§8–1815.1.    IN EFFECT

    (a)    (1)    The provisions of this section are in addition to any other sanction, remedy, or penalty provided by law.

        (2)    This section does not apply to any cutting or clearing of trees that is allowed under regulations adopted by the Commission under this subtitle.

    (b)    Subject to subsection (f) of this section, if a person cuts or clears or plans to cut or clear trees within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area or Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area in violation of an approved local critical area program or of regulations adopted by the Commission, the chair may bring an action, or the local jurisdiction may bring an action or request that the chair of the Commission refer the matter to the Attorney General to bring an action:

        (1)    To require the person to replant trees where the cutting or clearing occurred in accordance with a plan prepared by the State Forester, a registered professional forester, or a registered landscape architect;

        (2)    To restrain the planned violation; or

        (3)    For damages:

            (i)    To be assessed by a circuit court in an amount equal to the estimated cost of replanting trees; and

            (ii)    To be paid to the Department by the person found to have violated the provisions of this subsection.

    (c)    If the chair of the Commission has reason to believe that the local jurisdiction is failing to enforce the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, the chair shall refer the matter to the Attorney General as provided under § 8–1815(b) of this subtitle.

    (d)    On the chair of the Commission’s referral of an alleged violation under subsection (c) of this section to the Attorney General, the Attorney General may invoke the remedies available to the local jurisdiction under subsection (b) of this section in any court of competent jurisdiction in which the local jurisdiction would be authorized to prosecute or sue.

    (e)    On the request of a local jurisdiction or the chair of the Commission, the State Forester, a registered professional forester, or a registered landscape architect may prepare, oversee, and approve the final implementation of a plan to:

        (1)    Replant trees in any part of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area where trees in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area are cut or cleared in violation of subsection (b) of this section; and

        (2)    Replant trees in any part of the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area where trees in the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area are cut or cleared in violation of subsection (b) of this section.

    (f)    (1)    This subsection applies only:

            (i)    In Prince George’s County; and

            (ii)    To real property consisting of a parcel of land of less than 5 acres that is not zoned for commercial use.

        (2)    (i)    In the enforcement of subsection (b) of this section for a violation involving the clearing or cutting of trees in the Critical Area, the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement shall record a lien on the property that is the subject of the violation within 90 days after issuing notice of the violation to the property owner.

            (ii)    A properly recorded lien as described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is required to enforce and hold a current property owner liable for the cutting or clearing of trees by a previous property owner or user who performed the act that caused the violation.

            (iii)    If a lien is not recorded as required, the local jurisdiction:

                1.    May pursue an enforcement action against only the previous owner or user that performed the act that caused the violation;

                2.    May not seek the remedies described in subsection (b) of this section against the current property owner; and

                3.    A.    Shall perform any restoration or mitigation that may be required under this section or § 8–1815 of this subtitle resulting from the violation that is not performed by the previous owner or user; and

                B.    May enter the property that is the subject of the violation for restoration or mitigation purposes in accordance with § 8–1815 of this subtitle.

§8–1815.1.    // EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 30, 2027 PER CHAPTER 595 OF 2025 //

    (a)    (1)    The provisions of this section are in addition to any other sanction, remedy, or penalty provided by law.

        (2)    This section does not apply to any cutting or clearing of trees that is allowed under regulations adopted by the Commission under this subtitle.

    (b)    If a person cuts or clears or plans to cut or clear trees within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area or Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area in violation of an approved local critical area program or of regulations adopted by the Commission, the chair may bring an action, or the local jurisdiction may bring an action or request that the chair of the Commission refer the matter to the Attorney General to bring an action:

        (1)    To require the person to replant trees where the cutting or clearing occurred in accordance with a plan prepared by the State Forester, a registered professional forester, or a registered landscape architect;

        (2)    To restrain the planned violation; or

        (3)    For damages:

            (i)    To be assessed by a circuit court in an amount equal to the estimated cost of replanting trees; and

            (ii)    To be paid to the Department by the person found to have violated the provisions of this subsection.

    (c)    If the chair of the Commission has reason to believe that the local jurisdiction is failing to enforce the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, the chair shall refer the matter to the Attorney General as provided under § 8–1815(b) of this subtitle.

    (d)    On the chair of the Commission’s referral of an alleged violation under subsection (c) of this section to the Attorney General, the Attorney General may invoke the remedies available to the local jurisdiction under subsection (b) of this section in any court of competent jurisdiction in which the local jurisdiction would be authorized to prosecute or sue.

    (e)    On the request of a local jurisdiction or the chair of the Commission, the State Forester, a registered professional forester, or a registered landscape architect may prepare, oversee, and approve the final implementation of a plan to:

        (1)    Replant trees in any part of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area where trees in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area are cut or cleared in violation of subsection (b) of this section; and

        (2)    Replant trees in any part of the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area where trees in the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area are cut or cleared in violation of subsection (b) of this section.