Maryland enacted House Bill 925 as Chapter 330, establishing restrictions on the land application of sewage sludge or products containing sewage sludge with total concentrations of regulated PFAS substances at or above specified levels. The law authorizes blending of sewage sludge from multiple sources subject to certain regulations prior to the restriction date. Compliance teams managing wastewater treatment, biosolids disposal, or land application programs in Maryland must monitor PFAS concentrations and adjust disposal practices accordingly.
Maryland SB 719 (Enrolled - Revised) prohibits land application of sewage sludge with total regulated PFAS (PFOA + PFOS) concentrations at or above 50 ppb, effective October 1, 2028. Sewage sludge with 25-50 ppb requires restricted application rates (≤3 dry metric tons per acre), enhanced setbacks, and 14-day advance notification. Generators with ≥25 ppb must complete source tracking studies and develop mitigation plans. MDE must provide technical assistance and may establish PFAS pretreatment standards for industrial users.
Chapter 329 (Senate Bill 719) establishes restrictions on the land application of sewage sludge or products containing sewage sludge with total concentrations of regulated PFAS equal to or greater than specified levels. The law prohibits land application of sewage sludge exceeding PFAS thresholds and establishes related requirements for the Maryland Department of the Environment and sewage sludge generators. Compliance teams managing biosolids or wastewater treatment byproducts in Maryland must monitor for these PFAS concentration limits.
Maryland House Bill 1022, which proposed one of the nation's broadest PFAS product bans with phased prohibitions starting January 2028 covering cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, textiles, and numerous other categories, was withdrawn by its sponsor on April 8, 2026. The bill would have established a product registration program, manufacturer disclosure requirements, and a 'currently unavoidable use' exemption framework with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day. Companion Senate Bill 686 remains in committee. Compliance teams should continue monitoring SB 686's progress while noting the withdrawal reduces near-term regulatory pressure for expanded product categories beyond current George Walter Taylor Act requirements.
Maryland SB 686 (2026 legislative session) proposes sweeping legislation that would effectively ban the sale of products containing PFAS in Maryland and require manufacturers to register products, pay new fees, and potentially submit testing data. The bill targets products containing widely used chemicals found across modern supply chains. Public comment and testimony opportunity was active as of February 20, 2026.
Maryland SB 686 (2026 Session, First Reader) proposes comprehensive bans on products containing intentionally added PFAS. Starting January 1, 2028, the bill would ban sale/distribution of PFAS-containing cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, personal care products, feminine hygiene products, pet food packaging, juvenile products, and intimacy products. Additional product bans (fabric treatments, ski wax, textiles, mattresses, upholstered products, paint) would take effect January 1, 2029. Manufacturers would be required to register PFAS-containing products with MDE and pay registration fees. The bill was set aside after committee hearing but sponsors indicated willingness to revise and reintroduce.
Maryland SB 345 prohibits the use of PFAS pesticides (pesticides with PFAS chemicals as active ingredients) at healthcare facilities, schools, day care operations, residential lawn care, and commercial mosquito spraying operations, effective June 1, 2026. MDA must publish a list of registered PFAS pesticides by January 1, 2026. Beginning June 1, 2027, MDA is prohibited from registering new PFAS pesticides for sale in Maryland, with a complete statewide ban on PFAS pesticide use effective June 1, 2028.
House Bill 386 proposes prohibiting PFAS in pesticides with phased implementation. The bill would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture to distribute a list of registered PFAS pesticides to certified applicators and notify them of prohibitions on use at specified locations and for specified activities. All prohibitions begin in fiscal 2032. PFAS pesticides pose significant threats to Maryland waterways including the Patuxent River, Potomac River, Susquehanna River, and Chesapeake Bay. This is proposed legislation and compliance teams should monitor its progress.
Maryland HB 1112 proposes to prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS in Maryland, effective July 1, 2026. The bill applies to consumer products not otherwise regulated under existing Maryland PFAS statutes. MDE would require additional staff for implementation and enforcement. The bill establishes misdemeanor penalties for violations.
Maryland SB 345 proposes restrictions on PFAS pesticide use beginning June 1, 2026. The bill would prohibit use of PFAS pesticides at health care facilities, schools, day care operations, for residential lawn care, and for commercial mosquito spraying operations. The Maryland Department of Agriculture would be required to identify and list registered PFAS pesticides for notification to certified applicators.
Pursuant to Maryland SB 0956 (2024), MDE has identified Significant Industrial Users (SIUs) that currently and intentionally use PFAS chemicals and established PFAS monitoring and testing protocols for identified SIUs, effective January 1, 2025. The document details PFAS action levels for SIUs operating under pretreatment permits that discharge wastewater into sanitary sewer systems. MDE's Pretreatment Program has established monitoring requirements and testing protocols for facilities using PFAS chemicals.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issued a PFAS in Biosolids Regulatory Update providing guidance on biosolids land application practices in response to PFAS contamination concerns. Beginning February 28, 2023, MDE put on hold the issuance of new biosolids land application permits while developing PFAS monitoring and management protocols. The guidance includes recommended practices for notification, source reduction planning when PFOS/PFOA levels are elevated, reduced land-application rates at specified thresholds, and disposal or treatment recommendations at higher concentration tiers. Compliance teams managing biosolids programs in Maryland should follow MDE's recommended practices pending formal regulation development.
Per the Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution Act (SB 0956, enacted 2024), MDE has identified Significant Industrial Users (SIUs) that currently and intentionally use PFAS chemicals (as of October 1, 2024) and established PFAS monitoring and testing protocols for identified SIUs (effective January 1, 2025). This document details the determination of PFAS action levels for SIUs operating under pretreatment permits that discharge wastewater into sanitary sewer systems. Compliance teams with industrial discharge permits in Maryland must implement PFAS monitoring protocols.
Maryland's George 'Walter' Taylor Act (SB 273, Chapter 139, 2022) restricts PFAS in consumer products effective January 1, 2024. Prohibited products include: rugs and carpets with intentionally added PFAS (second-hand rugs exempted); food packaging designed for direct food contact; Class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS (with phased exemptions for airports, ports, and refineries through September 30, 2024, and terminals through December 31, 2027); and disposable plastic gloves used in commercial or institutional food service. The Act also requires sellers of PFAS-containing personal protective equipment to provide written notice to purchasers. Manufacturers of rugs and carpets must establish and provide certificates of compliance attesting that products are PFAS-free.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released a comprehensive PFAS Action Plan in December 2023 prepared for the Maryland General Assembly. The plan outlines the state's strategic approach to addressing PFAS contamination, including monitoring programs, source identification, remediation efforts, drinking water protection, and regulatory development. This action plan was mandated by the George Walter Taylor Act (Chapter 139 of 2022) and provides the framework for Maryland's PFAS management activities. The document represents the state's official strategy for addressing the 'forever chemicals' across environmental media.