2026 General Assembly Wrap-Up

The Maryland 2026 General Assembly convened from January 14 to April 13, 2026. We knew from the outset it would be a challenging session for litter reduction priorities, with much of the legislature focused on affordability and the local economy, as well as energy issues. Still, Trash Free Maryland tracked over twenty recycling, single-use plastic, and trash-related bills for our Advocacy Coalition. We submitted testimony or led our coalition in joint testimony on fifteen bills. Here is our summary of where the legislature ended up on our priorities and other relevant bills.

Bills that passed both chambers and are headed to the Governor’s desk for signature:

• HB429/SB599 On-Farm Organics and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Program - Established - 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, with priority to local programs and processes that utilize source-separation to reduce risk of microplastic contamination. 

After the hearings, this bill was amended to remove the Department of the Environment grant programs that would have also supported transitions from single-use to reusable food service-ware, but we are thrilled to see this program pass after several years of advocacy, with a funding source and without any weakening amendments on the compost quality provisions. 

Here is our written support testimony and link to our successful oral testimony on the sponsor’s panel for SB599.

• HB321 Environment - Synthetic Turf Industry and Disposal Study - Deadline Extension This bill extends the deadline for Maryland Department of the Environment to complete a report on synthetic turf disposal. Synthetic turf can contribute microplastics and other contaminants, and we are closely following this process to weigh in with our recommendations.

Bills that passed the House and then stalled in the Senate: 

• HB164 State Buildings & Highways - Collection & Disposal of Yard Waste - Prohibiting disposal of yard waste collected from a State building or State highway in single-use plastic containers and requiring certain yard waste from a State building or State highway to be mulched or recycled rather than disposed of. Although HB164 had no opposition and three years of refinements, it stalled and ran out of time in the Senate EEE Committee after passing the House. Here is our support testimony.

• HB0410/SB546 Food Product Labeling - Establishing requirements to standardize food date labels and educate consumers about the meaning of food quality and safety dates. This can prevent unnecessary food waste, encourage edible food donations, and prevent microplastic pollution from increasing use of depackagers to handle packaged food that is unsold. Here is our support testimony.

• HB1116 Howard County - Illegal Dumping - Surveillance System Pilot Program - This bill stalled in the Senate after passing the House.

Bills with subcommittee discussions but no vote:

• HB331/SB342 Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program - Also known as the “bottle bill,” HB331/SB342 was a priority for Trash Free Maryland and the environmental community this year.  We delivered testimony on behalf of 30 state and local environmental organizations. Watch the House hearing here. The House Environment Subcommittee held a brief "discussion only" work session to review proposed amendments developed with bill sponsors, Trash Free Maryland, the Bottle Bill Coalition, and other supporters.

Additionally, in the 2026 Joint Chairmen’s Report, the Maryland General Assembly assigned the Department of the Environment to complete a report on a Prospective Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. The report is to include the department resources needed to implement a bottle bill, as well as a description of how the new Packaging Producer Responsibility program can be implemented so as not to preclude a future Maryland bottle bill program. We’ll have a new update soon on how these two key programs (packaging producer responsibility and bottle bill) complement each other for the best environmental results for Maryland.

It was a difficult year to pass any deposit/return legislation, but we are coming out of the session with momentum. We have a stronger bill for 2027 and no weakening amendments. Thank you to so many of our supporters who reached out to your legislators to say you’re tired of beverage container litter and you want a Maryland bottle bill now!

• HB1022/SB686 PFAS Chemicals - Product Phase Outs and Registration Requirements - The Health Subcommittee held two worksessions on HB1022, but it ultimately did not get a full Committee vote.

Bills that stalled in Committee (without votes or worksessions):

• HB0092 Beverage Containers with Connected Plastic Rings Prohibition - This bill would have prohibited beverage plastic ring connectors (like plastic six pack rings). Plastic ring connectors contribute to unnecessary single-use plastics and can ensnare wildlife when littered. Here is our testimony.

• HB408 Prince George’s County Authority to Retain Fee for Single-Use and Reusable Bags - This bill did not have a hearing.

• SB0603 /HB984 Mattress Stewardship Program - Establishment - This bill would have established a mattress stewardship program in Maryland to support recycling and safe management of mattresses and to reduce dumping and financial burdens on local governments. Here is our support testimony.

• SB655/HB992 Electronic Device Producer Responsibility Program - Established - We did not submit our own testimony this year, pending an anticipated amendment package, but we were pleased to see the recommendation we made last year for producer responsibility incorporated into this year’s bill. 

• HB1315 Department of the Environment - Vessel-Based Microplastic Particle Removal Technologies - Study - We were happy to see legislators recognize microplastic pollution concerns, but we remain primarily focused on upstream macro- and micro-plastic prevention.

• HB0796 Recycling - Prohibition on the Chemical Conversion of Plastic - We supported this bill to define recycling to not include certain chemical conversion processes. Here is our testimony. 

Outside of specific legislation, we also convened with the broader environmental community to support collaborative budget testimony requesting adequate state funding for all of Maryland’s environmental protection and oversight programs.

Each year the General Assembly reviews thousands of bills - with bill introduction, testimony, hearings, work sessions, and votes all taking place in a whirlwind 90 day period. Throughout the session, Trash Free Maryland is present to identify and track bills of interest to our constituency, inform and educate lawmakers, and convene and unify our Advocacy Coalition around the most effective anti-litter and microplastic pollution policies.

Although the 2026 Session is over, our work to educate and advocate for effective litter prevention policies continues year-round. Look for us at our cleanups, online learning sessions, and other community outreach events throughout the summer!

Please consider supporting our advocacy so that we may continue to do this work! Tell us what other single-use plastic and trash policies you would like to see in place in Maryland and make a donation of any amount to directly support our work and increase our impact.