Attorney General Actions and Climate Crimes Accountability Fund (Climate Crimes Accountability Act)

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0572*

HOUSE BILL 572
M5, M3, E4 6lr2105
CF 6lr2107
By: Delegates Ruth, Terrasa, Allen, Bagnall, Behler, Boafo, Charkoudian, Embry,
Fair, Feldmark, Foley, Healey, Hill, Ivey, A. Johnson, Kaufman, Korman,
Lehman, Lewis, Martinez, McCaskill, Moreno, Odom, Palakovich Carr,
Rosenberg, Ruff, Simmons, Spiegel, Stein, Stewart, Vogel, White Holland,
and Wims
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Attorney General Actions and Climate Crimes Accountability Fund 2
(Climate Crimes Accountability Act) 3

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Attorney General to investigate, commence, and 4
prosecute or defend any suit or action that holds certain entities accountable for 5
tortious or otherwise unlawful conduct that has contributed to climate change; 6
authorizing the Attorney General to hire outside counsel to assist with an action 7
under this Act if the Attorney General makes a certain determination; establishing 8
the Climate Crimes Accountability Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring 9
interest earnings of th e Fund to be credited to the Fund; and generally relating to 10
climate change. 11

BY adding to 12
Article – Environment 13
Section 1–307 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16

BY adding to 17
Article – Public Safety 18
Section 14 –1401 and 14–1402 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 14. Climate 19
Crimes Accountability Fund” 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 23
Article – State Finance and Procurement 24
2 HOUSE BILL 572

Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
Article – State Finance and Procurement 5
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8

BY adding to 9
Article – State Finance and Procurement 10
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – State Government 15
Section 6–106.2 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20

Article – Environment 21

1–307. 22

(A) IN THIS SECTION , “MARKET CAPITALIZATIO N” MEANS THE TOTAL 23
MARKET VALUE OF A COMPANY’S OUTSTANDING SHARES OF STOCK. 24

(B) FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE HEALTH AND SAFET Y OF THE STATE’S 25
CITIZENS AND ENVIRONMENT, IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT 26
A PUBLICLY TRADED EN TITY, INCLUDING ITS SUBSID IARIES, WITH A CUMULATIVE 27
MARKET CAPITALIZATIO N GREATER THAN $1,000,000,000 THAT IS OR WAS 28
INVOLVED IN EXTRACTING, REFINING, OR PROCESSING COAL, OIL, OR GAS BE HELD 29
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY TORTIOUS OR OTHERWISE UNLAWFU L CONDUCT ON THE 30
PART OF THE ENTITY O R SUBSIDIARY THAT HA S CONTRIBUTED TO CLI MATE 31
CHANGE, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND OT HER HARMS CAUSED , 32
WHETHER THROUGH FRAU D, DECEPTION, OR ANY OTHER MECHANI SM, ACTION, 33
INACTION, OR PRACTICE. 34

(C) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVESTIGA TE, COMMENCE, AND 35
PROSECUTE OR DEFEND ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINA L SUIT OR ACTION THA T HOLDS 36
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ACCOUNTABLE A PUBLICLY TRADED ENTITY, INCLUDING ITS SUBSIDIARIES, WITH A 1
CUMULATIVE MARKET CAPITALIZATIO N GREATER THAN $1,000,000,000 AT THE 2
TIME A SUIT OR AN ACTION IS FILED THAT IS OR WAS INVOLVED I N EXTRACTING, 3
REFINING, OR PROCESSING COAL, OIL, OR GAS FOR ANY TORTIOUS OR OTHERWISE 4
UNLAWFUL CONDUCT ON THE PART OF THE ENTI TY OR SUBSIDIARY THA T HAS 5
CONTRIBUTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH FRAUD, DECEPTION, OR ANY OTHER 6
MECHANISM, ACTION, INACTION, OR PRACTICE. 7

(D) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY HIRE OUTS IDE COUNSEL TO ASSIS T 8
WITH AN ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DETERMINES 9
THAT HIRING OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE. 10

(E) THE PROVISIONS OF § 6–106.2 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE 11
SHALL APPLY TO ANY ACTION BROUGHT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER THIS 12
SECTION. 13

Article – Public Safety 14

SUBTITLE 14. CLIMATE CRIMES ACCOUNTABILITY FUND. 15

14–1401. 16

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17
INDICATED. 18

(B) “FUND” MEANS THE CLIMATE CRIMES ACCOUNTABILITY FUND. 19

(C) “SALTWATER INTRUSION” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 3–1001 OF 20
THE NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE. 21

(D) “VECTORBORNE PATHOGEN ” MEANS A GERM OR PARASITE T HAT IS 22
SPREAD TO HUMANS AND OTHER ANIMALS BY A V ECTOR, SUCH AS A MOSQUITO , 23
TICK, OR FLEA. 24

(E) “WATERBORNE PATHOGEN ” MEANS A MICROORGANIS M, SUCH AS 25
BACTERIA, A VIRUS , A PARASITE , OR AN AMOEBA , THAT CAN CAUSE ILLNESS IN 26
HUMANS AND ANIMALS I F EXPOSED TO WATER C ONTAMINATED BY THE 27
MICROORGANISM. 28

