ANY REGULATION ADOPTED UNDER THIS PART; OR 2
(3) ANY ORDER ISSUED UNDER THIS PART. 3
(B) ANY PENALTY COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION 4
SHALL BE PAID INTO THE MARYLAND CLEAN WATER FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER § 5
9–320 OF THIS TITLE. 6
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2026. 8