Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0559*
SENATE BILL 559
M2 6lr2609
CF 6lr3588
By: Senator Bailey
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 5, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Recreational Striped Bass Catch Fishery Data Collection 2
Program – Reporting Established 3
FOR the purpose of requiring every person who catches striped bass under a Chesapeake 4
Bay and coastal sport fishing license or registration to report the catch to the 5
Department of Natural Resources; requiring establishing the Recreational Fishery 6
Data Collection Program in the Department to adopt regulations to carry out this 7
Act, including regulations authorizing certain reporting methods, authorizing a 8
person to report the catch through a mobile application to the maximum extent 9
feasible, and establishing a reporting method that is usable by persons who do not 10
have Internet access of Natural Resources to develop and implement a data collection 11
system for recreational anglers in the State ; and generally relating to reporting 12
requirements for the recreational catching of striped bass the Recreational Fishery 13
Data Collection Program. 14
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 15
Article – Natural Resources 16
Section 4–745(a)(1) and (f) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
BY adding to 20
Article – Natural Resources 21
Section 4–745(g) 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
2 SENATE BILL 559
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
(a) In this section, “Program” means the Recreational Fishery Data Collection 4
Program. 5
(b) On or before December 31, 2026, the Department of Natural Resources shall 6
establish the Recreational Fishery Data Collection Program. 7
(c) The purpose of the Program is to develop and implement a data collection 8
system for recreational anglers in the State. 9
(d) In coordination with State and federal partners, the Department of Natural 10
Resources shall: 11
(1) survey and collect data on recreational fish ing reporting programs in 12
other states; and 13
(2) subject to available funding, enter into a contract for the development 14
and implementation of a data collection system for recreational anglers. 15
(e) On or before December 31, 2027, the Department of Natu ral Resources shall 16
report to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House 17
Environment and Transportation Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 18
Government Article, on the findings of the Program, including a wo rkplan detailing the 19
proposed development and implementation of a data collection system for recreational 20
anglers. 21
Article – Natural Resources 22
4–745. 23
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section and § 4–217 24
of this title, a person may not fish for finfish in the Chesapeake Bay or in its tributaries up 25
to tidal boundaries or in State waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays 26
and their tributaries without first obtaining a Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing 27
license or registration issued under subsection (d)(3) of this section and possessing the 28
license or registration. 29
(f) Every person licensed under this section shall submit any report the 30
Department requires in accordance with Department regulations. 31
(G) (1) EVERY PERSON WHO CATC HES STRIPED BASS UND ER A 32
CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING LICENSE OR REGISTRATION SHALL 33
REPORT THE CATCH TO THE DEPARTMENT. 34
SENATE BILL 559 3
(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY 1
OUT THIS SUBSECTION. 2
(II) REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL: 3
1. AUTHORIZE REPORTING M ETHODS THAT THE 4
DEPARTMENT DETERMINES TO BE FEASIBLE; 5
2. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE, AUTHORIZE A 6
PERSON TO REPORT THE CATCH THROUGH A MOBILE APPLICATION; AND 7
3. ESTABLISH A REPORTING METHOD T HAT IS USABLE 8
BY PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS. 9
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10
January July 1, 2027. 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 6 months 11
and, at the end of December 31, 2027, this Act, with no further action required by the 12
General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 13
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.