ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - State-mandated stormwater fees would end under a bill headed to Gov. Larry Hogan's desk.
The House voted 138-1 to the bill Monday night, and the Senate unanimously approved some changes by the House.
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.
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.
Maryland environmentalists praised the bill for creating greater accountability for the state's 10 most populated jurisdictions in fighting pollution in stormwater.
It affects nine counties and Baltimore city.
