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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.
*sb0754*
SENATE BILL 754
L6, M1 6lr2674
By: Senator M. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 4, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Land Use – Preservation of Natural Resources 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a local jurisdiction to enact local laws providing for or 3
requiring the preservation of natural resources through certain mechanisms; and 4
generally relating to preserving natural resources. 5
BY renumbering 6
Article – Land Use 7
Section 1–101(k) through (t) 8
to be Section 1–101(l) through (u), respectively 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2012 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – Land Use 13
Section 1–101(a) and 7–103 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2012 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – Land Use 18
Section 1–101(k) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2012 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
2 SENATE BILL 754
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Land Use 2
Section 7–101 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2012 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That Section(s) 1 –101(k) through (t) of Article – Land Use of the Annotated Code of 7
Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 1–101(l) through (u), respectively. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 9
as follows: 10
Article – Land Use 11
1–101. 12
(a) In this division the following words have the meanings indicated. 13
(K) “NATURAL RESOURCE” INCLUDES LAND, WATER, FORESTS, WETLANDS, 14
FLOODPLAINS, HABITAT AREAS , SENSITIVE AREAS , AND OTHER AREAS THAT 15
PROVIDE ECOLOGICAL, HYDROLOGICAL, OR CONSERVATION VALUE. 16
7–101. 17
To encourage the preservation of natural resources or the provision of affordable 18
housing and to facilitate orderly development and growth, a local jurisdiction that exercises 19
authority granted by this division may enact, and is encouraged to enact, local laws 20
providing for or requiring: 21
(1) the planning, staging, or provision of adequate public facilities and 22
affordable housing; 23
(2) off–site improvements or the dedication of land for public facilities 24
essential for a development; 25
(3) THE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH: 26
(I) THE TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS; 27
(II) CONSERVATION OR PRESERVATION EASEMENTS; 28
(III) OPEN SPACE OR AGRICU LTURAL LAND PRESERVA TION 29
PROGRAMS; 30
(IV) CLUSTER OR CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION DESIGN; 31
SENATE BILL 754 3
(V) RIPARIAN BUFFER , FLOODPLAIN, OR WETLAND 1
PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS; AND 2
(VI) OTHER LAND USE OR ZO NING MECHANISMS DESIGNED TO 3
PROVIDE LONG–TERM OR PERMANENT PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES; 4
[(3)] (4) moderately priced dwelling unit programs; 5
[(4)] (5) mixed use developments; 6
[(5)] (6) cluster developments; 7
[(6)] (7) planned unit developments; 8
[(7)] (8) alternative subdivision requirements that: 9
(i) meet minimum performance standards set by the local 10
jurisdiction; and 11
(ii) reduce infrastructure costs; 12
[(8)] (9) floating zones; 13
[(9)] (10) incentive zoning; and 14
[(10)] (11) performance zoning. 15
7–103. 16
The authority granted under this subtitle is not intended to limit a local jurisdiction’s 17
authority to: 18
(1) exercise any planning and zoning powers not expressly authorized 19
under this subtitle; or 20
(2) adopt other methods to: 21
(i) facilitate orderly development and growth; 22
(ii) encourage the preservation of natural resources; or 23
(iii) provide affordable housing. 24
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2026. 26