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Bill

HB 1116

Howard County - Illegal Dumping - Surveillance System Pilot Program Ho. Co. 6-26

2026 Regular Session

Howard County establishes an illegal dumping surveillance pilot program to deploy monitoring cameras at hotspots and enforce environmental violations through video evidence.

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
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Bill Summary · HB 1116

Legislative bill overview

HB 1116 establishes a pilot surveillance system program in Howard County, Maryland to combat illegal dumping through camera monitoring and enforcement. The bill authorizes the county to deploy surveillance technology at identified illegal dumping hotspots to deter activity and gather evidence for prosecution.

Why is this important

Illegal dumping degrades environmental quality, contaminates soil and waterways, and creates public health hazards while imposing cleanup costs on municipalities. This pilot program represents a data-driven enforcement approach that could serve as a model for other Maryland jurisdictions facing similar dumping problems.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Surveillance cameras in public areas raise questions about whether monitoring is sufficiently limited to dumping sites or could capture broader activity
  • Cost-effectiveness: The pilot's budget, equipment specifications, and actual enforcement outcomes compared to traditional enforcement methods remain unclear
  • Equity in enforcement: Risk that surveillance may disproportionately target certain neighborhoods or communities depending on where cameras are strategically placed

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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