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Bill Banning Styrofoam to Have One Less Hurdle

Legislation to ban all polystyrene products in Maryland will face one less hurdle in the state Senate this year. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery), has been assigned to just one committee for consideration this year — Education, Health and Environmental Affairs.

Last year, similar legislation was assigned to two committees in the Senate — EHEA and Finance — and two in the House of Delegates, Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters. It was killed in the Economic Matters panel.

The change was not lost on Minority Whip Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) — who serves on the Finance Committee — as Kagan’s bill was being formally introduced on the Senate floor Monday night. He questioned why his panel was being stripped of its jurisdiction.

“It seemed to be more of a business regulation,” Hershey said.

But Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) rejected the argument.

“It’s strictly an environment bill,” he said, assuring Hershey: “You’ll have your opportunity to debate it” on the Senate floor.

The companion House bill, sponsored by Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City), still has the dual committee assignment. But the statewide polystyrene ban is expected to be on the list of legislative leaders’ top priorities for the General Assembly session, which they plan to release Tuesday morning.

Similar bans already exist in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Baltimore City, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., among other nearby jurisdictions. A ban passed in the Anne Arundel County Council last year but was vetoed by then-executive Steve Schuh (R). The current executive, Steuart Pittman (D), has vowed to sign the legislation this year.

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Bill Banning Styrofoam to Have One Less Hurdle