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!
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MCEC staff 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. Keep an eye on this space each Friday during the session for a list of the energy regulation and finance bills introduced that might impact your bottom line and our environment.
Maryland’s 188 State Representatives took their seats on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, to open the 447th Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. The presiding officers will return to the rostrum with Senator Shaneka Henson, a new member for District 30, after Senator Sarah Elfreth’s move to the 3rd Congressional District seat. District 8 was vacated by Senator Kathy Klausmeier to serve as Baltimore County Executive. Jill Carter resigned her District 41 Senate seat when Governor Moore appointed her to the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals. This will leave a vacancy in the House Districts 41, 30A, 31, and 8, with appointments pending.
For a complete look at committee membership, click here.
Leadership voices concerns regarding the difficult budget restraints, transportation, and health care.
The Department of Legislative Services publishes Issue Papers for the next session during each interim. The Issue Papers 2025 Legislative Session discusses the economic forecast and the budget deficit looming.
Legislators pre-filed more than 550 bills between August and December, with 30 pieces of legislation that could impact the Maryland energy economy. Several of these bills were introduced during the previous Legislative Session. Legislation introduced pertaining to the Clean Energy Sector will be posted on the MCEC website with updates on hearing schedules. The House Economic Matters and the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committees typically hear energy-related legislation. The Maryland General Assembly posts hearing dates online if you wish to sign up to testify or listen in to proceedings. Visit the following link for more information regarding hearing dates and how to get in touch with legislators.
Visit the Maryland General Assembly website here.
The Maryland General Assembly returns to business with the new 2025 Committee Guides and Protocols in place.
View the Senate witness guidelines here.
View the House protocol guidelines here.
MCEC hosts a weekly Legislative Update via Zoom on Fridays at 9:00 AM to review pending legislation and facilitate a discussion among industry stakeholders. If you would like to participate, please contact Pamela Powers at 301-314-6065.
Do you know your State Senators and Delegates? They should know you! Contact your legislators directly to inform them about your role in the Maryland energy economy and voice your position on proposed bills during the session.
Find your representatives here.
LEGISLATIVE TRACKER
BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
SB0010/HB0220 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025)
SB0175/HB0222 Public Safety – Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing for Fuel Gas Piping Systems – Requirements and Prohibitions
SB0256/HB0049 Environment – Building Energy Performance Standards – Compliance and Reporting
SB0399 Natural Resources – Wildland Areas – Overhead Transmission Lines
SB0479 Building Energy Performance Standards – Public Safety, Emergency, and Public Utility Buildings – Exclusion
SB0661/HB0081 Real Property – Condemnation – Compensation for Farm and Agricultural Property (Protect Maryland Farm Lands Act)
SB0686 Environment – Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act)
SB0699 Forest Conservation Act – Linear Projects – Alteration
SB0756 Electric Companies, Gas Companies, Gas and Electric Companies, and Water Companies – Periodic Audits
SB0779 Climate Solutions Now Act Affordability Act of 2025
SB0804/HB0973 Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use, Energy Conservation, and Electric- and Solar-Ready Standards (Better Buildings Act of 2025)
SB0807 Environment – Local Building Energy Performance Standards – Authorization
SB0882/HB1088 Coal Transportation Fee & Fossil Fuel Mitigation Fund (Coal Dust Cleanup and Asthma Remediation Act)
SB0947 Maryland Co-Location Energy Innovation and Reliability Act
HB0212 Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use and Electric-Ready Standards
HB0340 Climate Change – Attorney General Actions, Climate Change Restitution Fund, and Climate Change Restitution Fund Advisory Council
HB0903 Courts – Global Warming and Climate Change – Prohibited Actions (Ratepayer Protection Act of 2025)
HB1058 Emission Standards, Ambient Air Quality Standards, and Solid Waste Management – Local Authority
HB1406 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity – Environmental Impact Analysis and Existing Burden Report
HB1415 Environment – Building Energy Performance Standards and Energy Use Intensity Targets – Exemptions
FINANCE AND INNOVATION
SB0105/HB0145 Green and Renewable Energy for Nonprofit Organizations Loan Program and Fund
SB0247/HB0155 Housing and Community Development – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions – Issuance of Loans and Achievement of Targets
SB0316/HB0398 Abundant Affordable Clean Energy – Procurement and Development (AACE Act)
SB0480 Department of General Services – Clean Energy Procurement Program – Establishment
HB0227 Corporations and Associations – Electric Cooperatives – Nonescheat Capital Credits
HB1273 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund and Customer-Sited Solar Program – Alterations
SJ0002/HJ0001 United States of America – National Infrastructure Bank
REGULATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, & UTILITIES
SB0034 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity – Overhead Transmission Lines – Conservation Easements
SB0037/HB0121 Electric Companies – Regional Transmission Organizations – Report (Utility Transparency and Accountability Act)
SB0120/HB0004 Restrictions on Use – Solar Collector Systems – Alteration
SB0266/HB0286 Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy – Planning Principles
SB0332 Task Force to Study the Premature Retirement of Electricity Generation Facilities
SB0425 Environment – Coal Combustion By-Products – Fees, Coordinating Committee, and Regulations
