General Assembly Update: Key Legislative Issues Impacting Land Conservation

As the General Assembly moves deeper into its 2026 session, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy appreciates the Governor’s proposed budget, which continues funding for Program Open Space and affirms the State’s commitment to land conservation. At a time of ongoing fiscal pressure, this proposal provides an important foundation for protecting Maryland’s farms, forests, and rural communities. ESLC urges legislators to adopt the Governor’s budget as proposed and to avoid additional reductions to conservation funding beyond the transfers enacted last year, so that Program Open Space can remain a reliable and effective tool for preserving the landscapes that define the Eastern Shore.

Governor’s Proposed FY27 Budget

The Governor’s budget maintains funding for Program Open Space but continues the practice of diverting a portion of State Transfer Tax revenues to the General Fund. ESLC remains concerned about the long-term implications of this shift, since bond funding cannot substitute for the dedicated revenue stream that Program Open Space was designed to rely upon. 

State Transfer Tax – Land Preservation Special Fund (HB 609 / SB 424) 

This legislation would require the State to repay funds diverted from Program Open Space during last year’s session through the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act. The repayment would occur in the future when the State’s fiscal condition improves. ESLC supports this effort, as restoring these funds is essential to ensuring that Maryland’s conservation programs remain whole and continue delivering the ecological, recreational, and community benefits they were designed to provide. 

Solar Energy – Construction of Generating Stations in Priority Preservation Areas and Environmental Study (HB 460)

This bill would reduce the permitted share of solar development within Priority Preservation Areas from 5% to 2%, while also directing the Maryland Department of the Environment to study the environmental impacts associated with end-of-life disposal of solar photovoltaic systems. ESLC supports thoughtful siting of renewable energy that protects the State’s most valuable agricultural lands, and we view the proposed study as a necessary step toward more informed long-term planning. 

Throughout the session, ESLC is submitting and delivering testimony, meeting with bill sponsors in both chambers, and working closely with statewide partners, including Forever Maryland, Partners for Open Space, and the Maryland Community Coalition for the Environment. Our goal remains the same, to support policies that protect land, strengthen towns, and ensure that growth across Maryland’s Eastern Shore is sustainable, equitable, and rooted in the places where infrastructure already exists.

How You Can Help

Your voice is critical. Decisions made in Annapolis this session will shape the future of conservation funding and land-use policy for years to come. Public engagement is especially important as the State continues to rely on transfers and bond financing instead of the dedicated revenues that conservation programs were designed to depend on.

You can make a difference by:

• Speaking up for full, dedicated funding for Program Open Space
• Urging legislators to restore diverted State Transfer Tax revenues
• Expressing support for conservation policies that protect farmland, natural resources, and rural communities
• Sharing why thoughtful investment in land and community spaces matters to the future of the Eastern Shore
• Staying informed and amplifying updates from ESLC and our statewide partners

Every message strengthens the case for conservation. Every voice reminds our leaders that the Eastern Shore deserves a future grounded in thriving towns, protected landscapes, and growth that honors the character and resilience of this region.