Md. House Votes 138-1 to End State-Mandated Stormwater Fees
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- State-mandated stormwater fees would end under a bill that cleared the Maryland House of Delegates.
The House voted 138-1 to the bill Monday night.
Delegates made some changes that still have to be approved by the Senate before adjournment at midnight.
Critics have described the 2012 law as a "rain tax." While the bill ends state-mandated fees, it still requires local officials to prove they can pay to meet federal requirements to clean up polluted stormwater.
The House added on a $10,000-per-day fine for a jurisdiction that doesn't meet requirements.
Gov. Larry Hogan campaigned against the fees. While the bill that passed isn't the one he sponsored, Hogan has said he doesn't care who gets the credit for ending the state-mandated fees.
It affects nine counties and Baltimore city.
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