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HB1535 • 2026

Natural Resources - Recreational Fishing - Mobile Reporting Application

Natural Resources - Recreational Fishing - Mobile Reporting Application

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Delegates Jacobs , Baker , Beauchamp , Buckel , Ciliberti , Ghrist , Howard , Hutchinson , McComas , T. Morgan , Reilly , and Schmidt
Last action
2026-02-13
Official status
In the House - Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Natural Resources - Recreational Fishing - Mobile Reporting Application

Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a mobile application for individuals possessing an angler's license or Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license or registration to submit certain reports.

What This Bill Does

  • Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a mobile application for individuals possessing an angler's license or Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license or registration to submit certain reports.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-13 House

    First Reading Environment and Transportation

  2. 2026-02-13 House

    Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.

  3. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Natural Resources - Recreational Fishing - Mobile Reporting Application

Official Summary Text

Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a mobile application for individuals possessing an angler's license or Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license or registration to submit certain reports.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1535*

HOUSE BILL 1535
M2 6lr2731

By: Delegates Jacobs, Baker, Beauchamp, Buckel, Ciliberti, Ghrist, Howard,
Hutchinson, McComas, T. Morgan, Reilly, and Schmidt
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Natural Resources – Recreational Fishing – Mobile Reporting Application 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a mobile 3
application for individuals possessing an angler ’s license or Chesapeake Bay and 4
coastal sport fishing license or registration to submit certain reports; and generally 5
relating to a mobile application for submitting reports to the Department of Natural 6
Resources. 7

BY adding to 8
Article – Natural Resources 9
Section 4–223 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
Article – Natural Resources 14
Section 4–604(b) and (i) and 4–745(a)(1) and (f) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19

Article – Natural Resources 20

4–223. 21

(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP A MOBILE APPLICA TION FOR USE 22
BY AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSED UNDER § 4–604 OR § 4–745 OF THIS TITLE. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1535

(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE MO BILE APPLICATION DEVELOPED UNDER THIS 1
SECTION IS TO ENABLE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ANY REPORT 2
TO THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 4–604(I) OR § 4–745(F) OF THIS TITLE TO SUBMIT 3
THE REPORT THROUGH THE APPLICATION. 4

(C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PART Y TO DEVELOP 5
THE MOBILE APPLICATION REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION. 6

4–604. 7

(b) Any person 16 years old or older shall secure an angler’s license to fish in the 8
nontidal waters of the State. An angler’s license entitles the holder to fish in the nontidal 9
waters of the State only during the open season. 10

(i) Every person licensed under this section shall submit any report the 11
Department requires in accordance with Department regulations. 12

4–745. 13

(a) (1) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section and § 4–217 14
of this title, a person may not fish for finfish in the Chesapeake Bay or in its tributaries up 15
to tidal boundaries or in State waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays 16
and their tributaries without first obtaining a Chesapeake Bay and coas tal sport fishing 17
license or registration issued under subsection (d)(3) of this section and possessing the 18
license or registration. 19

(f) Every person licensed under this section shall submit any report the 20
Department requires in accordance with Department regulations. 21

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2026. 23