14–1402. 29

(A) THERE IS A CLIMATE CRIMES ACCOUNTABILITY FUND. 30

(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PAY FOR PROGRAMS THAT PREVENT, 31
4 HOUSE BILL 572

MITIGATE, OR REPAIR HARMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. 1

(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 2

(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 3
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 4

(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 5
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 6

(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 7

(1) ALL REVENUES RECEIVE D BY THE STATE RESULTING DIREC TLY 8
OR INDIRECTLY FROM A NY JUDGMENT AGAINST OR SETTLEMENT WITH A N ENTITY 9
IN AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER § 1–307 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE; 10

(2) INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND; AND 11

(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 12
THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 13

(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO: 14

(1) PAY FOR PROGRAMS THA T PREVENT , MITIGATE, OR REPAIR 15
HARMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING PROGRAMS ADDRESSING: 16

(I) AIR POLLUTION; 17

(II) DANGEROUSLY HIGH TEM PERATURES, SUCH AS URBAN 18
HEAT ISLANDS OR EXTENDED HEAT WAVES; 19

(III) DROUGHT; 20

(IV) ECOSYSTEM CHANGES; 21

(V) FLOODING; 22

(VI) SALTWATER INTRUSION; 23

(VII) STORM DAMAGE; 24

(VIII) VECTORBORNE PATHOGENS; 25

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(IX) WATERBORNE PATHOGENS; AND 1

(X) WILDFIRES; 2

(2) PAY FOR EXPENSES REL ATED TO ANY ACTION B ROUGHT BY THE 3
ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER § 1–307 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE, INCLUDING: 4

(I) INVESTIGATION EXPENSES; 5

(II) LITIGATION EXPENSES; AND 6

(III) TRIAL PREPARATION EXPENSES; AND 7

(3) PAY ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE DISTRIBUTION 8
OF FUNDS TO PROGRAMS UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 9

(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND 10
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 11

(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO 12
THE FUND. 13

(H) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 14
WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 15

(I) MONEY EXPENDED FROM THE FUND FOR PROGRAMS THA T PREVENT, 16
MITIGATE, OR REPAIR HARMS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO 17
AND IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF FUNDING THAT OTHERWISE WOULD 18
BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAMS. 19

Article – State Finance and Procurement 20

6–226. 21

(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 22

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 23
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 24
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 25
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 26
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 27
Fund of the State. 28

6 HOUSE BILL 572

(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph do not 1
apply to the following funds: 2

212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 3
Fund; [and] 4

213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 5

214. THE CLIMATE CRIMES ACCOUNTABILITY FUND. 6

Article – State Government 7

6–106.2. 8

(a) This section applies to: 9

(1) an action brought or asserted by the State arising from or related to 10
alleged or threatened injuries to the environment, infrastructure, or the natural resources 11
of the State associated with the allision between the vessel known as the Dali and the 12
Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024; AND 13

(2) ANY ACTION BROUGHT B Y THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER § 14
1–307 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 15

(b) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16

(2) “Proportionate share of liability” means the percentage of comparative 17
responsibility assigned by a judge or jury to a settling party in accordance with this section. 18

(3) “Responsible person” means a person alleged to be liable in an action 19
governed by this section. 20

(c) In an action governed by this section, the judge or jury shall: 21

(1) make a determination of the total liability, including damages, cos ts, 22
and any other available relief; 23

(2) assign comparative responsibility to each party joined in the action, 24
including all defendants, third–party defendants, intervenors, and any other named party, 25
based on the party’s relative degree of fault or responsibility for the total liability; and 26

(3) if equity requires, determine the liability of a group of related persons 27
on a collective basis. 28

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(d) If the State has not obtained complete relief from a responsible person who 1
has resolved the person’s liability to the State in a settlement of an action governed by this 2
section, the State may: 3

(1) continue to pursue an action against any other responsible person who 4
has not resolved the person’s liability to the State; or 5

(2) bring a new action against any other responsible person who has not 6
resolved the person’s liability to the State. 7

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of State law: 8

(1) the Maryland Uniform Contribution Among Joint Tort –Feasors Act 9
under Title 3, Subtitle 14 of the Courts Article does not apply to an action governed by this 10
section; 11

(2) if a responsible person resolves the person’s liability to the State in a 12
settlement of an action governed by this section, the person may not be liable for claims for 13
noncontractual contribution or indemnity regarding any action or claim resolved in the 14
settlement; and 15

(3) a settlement of an action governed by this section that resolves the 16
liability of a responsible person: 17

(i) does not release from liability any other responsible person 18
except as specifically provided in the terms of the settlement; but 19

(ii) reduces the potential liability of all other responsible persons 20
liable in whole or in part by the larger of: 21

1. the settling person’s proportionate share of liability; or 22

2. the amount the settling person pays to settle the action. 23

(f) This section may not be construed to: 24

(1) impair any express contractual rights; 25

(2) create new types of actions or claims; 26

(3) alter the burden of proof, causation stand ard, or elements of an action 27
or claim governed by this section; or 28

(4) grant authority to the State or the Attorney General to bring actions or 29
claims not otherwise authorized by law. 30

8 HOUSE BILL 572

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 1
1, 2026. 2