SB0434/HB0505 Empowering New Energy Resources and Green Initiatives Toward a Zero-Emission (ENERGIZE) Maryland Act
SB0478 Public Utilities – Solar Energy Generating Stations – Local Approval
SB0483 Public Utilities – Alternatives to Construction of New Transmission Lines
SB0640/HB0742 Public Utilities – Solar Energy Generating Stations – Eminent Domain
SB0643 Public Utilities – Energy Generation
SB0675 Public Service Commission – Full Costs and Benefits Analysis of Sources of Electricity Generation
SB0716 Public Utilities – Nuclear Energy – Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Procurement (Decarbonization Infrastructure Solutions Act of 2025)
SB0753 Offshore Wind Turbines and Accessory Installations – Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems
SB0816/HB0651 Public Service Commission – Membership – Alterations
SB0818/HB0066 Education – School Building Energy Usage – Monthly Report
SB0853 Public Service Commission – Transmission Line Siting – Limitations
SB0878 Oil and Natural Gas – Hydraulic Fracturing – Authorization
SB0908 Public Utilities – Electric Distribution System Plans – Establishment (Affordable Grid Act)
SB0909/HB1037 Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act
SB0913/HB1039 Department of Agriculture – Public Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment – Registration, Regulation, and Oversight
SB0931/HB1036 Public Utilities – Generating Stations – Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act)
SB0937/HB1035 Public Utilities – Electricity Generation Planning – Procurement, Permitting, and Co-Location (Next Generation Energy Act)
SB0950 Natural Gas Generating Facilities – Authorization
SB0951 Investor-Owned Electric Companies – Generating and Transmission Facilities – Authorization
SB0952 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity – Overhead Transmission Lines – Grid Enhancing Technologies
SB0953 Construction and Expansion of Transmission Lines and Task Force to Develop a Realistic Electricity Plan for Maryland
SB0955 Overhead Transmission Lines – Eminent Domain
SB0983/HB0827 Solar Energy – Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup
SB1020 Environment – Advanced Clean Cars II Program – Application and Enforcement
SB1022/HB1233 Community Solar Energy Generating Systems – Subscription Eligibility
SB1035 Electric and Gas Service – Termination – Third-Party Notification
HB0651 Public Service Commission – Membership – Alterations
HB0061 Public School Construction and Renovation – Solar Canopies for School Parking Lots – Underground Infrastructure
HB0066 Education – School Building Energy Usage – Monthly Report
HB0339 Real Property – Residential Rental Apartments – Air-Conditioning Requirements
HB0419 Natural Gas – Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (Ratepayer Protection Act)
HB0452 Outdoor Lighting – Guidance and Use of State Funds
HB0540 Maryland Green Schools – Website, Outreach, and Designations (Green Schools Stewardship Act)
HB0595 Public Service Commission – Renewable Energy Generation – Targets (Maryland Energy Independence Act)
HB0645 Transmission Line Siting – Comprehensive Plan, Recommendation, and Reporting Requirements
HB0673 Condominiums and Homeowners Associations – Governing Documents – Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment
HB0701 Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers – Purchase, Use and Sale – Prohibitions (Clean Air Quiet Communities Act)
HB0827 Solar Energy – Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup
HB0829 Public Utilities – Transmission Lines – Advanced Transmission Technologies
HB0900 Electricity – Data Centers – Rate Schedule and Requirements
HB0904 Department of Planning – Study on Solar Energy Project Sites
HB0960 Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies – Cost Recovery – Limitations and Reporting Requirements (Ratepayer Freedom Act)
HB1061 State-Owned Property – Inventory and Disposition – Housing and Solar Energy Production
HB1079 Public Service Commission – Study on the Electric Transmission and Distribution System
HB1111 Public Utilities – Solar Energy Generating Systems – Floating Systems and Systems Located on Brownfields
HB1162 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, or Refrigeration Contractors – Equipment Sales
HB1170 Maryland Home Improvement Commission – Residential Solar Power System Installation – Contractor License Required
HB1219 Maryland Co-Location Energy Innovation and Reliability Act
HB1233 Community Solar Energy Generating Systems – Subscription Eligibility
HB1258 Consumer Goods – Restrictions Based on Energy Source – Prohibition (Energy Equality Act of 2025)
HB1338 Public Utilities – Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity – Energy Storage Devices
HB1419 Electric Distribution System Support Services – Cost Recovery and Energy Storage
HB1535 Electric Companies and Gas Companies – Customer Bill Surcharge – Repeal
HB1536 Residential and Commercial Utility Taxes and Fees – Tax- and Fee-Free Period
HB1556 Environment – Advanced Clean Cars II Program and Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation – Application and Enforcement
TRANSPORTATION & WORKFORCE
SB0020 Locally Operated Transit Systems – Mandatory Funding – Inflation Adjustment (Local Transit Sustainability Act)
SB0263/HB0092 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors – License Restoration
SB0395/HB0084 Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2025)
HB0084 Transportation – Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2025)
HB0216 Electric Vehicles – Repeal of Excise Tax Credit and Establishment of Rebate Program
HB0897 Maryland Department of Transportation – Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Expansion – Plans and Programs
HB1176 Motor Vehicles – Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicles in HOV Lane – Termination Date
HB1269 School Bus Transition – Propane-Powered School Buses – Grant Program, Fund, and Purchase
HB1427 Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council – Revisions
HB1457 Alternative Fuel, Fuel-Efficient, and Electric Vehicles – Highway Use Fees
HB1496 Building Code – Construction and Significant Renovation of Housing Units – Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces