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Climate Change and the 2026 Session
Each year, the Climate Change team selects several bills as “priority.” The bills are evaluated based on their climate effectiveness and climate justice impacts. In order to collect information about the bills, UULM-MD participates in three different coalitions. They are the Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition, the Citizens Concerned for the Environment (CCE), and the Transform Maryland Transportation coalition. These three coalitions emphasize different perspectives on climate change. They are climate justice, broader climate and environmental issues, and public transportation advocacy, respectively.
In addition, several bills have been selected that we are “supporting” and may be elevated in the event that a priority bill fails to move forward.
For priority bills, the UULM-MD will submit written testimony, issue action alerts and join rallies in Annapolis. For the supported bills, we will follow their progress, and sign-on to other Advocacy Organizations' testimony.
This year, we will advocate for three climate bills. They are:
The CHERISH Our Communities Act (Cumulative Harms to Environmental Restoration for Improving our Shared Health): addresses a critical gap in Maryland's environmental protection system, particularly in disadvantaged and overburdened communities.
SB 59 - The Climate and Transportation Alignment Act: would require the Maryland Department to align transportation projects with state climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and Vehicle Miles Traveled.
The Bottle Bill (aka Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program): would implement a deposit-return system for beverage containers (plastic, glass, metal) with 10-15 cent deposits, aiming to drastically cut litter and boost recycling.
In addition, there are several energy-related bills being discussed aimed at:
1) Stabilizing the rising cost of energy,
2) Encouraging the growth of renewable energy, and
3) Incorporating advanced technologies to enhance the electric grid.
We will consider supporting these bills as the details emerge.
For more information, please contact Climate Change Issue Lead Phil Webster at ClimateChange@uulmmd.org.
Subject | Bill Number | XFile Bill Number | Title | Sponsor | Status | Current Location | Priority | Position | Action | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transportation and Climate Alignment | SB0059 | Transportation - Major Highway Capacity Expansion Projects and Impact Assessments (Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026) | Senator Hettleman | First Reading Budget and Taxation | Budget and Taxation | x | Support | Requiring the Department of Transportation, as part of the planning and implementation of certain major highway expansion projects, to perform an impact assessment of the project and develop and implement a corresponding multimodal transportation program; requiring the Department, beginning with a certain Consolidated Transportation Program, to evaluate certain major capital projects for their impact on greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled; etc. | ||
Affordable Solar Act | HB0345 | Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Systems and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (Affordable Solar Act) | Delegate Charkoudian | First Reading Environment and Transportation | Environment and Transportation | Authorizing the purchase, installation, and use of a certain portable solar energy generating system for certain purposes; altering the renewable energy portfolio standard; requiring that certain alternative compliance fees be paid into a certain escrow account rather than into the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund; requiring the Public Service Commission to require electric companies to procure a certain number of SRECs and SREC-IIs; requiring the Commission to issue certain solicitations; etc. | ||||
Beverage Container Recycling Refund | HB0331 | Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program | Delegate Terrasa | First Reading Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters | Environment and Transportation | Establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part of a beverage container stewardship organization; etc. | ||||
Climate Solutions Affordability | HB0079 | Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2026 | Delegate Chisholm | Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Specifying that certain requirements under the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 are to be carried out to the extent economically practicable, including requirements concerning achieving certain direct greenhouse gas emissions reductions from certain buildings, measuring and reporting direct emissions data to the Department of the Environment, achieving certain greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and achieving zero-emission vehicle goals relating to the State vehicle fleet and local school buses; etc. | ||||
Climate and Sustainability Contract Review | SB0116 | Board of Public Works - Contract Review - Climate and Sustainability Information | Senator Hettleman | Hearing canceled | Budget and Taxation | Requiring a State agency to provide certain climate and sustainability information on submission of a contract award recommendation to the Board of Public Works for architectural and engineering service, construction, energy performance, general miscellaneous, and landlord lease and tenant lease contracts; requiring liaisons to the Board to ensure compliance; and requiring the climate and sustainability information to be placed on the Board agenda. | ||||
Community Solar - Prohibited Locations | SB0265 | Community Solar Energy Generating Systems - Prohibited Locations - Adjacent Parcels | Senator Brooks | First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Repealing certain prohibitions on the location of a community solar energy generating system based on the combined installed capacity of all community solar energy generating systems on adjacent parcels of land. | ||||
Electric Utility Restructuring Study | HB0054 | Task Force to Study Restructuring Maryland's Electric Utility Industry | Delegate Allen | Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Establishing the Task Force to Study Restructuring Maryland's Electric Utility Industry to study and make recommendations on restructuring the State's electric utility industry; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before November 1, 2027. | ||||
Electricity - Costs and Benefits Analysis | SB0270 | Public Service Commission - Full Costs and Benefits Analysis of Sources of Electricity Generation | Senator Carozza | First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Requiring the Public Service Commission to conduct an analysis of the full costs and benefits of sources of electricity generation in the State; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation Committee by December 1, 2027. | ||||
GREEN Loan Program | SB0023 | Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits (GREEN) Loan Program and Fund - Establishment | Senator Kagan | Hearing 1/21 at 10:00 a.m. | Budget and Taxation | Establishing the Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits Loan Program in the Maryland Clean Energy Center to provide financial assistance in the form of no-interest loans to nonprofit organizations for the planning, purchase, and installation of qualifying energy systems and for actions that improve energy efficiency; establishing the Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits Loan Fund; authorizing the Governor to include $5,000,000 in the fiscal year 2028 budget for the Fund; etc. | ||||
