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Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to serve as an adviser and partner to state watershed management teams, including Maryland’s Whole Watershed Program, and to coordinate with federal, state, and local partners to support implementation of projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Office may provide technical assistance and financial support for watershed planning and projects, and the law clarifies who may participate in planning and implementation efforts.
The bill enhances federal coordination, funding access, and technical support to accelerate Chesapeake Bay restoration and resilience for communities, at the cost of greater federal spending, potential reductions in state flexibility, and added administrative burdens for local project implementers.
State and local governments across the Chesapeake Bay watershed gain a dedicated federal advisor (Chesapeake Bay Program Office), improving federal-state coordination and helping streamline and speed implementation of restoration and infrastructure projects.
Local communities and project sponsors can access federal financial resources and technical assistance through the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, reducing local funding burdens and helping implement restoration, water-quality, and flood-resilience projects.
Residents in the Chesapeake Bay watershed may see improved water quality and greater flood resilience because communities receive targeted technical assistance to design and carry out restoration projects.
Taxpayers could face increased federal spending or reallocation of funds to support the Office's expanded advisory and financial role.
State and local governments may experience reduced flexibility if the federal advisor's priorities influence State Management Team decisions or project choices.
Project applicants (local governments, nonprofits, small businesses) could face additional administrative requirements from expanded federal involvement, increasing time and compliance costs.
Designates the official short title of the Act as the "Maryland Whole Watershed Program Federal Partnership Act of 2026."
Defines "Chesapeake Bay Program Office" as the office established under section 117(b)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267(b)(2)).
Requires the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to serve as an advisory member of the State Management Team for the Maryland Whole Watershed Program and for any substantially similar State program.
Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to coordinate with State and local governments and Federal agencies when carrying out its advisory role.
Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to provide technical assistance and financial resources for projects carried out in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Primary effects are on state and local governments and organizations involved in Chesapeake Bay watershed work. State governments (especially Maryland) and their watershed teams gain a named federal advisor and a clearer pathway for technical and financial support, which can speed planning and project implementation. Local governments, conservation districts, nonprofits, and farmers may see improved access to technical expertise and potential funding for runoff control, habitat restoration, and other watershed projects. Federal agencies may be expected to coordinate more closely with state and local partners, which could increase administrative coordination but improve project alignment. The measure, as provided, does not impose new mandates or specific funding obligations on states or localities; actual financial support depends on future appropriations and program rules that are not included in the supplied text.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Introduced March 4, 2026 by Angela Deneece Alsobrooks · Last progress March 4, 2026
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Introduced in Senate