2026 Maryland Legislative Session Recap

The 2026 Maryland General Assembly session convened from January 14 through Monday, April 13. Of the recycling-related bills we tracked this session, four successfully crossed the finish line. Unfortunately, several of our highest-priority initiatives did not advance including the electronics and mattress recycling bills. 

A special thank you to Chaz Miller (Legislative Chair), Kitty McIlroy (MRN President), and Michele Blair (MRN Vice President) for their leadership. And to the Board of Directors and Committee members for your continuing support and contributions.

Below is a list of the final status of those bills we followed along with our positions and actions taken when applicable. 

Relevant Bills for 2026:

What passed:

HB0429 / SB0599 On-Farm Organics and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Programs - Establishing the On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program in the Department of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement on-farm organics recycling, compost use, wasted food prevention, and food rescue; and establishing the Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Program and the County Wasted Food Reduction Block Grant Program in the Department of the Environment to fund certain projects that reduce, rescue, and divert wasted food in the State and certain counties.

MRN Position: Support - Read statements on HB0429 and SB0599.

Action: On February 11, Chaz Miller testified in support of HB0429 noting benefits of such a program would have on organics recycling, composting, waste food prevention, and food rescue programs.


HB0848 /SB0621 Public Safety – State Fire Prevention Code – Trash and Recyclable Materials - Requiring the State Fire Prevention Commission to adopt regulations that incorporate by reference sections 30.7.5 and 31.7.5 of the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code (2024 Edition) and authorize the placement of trash and recycling in corridors and exits in accordance with the NFPA Life Safety Code.

MRN Position: Support - Read statement on HB0848.

Action: The Legislative Committee submitted written testimony in support of HB0848 noting the importance of ensuring safe recycling practices.


HB0833 / SB0553 Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland – Reestablishment - Reestablishing the Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland with an altered membership and mandate; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2027.

MRN Position: Support - Read statements on HB0833 and SB0553.

Action: On February 24, Kitty McIlroy testified in support of SB0553 as well as submitted written testimony on HB0833 for the House hearing on the same day. McIlroy noted that although the Commission’s November 25, 2025, Final Report offered strong recommendations, additional research is still needed on battery risks, insurance impacts, waste classifications, upcoming federal standards, and the inclusion of more subject matter experts.


HB0321 Environment - Synthetic Turf Industry and Disposal Study - Deadline Extension - Extending the deadline by which the Department of the Environment is required to submit a certain report on the synthetic turf industry and synthetic turf disposal from July 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027.

*MRN took no position on this bill.


What stalled in committee: 
 
SB0603 / HB0984 Mattress Stewardship Program - Establishment - Prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2035, a person from disposing of a mattress in a landfill, subject to certain exceptions; prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2035, a person from disposing of a mattress in an incinerator, subject to a certain exception; requiring certain producers of mattresses sold at retail in the State or a certain representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Mattress Stewardship Program in the Department of the Environment for approval on or before July 1, 2031; etc.

MRN Position: Support - Read statements on SB0603 and HB0984.

Action: Kitty McIlroy testified in support of SB0603 (2/24) and HB0984 (2/27). As in past sessions, McIlroy stressed that while several jurisdictions have mattress recycling programs, many struggle with to keep up with the costs. This bill would help alleviate this and other challenges while diverting mattresses from the waste stream.


HB0992 / SB0655 Electronic Device Producer Responsibility Program - Established - Altering the contents and use of the State Recycling Trust Fund; establishing a separate covered electronic device producer responsibility program plan and annual report, registration, and review fee account within the Fund; repealing certain provisions of law relating to existing covered electronic device takeback programs; altering certain provisions of law relating to registration fees for certain manufacturers of covered electronic devices; etc.

MRN Position: Support - Read statements on HB0992 and SB0655.

Action: Kitty McIlroy testified in support of SB0655 (2/24) and HB0992 (2/27). During the testimonies, McIlroy stressed that the current electronics recycling law is outdated and does not fund recycling making the current situation unsustainable.


HB0164 State Buildings and State Highways - Collection and Disposal of Yard Waste - Prohibiting a person from disposing of yard waste collected on the grounds of a State building or State highway in single-use plastic container; requiring a person to collect yard waste on the grounds of a State building or State highway in a container that will not be discarded with the yard waste or in a compostable paper bag; and requiring all yard waste collected on the grounds of a State building or State highway to be disposed of in a certain manner under certain circumstances.

MRN Position: Support - Read statement on HB164.

Action: Chaz Miller testified in support during a House hearing (2/2) and in the Senate (3/24) citing that the bill would be a win for the MD environment by reducing yard waste at the landfills while creating a viable compost product.

Note: The bill has passed in the House (97-37) but failed to get a sponsor in the Senate


HB0331 / SB0342 Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program - Establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part of a beverage container stewardship organization; etc.

MRN Position: Oppose - Read statements on HB0331 and SB0342.

Action: Chaz Miller testified in opposition of SB0342 (2/10) and HB0331 (2/11). In both cases, Miller cited several concerns over the bills including current multiple packaging-related laws (EPR for packaging and Paint Stewardship program) that are in the process of implementation as well as Maryland’s unique infrastructure for collecting and processing recyclables.


Additional Bills (i.e., bills we tracked but offered no position or comments): 

• HB0092 Environment - Beverage Containers Connected With Plastic Rings - Restriction on Sale - Stalled in committee
• HB0796 Recycling - Prohibition on the Chemical Conversion of Plastic - Stalled in committee

Each year, the Maryland General Assembly reviews more than 2,500 bills during its fast-paced 90-day legislative session—up to 700 of which may ultimately become law. Throughout this whirlwind period, MRN serves as a strong voice for Maryland’s recycling community, working to ensure legislation is effective, efficient, and free from unintended consequences that could undermine our shared mission of a healthier, more sustainable environment.

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