Policy Updates

The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) keeps you informed about public policy decisions made by the General Assembly during the legislative session, with the potential to impact the energy sector in our state! Our team monitors activity in the Maryland General Assembly, looking for legislation relevant to our mission and your interest in advancing the adoption of clean energy products, services, technologies, and innovation. 

Want us to keep you up to date? RSVP for weekly virtual policy update meetings, where MCEC staff and industry stakeholder will break down new and pending energy legislation, and subscribe to our weekly email series.

The 448th Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly kicked off on January 14, 2026. Dive into the latest legislation using our 2026 Maryland General Assembly Policy Tracker:

GENERATION, SUPPLY & TRANSMISSION

SB0026/HB1190 – Public Utilities – Off-Grid Electricity Providers – Exemption

SB0092/HB0143 – Electric Company Contracts, Capacity Market Models, and Regional Transmission Organizations – Studies

SB0201/HB0040 – Public Utilities – Transmission Lines – Advanced Transmission Technologies

SB0344/HB0734 Property Tax – Agricultural Use Assessment – Community Solar Energy Generating Systems

SB0669/HB0990 – Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program – Eligibility and Generating Capacity

SB0843/HB1195 – Net Energy Metering, SUNRISE Program, and Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Program (SUNRISE Act)

SB0966/HB1476 – Public Service Commission – Net Energy Metering – Successor Program

HB0079 – Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2026

HB0460 – Solar Energy – Construction of Generating Stations in Priority Preservation Areas and Study

HB1404 – Public Utilities – Energy Generation and Transmission

HB1532 – Continuing the Next Generation Energy Act

HB1572 – Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Waste–to–Energy

 

RATEPAYER COST CONCERNS

SB0002/HB0001 – Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies – Cost Recovery – Limitations

SB0386/HB0897 – Electricity Transmission and Distribution, Energy Storage, and Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund (Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026)

SB0461 – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Heat and Eat Program – Eligibility

SB0596/HB0940 – Large Load Customers – Electric System Interconnection and Demand Response Program

SB0598/HB0723 – Electric Companies – Cost Containment Plans – Requirement (Securing Affordable, Valuable Investments in Next Generation Grid Solutions (SAVINGS) Act)

SB0749 – Residential Retail Customer and Retail Electricity Suppliers – Definition and Alterations

SB0771/HB1516 – Human Services – Energy Assistance Programs – Administration and Funding

SB0850 – Electric and Gas Companies – Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Demand Response Programs – Alterations (Utility Affordability and Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026)

SB0954/HB1561 – Electricity Generation and Storage – Investor-Owned Electric Companies and Front-of-the-Meter Storage (Affordable Energy Act)

SB0992 – Public Utilities – Large Load Customers – Registration and Demand Response Program

HB0521 – Electric Companies and Gas Companies – Customer Bill Surcharge – Repeal

HB0540 – Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies – Utility Rate Changes (Public Service Company Transparency Act)

HB0974 – Electricity and Gas – Retail Supply (Freedom From Monopolies Act)

HB1253 – Gas Companies – Infrastructure Investments – Cost Recovery and Customer Notification (Break STRIDE Act)

HB1459 – Public Safety – Stationary Energy Storage Systems

HB1494 – Electricity and Retail Gas Supply – Customer Choice, Consumer Protection, and Green Power (Retail Energy Modernization and Consumer Choice Act)

 

TRANSPORTATION

SB0059/HB0437 – Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026)

SB0106/HB0183 – Vehicle Laws – Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program – Repeal

SB0275/HB0869 – Vehicle Laws – Electric Vehicle Dealer Licenses – City of Bowie

SB0912 – Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program – Exemption for Vehicles Formerly Registered as Historic

HB0405 – Condominiums and Homeowners Associations – Governing Documents – Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment

HB0437 – Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026)

HB0451 – Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council – Reporting and Sunset Extension

HB0806 – Vehicle Laws – Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program – Modifications

HB1019 – School Bus Transition – Propane-Powered School Buses – Grant Program, Fund, and Purchase

HB1225 – Weights and Measures – Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment – Registration Fees

HB1374 – Alternative Fuel, Fuel-Efficient, and Electric Vehicles – Highway Use Fee

HB1391 – Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program – Testing and Inspection – Grounds for Failure

 

FINANCE

SB0023/HB0695 – Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits (GREEN) Loan Program and Fund – Establishment

SB0223/HB0245 – Maryland Energy Administration – Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program and Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund

 

ENERGY SOURCE SITING & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

SB0373/HB0066 – Environment – Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Withdrawal (Restoring Energy Freedom Act)

SB0432/HB0572 – Attorney General Actions and Climate Crimes Accountability Fund (Climate Crimes Accountability Act)

SB0683 – Public Utilities – Solar Energy Generating Stations – Siting (Solar Siting and Preservation Credit Act of 2026)

SB0739 – Climate Change, Homeowner’s Insurance, and Emergency Management – Study

SB0780/HB1287 – Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity – BURDEN Analysis (CHERISH Our Communities Act)

