Category: Advocacy

Happy Mother’s Day to Mother Nature (also known as Mother Earth or the Earth Mother)! I can think of no better gift than the signing of the 2024 Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act (HB979/SB917) by Governor Wes Moore on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Sponsored by Del. Linda Foley, Sen. Ben Brooks, and the Maryland Native […] Continue reading "Maryland Governor Wes Moore signs 2024 Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act (HB979/SB917)"

Thank you to everyone who called or wrote in to your representatives in support of the bill to ban the sale of invasive plants in Maryland! And thank you to the Maryland Native Plant Coalition for leading the effort! “We have passed through both chambers of the Maryland legislature! HB979 is going to the Governor’s […] Continue reading "Ban the Sale of Invasive Plants in Maryland ~ Update"

Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is proud to be one of the 213 organizations supporting the Senate and House Resolutions (almost twice as many as last year), with at least one organization from every state! This is the first year with representation from EVERY state! 118th CONGRESS2d Session S. RES. 603 Designating April 2024 as “National […] Continue reading "April 2024 is National Native Plant Month!!!"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public review and comment on a draft proposal and environmental assessment establishing the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties. The proposal would conserve up to 40,000 acres in fee-title acquisitions or easements from willing sellers across […] Continue reading "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Public Input on Proposed National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Maryland"

Update regarding pending legislation HB979/SB915 “The Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act” (aka, the Maryland Invasive Plant Species bill), which will improve Maryland’s existing invasive plant legislation. Since the State passed its first invasive plant law in 2011, Maryland has prohibited the sale of just six Tier 1 plants, or 2% of our 300 recognized invasive plants.  […] Continue reading "Ban the Sale Of Harmful Invasive Plants in Maryland!"

Senate Bill 0915 (SB0915) was heard by the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Support was overwhelmingly positive with only one witness in opposition. During last night’s hearing in the Senate, Judy Fulton, Vice President of the Maryland Native Plant Society and invasive plant expert, reported that Delegate Foley, the […] Continue reading "Maryland SB0915 Hearing March 5, 2024"

House Bill 0979 (HB0970) was heard by the Environment and Transportation Committee on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Support was overwhelmingly positive with only one witness in opposition. The next step is to make sure that the committee votes and records a favorable resolution. Hopefully that vote will take place before March 18th which is the […] Continue reading "Maryland HB0979 Hearing Feb 28, 2024"

HB0979 Agriculture – Invasive Plant Species – Regulation (Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act) Sponsored by Delegate Foley Status In the House – Hearing 2/28 at 1:00 p.m. For a further understanding of the bill being heard tomorrow afternoon – click on this link: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0979 Then click on “Fiscal and Policy Note”. The FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE […] Continue reading "Action Needed for Maryland HB0979"

Legislative Session 2024 Two bills before the Maryland General Assembly during this Legislative Session need support from our Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Members. The Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act (SB0915 and HB0979) seeks to: Alter the regulatory approach for controlling invasive plant species in the State, and require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a […] Continue reading "Support for Maryland State Bills"

Pesticides contribute to biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, and many negatively impact human health. Congress is currently considering two pieces of legislation that address pesticide regulation. Read more here. Thank you to a Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay member for bringing this to our attention. Photo courtesy of Pollinator Pathways Continue reading "Urgent Calls to Action on Pesticide Legislation"