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Maryland Senate President's Stormwater Bill Moves Forward

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A bill to end mandatory stormwater management fees is moving through the Maryland Senate.

On Thursday senators progressed the legislation, sponsored by Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller, without opposition to the voting stage.

After the session, Miller said it appeared to be smooth bill for the legislation, which would free counties from paying mandated fees to support pollution reduction in the Chesapeake Bay.

Currently nine counties and Baltimore city pay the fees, which critics call the "rain tax."

Under Miller's bill, counties would be allowed to show they could meet federal stormwater requirements on their own terms.

Gov. Larry Hogan had proposed his own repeal of the fees, but the bill was defeated at committee level in both the House and Senate.

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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