SB0834 – Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs, Services, and Plans – Moratorium

HB0066 – Environment – Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – Withdrawal (Restoring Energy Freedom Act)

HB0167 – Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers – Purchase and Use – Prohibitions

HB0509 – Campaign Finance – Contributions by Gas and Electric Utility Companies – Prohibition

HB0620 – Commemorative Months – Maryland Climate Education Month

HB0673 – Consumer Goods – Restrictions Based on Energy Source – Prohibition (Energy Equality Act of 2026)

HB0796 – Recycling – Prohibition on the Chemical Conversion of Plastic

HB0799 – Maryland Co-Location Energy Innovation and Reliability Act

HB0928 – Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity – Transmission Lines – Applicability and Waivers

HB1065 – Coal Combustion By-Product Materials – Grant Program and Procurement Preference

HB1416 – State Procurement and Recipients of State Funding – Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment – Minority Business Enterprise Participation

 

BUILDING & HOME RESILIENCY

SB0434/HB0702 – Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund – Uses – Cooperative Housing Corporations and Condominiums (Co-Op and Condo Energy Refund Equity Act)

SB0479/HB1217 – Environment – Building Energy Performance Standards and Energy Use Intensity Targets – Exemptions

HB0353 – Prince George’s County – Termination of Gas or Electric Service to Multifamily Dwelling Units – Notification PG 406-25

HB0870 – Maryland Building Performance Standards – Energy Conservation Requirements (Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act)

HB0958 – Natural Gas – Connection and Line Extension – Discounts and Payment Plans

HB0988 – Environment – Building Energy Performance Standards – Repeal

HB1104 – Residential Solar Energy Systems – Local Inspections and Permitting

 

TAXES

SB0025/HB0290 – Income Tax – Cybersecurity Technology and Service Tax Credit – Alterations

HB0087 – Income Tax – Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit

HB0112 – Property Tax – Agricultural Use Assessment – Community Solar Energy Generating Systems

HB0556 – Property Tax Credit – Utility Service Expenses for Dwellings (Maryland Family Utility Tax Relief Act)

 

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, REGULATIONS & REPORTS

SB0265 – Community Solar Energy Generating Systems – Prohibited Locations – Adjacent Parcels

SB0270/HB0674 – Public Service Commission – Full Costs and Benefits Analysis of Sources of Electricity Generation

SB0303/HB0344 – Business Regulation – Sale of Motor Fuel – Pricing Signage

SB0341/HB0345 – Public Utilities – Solar Energy Generating Systems and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (Affordable Solar Act)

SB0381/HB0614 – Education – School Building Energy Usage – Monthly Report

SB0429/HB0629 – Maryland Energy Administration – Study on Land-Based Wind Energy

SB0553/HB0833 – Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland – Reestablishment

SB0584/HB1210 – Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Transmission Lines – Notice to Landowners

SB0590/HB1199 – Study on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Economy-Wide Cap-and-Invest Program (Maryland Climate Crisis Equity Act)

SB0622 – Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund – Required Uses – Building Electrification and Transportation Electrification

SB0625/HB0817 – Carbon Removal Technology and Practices – Regulations and Use of Funding

SB0630 – Overhead Transmission Lines and Eminent Domain – Property Value – Damages

SB0649 – Electric Companies – Environmental Surcharges or Fees – Prohibition on Collection

SB0706 – Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Alterations

SB0801/HB1525 – Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, EmPOWER Energy Efficiency Programs, and Net Energy Metering

SB0834 – Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs, Services, and Plans – Moratorium

SB0841 – Maryland Energy Administration – Renewable Energy Generation Projects – Alternative Compliance Fee Auctions

SB0964/HB0864 – Public Works Contracts – Apprenticeship Requirements (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act)

HB0054 – Task Force to Study Restructuring Maryland’s Electric Utility Industry

HB0119 – Energy Performance Contracts – Navigators, Funding, and Requirements

HB0517 – Emission Standards, Ambient Air Quality Standards, and Solid Waste Management – Local Authority

HB0642 – Electric Companies – Service Outages and Rate Increases – Report on Customer Impact

HB0647 – Power Plant Research Program – Study on Nuclear Energy

HB0648 – Office of Home Energy Programs – Uniform Redetermination Process – Age

HB0663 – Department of the Environment – Federal Policy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Reporting

HB0950 – Public Utilities – Street Lighting Equipment – Acquisitions and Reporting (County and Municipal Street Lighting Investment Act)

HB1040 – Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund – Mandated Uses – Climate Change Programs

HB1161 – Board of Public Works – Contract Review – Climate and Sustainability Information (BPW Climate Transparency Act)

HB1349 – Public Service Commission – Implementation Plan to Convert Formerly Operational Fossil Fuel Generating Stations

HB1411 – Data Center Planning and Transparency Act

HB1534 – Data Centers – Standards for Operation and Siting

HB1554 – Sales and Use Tax – Electricity for Agriculture Purposes – Study and Report

HJ0002 – United States of America – National Infrastructure Bank

 

You can view an archive of the 2025 Policy Watch here.