Commemorative Months - Maryland Climate Education Month

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0620*

HOUSE BILL 620
P1 6lr1836

By: Delegates Moreno, Terrasa, and Vogel
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Commemorative Months – Maryland Climate Education Month 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor annually to proclaim April as Maryland Climate 3
Education Month; requiring the proclamation to urge participation in certain 4
activities and initiatives and the taking of certain actions; and generally relating to 5
Maryland Climate Education Month. 6

BY renumbering 7
Article – General Provisions 8
Section 7–504 through 7–507 9
to be Section 7–505 through 7–508, respectively 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

BY adding to 13
Article – General Provisions 14
Section 7–504 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17

Preamble 18

WHEREAS, Maryland has a long history of environmental stewardship and a 19
commitment to protecting the natural beauty and resources of the State; and 20

WHEREAS, Climate change poses a significant threat to our environment, economy, 21
and public health; and 22

WHEREAS, Maryland is uniquely positioned to lead in climate change education as 23
a state that possesses diverse ecosystems, vulnerable coastal areas, and the Chesapeake 24
Bay, all of which are directly impacted by climate pollution; and 25
2 HOUSE BILL 620

WHEREAS, Education plays a vital role in raising awareness about climate change 1
and its causes, consequences, and solutions; and 2

WHEREAS, Institutions of higher education, primary and secondary schools, 3
research organizations, and environmental and advocacy groups in the State are at the 4
forefront of climate change research and education and are the State’s partners in this 5
critical effort; and 6

WHEREAS, Maryland is dedicated to fostering a culture of su stainability and 7
environmental responsibility among its residents, businesses, and institutions; and 8

WHEREAS, Maryland leads the nation in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas 9
emissions that cause climate pollution; now, therefore, 10

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That Section(s) 7–504 through 7–507 of Article – General Provisions of the Annotated Code 12
of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 7–505 through 7–508, respectively. 13

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FUR THER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 14
as follows: 15

Article – General Provisions 16

7–504. 17

(A) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHA LL PROCLAIM APRIL AS MARYLAND 18
CLIMATE EDUCATION MONTH. 19

(B) THE PROCLAMATION SHALL URGE RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES TO: 20

(1) PARTICIPATE IN EDUCA TIONAL ACTIVITIES AN D INITIATIVES 21
THAT PROMOTE AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE; AND 22

(2) TAKE ACTION TOWARD THE STATE’S CLIMATE COMMITMENTS. 23

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2026. 25