Spotlight on State Policy

House Chamber in session in Annapolis
Credit: Garrett Fitzgerald March 12, 2024
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As the General Assembly races toward the April 8th end to its 2024 legislative session, Montgomery County is continuing to engage with our partners in Annapolis to advocate for policy change aligned with our climate and environmental priorities.  

State leadership and partnership is critical to climate progress here in Montgomery County and across the state of Maryland. As noted in the County’s Climate Action Plan, the County has limited authority to advance greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction in several key areas including power generation, regional infrastructure investments, and standards for new buildings, vehicles, and equipment.   

This year, the Montgomery County Council identified climate change and environment issues among the County’s legislative priorities, including: “Support bold and equitable clean and renewable energy, building decarbonization, transportation, waste management (including recycling and producer responsibility), flood mitigation, solar development, and other environmental protection policies and investments.” 

The County is following more than 100 bills that have been introduced in the General Assembly this year related to these subjects, and is actively engaging with bill sponsors and other stakeholders to advocate for legislation aligned with County priorities. Examples of this legislation that appear to have a strong chance of passage include:  

  • EmPOWER Maryland Reform – HB 864  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans   
  • Retail Energy Supplier Regulations – SB 1 / HB 267  Electricity and Gas – Retail Supply – Regulation and Consumer Protection  
  • New Electric Vehicle (EV) Instant Rebate Program – HB 689  Electric Vehicles – Repeal of Excise Tax Credit and Establishment of Rebate Program   
  • Streamline EV Charging at Condos – SB 206 / HB 216  Condominiums – Common Elements – Clean Energy Equipment   
  • EV Charging at Common Ownership Communities – SB 465 / HB 159  Common Ownership Communities – Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment (Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024)   
  • State Flood Management Grant Funding – SB 148 / HB 449  Comprehensive Flood Management Grant Program – Funding for Underserved and Overburdened Communities  
  • Small Solar Incentive Program – SB 416 / HB 258  Renewable Energy – Customer-Sited Solar Program  
  • Battery Safety Commission – SB 532 / HB 468  Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland  
  • Networked Geothermal Pilots – SB 570 / HB 397  Public Utilities – Thermal Energy Network Systems – Authorization and Establishment (Working for Accessible Renewable Maryland Thermal Heat (WARMTH) Act)  
  • Utility Voting Transparency – SB 682 / HB 505  Limitations on Cost Recovery by Public Service Companies and Reports on Votes Cast at Meetings of Regional Transmission Organizations (Utility Transparency and Accountability Act)  
  • Time-of-Use Utility Rates – SB 959 / HB 1256  Electricity – Tariffs, Distributed Energy Resources, and Electric Distribution System Support Services (Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE) Act)  
  • Offshore Wind – SB 1161 / HB 1296  Electricity – Offshore Wind Projects – Alterations  
  • Electric System Planning – HB 1393  Electric System Planning – Scope and Funding  
  • Pollinator Habitat Plan for SHA – SB 178 / HB 22  Agriculture – Pollinator Habitat Plan – Requirements for State Highway Administration   
  • Synthetic Turf Chain of Custody – HB 457  Environment – Synthetic Turf – Chain of Custody 

Examples of additional legislation the County has engaged on include:  

  • RPS Reform – SB 146 / HB 166  Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Eligible Sources – Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2024)  
  • STRIDE Reform – SB 548 / HB 731  Natural Gas – Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (Ratepayer Protection Act)  
  • EV Charging in New MF Buildings – SB 695 / HB 889  Building Code – Construction and Significant Renovation of Housing Units – Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces  
  • Fees on Fossil Fuel Extractors – SB 958 / HB 1438  Responding to Emergency Needs From Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act of 2024  
  • Electric Requirements for New Buildings – SB 1023 / HB 1279  Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use, Energy Conservation, and Electric- and Solar-Ready Standards (Better Buildings Act of 2024)  
  • Data Center Energy Conditions – HB 905  Sales and Use Tax Exemption – Qualified Data Center Personal Property – Eligibility  
  • Electronics Extended Producer Responsibility – SB 686 / HB 830  Environment – Covered Electronic Devices Recycling Program – Establishment  
  • State Leaf Blower Ban – HB 91  Fossil Fuel-Powered Lawn and Garden Care Equipment – State Purchase, Use, and Contracts – Prohibition  

 These are just some of the many bills the County is currently tracking. We look forward to sharing a summary of all of the climate and environment legislation that passed in the 2024 General Assembly session later in April.