# Natural Resources (GNR)

## Title 3. Environmental Programs

### Subtitle 12

#### Section 3-1201

In this subtitle, "Fund" means the Resilience Through Restoration Capital Grant Fund.

#### Section 3-1202

(a) There is a Resilience Through Restoration Capital Grant Fund in the Department.

(b) The purpose of the Fund is to provide equitable grant funding to State agencies, local jurisdictions, and nonprofit organizations for the planning, design, construction, and adaptive management of nature-based restoration projects that reduce the State's climate change vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of the State's communities and public lands.

(c) The Department shall administer the Fund.

(d)

  (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to Sec. 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

  (2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

(e) The Fund consists of:

  (1) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;

  (2) Money from private or public sources, including from federal sources, accepted for the benefit of the Fund;

  (3) Interest earnings; and

  (4) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.

(f) The Fund may be used only for:

  (1) Providing grants to State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in the State for the planning, design, construction, and adaptive management of nature-based restoration projects that reduce the State's climate change vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of the State's communities and public lands;

  (2) Supporting programmatic and project-level adaptive management that reduces the State's overall climate change vulnerabilities and enhances the resilience of the State's communities and public lands; and

  (3) Administrative expenses calculated in accordance with Sec. 1-103(b)(2) of this article.

(g) A project that receives funding under the Fund:

  (1) Shall enhance the ability of communities and public lands to prepare for, respond to, or recover from extreme hazards such as storms and more frequent and intense rain events or chronic hazards such as nuisance flooding and sea level rise;

  (2) Shall use at least 3% of the funding for programmatic or project-level adaptive management; and

  (3) May include:

    (i) Natural and nature-based shoreline restoration;

    (ii) Floodplain restoration;

    (iii) Beneficial use of dredged material;

    (iv) Tidal and nontidal wetland restoration;

    (v) Dune and beach restoration;

    (vi) Green infrastructure; and

    (vii) Any other nature-based project that provides community and ecosystem benefits by restoring, enhancing, or creating habitat.

(h)

  (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.

  (2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.

(i) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.

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Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)