HB 291

Department of Wildlife Resources; fishing tackle recycling and disposal; educational webpage; report. Directs the Department of Wildlife Resources (the Department) to (i) develop, publish, and maintain a dedicated webpage on its website to educate the recreational fishing community and the general public about the importance of responsible recycling and disposal of fishing tackle, as defined in the bill, and (ii) periodically update such webpage to ensure that educational materials are current, relevant, and effective in promoting responsible fishing practices. The bill directs the Department to publish the webpage by January 1, 2027, conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the webpage and any other Department outreach or community engagement initiatives related to the responsible recycling and disposal of fishing tackle every three years, and submit a report summarizing such evaluation to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by December 1 of such year.