Off-Grid Generators | SB0026 | Public Utilities - Off-Grid Electricity Providers - Exemption | Senator McKay | Hearing canceled | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Exempting certain off-grid electricity providers from certain provisions of law; providing that a certain off-grid electricity provider is subject to certain laws concerning certificates of public convenience and necessity and certain other required approvals for the construction of a generating facility; providing that a person may not be considered to be an off-grid electricity provider under certain circumstances; and applying the Act to off-grid electricity providers that begin operations after October 1, 2026. | ||||
Restoring Energy Freedom Act | HB0066 | Environment - Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative - Withdrawal (Restoring Energy Freedom Act) | Delegate Chisholm | Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Requiring the Governor to withdraw the State from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. | ||||
Studies of Electric Company Contracts | HB0143 | SB0092 | Electric Company Contracts, Capacity Market Models, and Regional Transmission Organizations - Studies | Delegate Charkoudian | Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Requiring the Public Service Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration jointly, in consultation with neighboring states, to study the benefits and costs of, and make recommendations on, potential options for certain actions with regard to withdrawing from the PJM Interconnection, LLC capacity market model, developing a certain multistate compact, withdrawing from PJM Interconnection, LLC, and establishing or joining an alternative regional transmission organization; etc. | |||
Studies of Electric Company Contracts | SB0092 | HB0143 | Electric Company Contracts, Capacity Market Models, and Regional Transmission Organizations - Studies | Senator Hettleman | First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Requiring the Public Service Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration jointly, in consultation with neighboring states, to study the benefits and costs of, and make recommendations on, potential options for certain actions with regard to withdrawing from the PJM Interconnection, LLC capacity market model, developing a certain multistate compact, withdrawing from PJM Interconnection, LLC, and establishing or joining an alternative regional transmission organization; etc. | |||
Transmission Line Technologies | SB0201 | HB0040 | Public Utilities - Transmission Lines - Advanced Transmission Technologies | Senator Brooks | First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Altering the definition of 'qualified generator lead line' for provisions of law regarding certificates of public convenience and necessity; requiring an applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of an overhead transmission line to include certain information in its application; requiring the Public Service Commission to consider certain evidence before taking action on a certain application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity; etc. | |||
Transmission Line Technologies | HB0040 | SB0201 | Public Utilities - Transmission Lines - Advanced Transmission Technologies | Delegate Charkoudian | Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Altering the definition of 'qualified generator lead line' for provisions of law regarding certificates of public convenience and necessity; requiring an applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of an overhead transmission line to include certain information in its application; requiring the Public Service Commission to consider certain evidence before taking action on a certain application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity; etc. | |||
Transportation Investment Priorities | SB0062 | HB0230 | Transportation - Consolidated Transportation Program - Prioritization (Transportation Investment Priorities Act of 2026) | Chair, Budget and Taxation Committee | First Reading Budget and Taxation | Budget and Taxation | Altering the required elements of the Consolidated Transportation Program; requiring the Department of Transportation to develop a certain project-based scoring system, identify certain funds available for certain purposes, and solicit requests from certain entities for certain projects; requiring the Department to evaluate and score certain major surface transportation projects; altering the makeup, chair, frequency of meetings, and responsibilities of the Maryland Transportation Commission; etc. | |||
Transportation Investment Priorities | HB0230 | SB0062 | Transportation - Consolidated Transportation Program - Prioritization (Transportation Investment Priorities Act of 2026) | Chair, Appropriations Committee | First Reading Appropriations and Environment and Transportation | Appropriations | Altering the required elements of the Consolidated Transportation Program; requiring the Department of Transportation to develop a certain project-based scoring system, identify certain funds available for certain purposes, and solicit requests from certain entities for certain projects; requiring the Department to evaluate and score certain major surface transportation projects; altering the makeup, chair, frequency of meetings, and responsibilities of the Maryland Transportation Commission; etc. | |||
Utility Cost Recovery Limitations | SB0002 | HB0001 | Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies - Cost Recovery - Limitations | Senator Hester | First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Prohibiting certain public service companies from recovering through rates any costs associated with paying certain employees a bonus unless the employee has a written contract executed by December 31, 2025, or the employee is covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement; prohibiting a certain public service company from recovering through rates any costs associated with a supervisor's annual compensation once the compensation exceeds a certain amount; etc. | |||
Utility Cost Recovery Limitations | HB0001 | SB0002 | Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies - Cost Recovery - Limitations | Delegate Crosby | Hearing 1/27 at 3:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Prohibiting certain public service companies from recovering through rates any costs associated with paying certain employees a bonus unless the employee has a written contract executed by December 31, 2025, or the employee is covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement; prohibiting a certain public service company from recovering through rates any costs associated with a supervisor's annual compensation once the compensation exceeds a certain amount; etc. | |||
Vehicle Emissions Inspection Repeal | HB0183 | SB0106 | Vehicle Laws - Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program - Repeal | Delegate Bouchat | Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m. | Environment and Transportation | Repealing the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program. | |||
Vehicle Emissions Inspection Repeal | SB0106 | HB0183 | Vehicle Laws - Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program - Repeal | Senator Ready | Hearing 2/04 at 11:00 a.m. | Judicial Proceedings | Repealing the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program. |
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