CC Current Session

Climate Change and the 2023 Session

There are high hopes that successful climate change legislation will increase in the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session. Significant legislation was enacted in the 2022 session AND other important bills were vetoed by the former Governor. The increased progressive supermajorities in both Chambers and the election of Governor Wes Moore and Comptroller Brooke Lierman (A long-time Climate Leader) bode well for Maryland!

The likely legislation that UULM-MD will support are:

Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Act (which we supported in 2022)
HB 284 / SB 222 Extended Producer Responsibility Act (also supported in 2022)
Reform the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008
Reclaim Renewable Energy Act
HB 9 / SB 19 - Transportation Equity Act (supported in 2022, passed the Legislature and vetoed by the Governor)

Below are bills that are likely to be considered by members of the General Assembly. The description of these bills will be updated and expanded as they are introduced.

Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Act (ClimateXChange priority)
- Implement a Social Cost of Carbon fee to fossil fuels at the entry point of Maryland.
- Will fund projects supporting the Climate Solutions Now Act with two Funds
  - Benefits Fund to individuals and families (50%)
  - Infrastructure Fund for communities and local government (50%)
- The fee is initially set fairly low and will increase annually for 10 years

Climate Superfund (Chesapeake Climate Action Network priority - CCAN)
- Establishes a superfund, funded by historical polluters, to remediate environmental damages that they caused.
- This will be different from the Climate Crisis and Environment Justice act which is focused on carbon costs.
- $9B to be raised in the first year.

Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Program (League of Conservation Voters priority)
- Enacted in 2015 as a Pilot Program that will expire in 2024. The current legislation will make the program permanent. Community Solar Programs can be any solar project or purchasing program, within a geographic area, in which the benefits of a solar project flow to multiple customers such as individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other groups.
- This bill will improve access to solar energy for Low to Moderate Income communities.

Reform the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008 (InterFaith Power & Light priority)
- Ends subsidies for natural gas systems, creates a rebate system to focus on reduction of greenhouse gasses
- Directs more of the EmPOWER funds to Low and Moderate Income families and individuals
- Aligns current Maryland Law with Federal Law which incentivizes movement to electricity over methane gas. Maryland law includes Methane Gas as an alternative to electricity.
- Bill passed last year, but was vetoed.

HB 284 / SB 222 Extended Producer Responsibility
- Producers of packaging are required to set up a non-profit to develop an incentive plan to improve recycling and reduce packaging costs.
- Local government currently pays for the packaging waste, this bill will shift the cost to producers.
- Helps us transition to a Zero Waste Future, which reduces a huge component of the climate problem: Waste.
- Will provide a comprehensive look at the waste stream.

HB 6 / SB 92 - Maryland Sustainable Buildings Act aka Bird Safe Building Act
- Requires all buildings with >50% state funding to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards
- Buildings with lots of glass are significantly less efficient and birds can’t always see windows.

HB 631 / SB 470 - Maryland the Beautiful Act
- Protect and conserve 30% of Maryland’s lands by 2030 and 40% by 2040
- Create two new programs (“Greenspace Equity Fund” & “Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Program”) for equitable and accessible conserved greenspace.
- Expanded funding for the Mel Noland Woodland Incentive fund to increase forest protections.

Off-shore Wind Transmission Bill (Chesapeake Climate Action Network priority)
- Bill supports the expansion of offshore wind power by setting an offshore wind goal of 8.5 GWh (gigawatt hours) by 2031
- Initiates a state process to coordinate transmission infrastructure, and investing in the full build-out of the existing lease areas.

(HB 499 / SB 225) PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in Pesticides
- Requires manufacturers to provide testing for PFAS by January 2024
  - Will have a huge impact on farm workers that are exposed to significant amounts of PFAS chemicals.

Reclaim Renewable Energy
- Removes Tier 1 status for non-green sources from Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) including incineration of trash and woody biomass.
- Bio-gas is a growing problem, especially on the Eastern Shore due to the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations for swine and poultry. This should be stopped before this becomes a significant source of methane pollution.
- Bio-gas is significantly more expensive and can only produce a small amount of gas (when compared to the energy needs). This is a cover for the continued expansion of methane gas infrastructure build-out
- This bill does not outlaw bio-gas, just removes Tier 1 status.

HB 9 / SB 19 - Transportation Equity Act (supported in 2022, passed the Legislature and vetoed by the Governor)

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
Sustainable buildings	HB0006	SB0092	Department of General Services – Energy–Conserving Standards (Maryland Sustainable Buildings Act of 2023)	Delegate Hill	Hearing 2/08 at 2:30 p.m. (Health and Government Operations) and Hearing canceled (Appropriations)	Health and Government Operations	X	Support	Contact your Delegate on committee	Requiring the Department of General Services to establish and periodically update standards for State buildings to conserve energy and minimize adverse impacts on birds; requiring the Maryland Green Building Council to include the standards in any requirements established for participation in a higher-performance building program in the State; defining 'State building' as one acquired, constructed, or renovated by the State or one for which 50% of the money for acquisition, construction, or renovation came from State funds.
Sustainable buildings	SB0092	HB0006	Department of General Services – Energy–Conserving Standards (Maryland Sustainable Buildings Act of 2023)	Senator Lam	Hearing 2/02 at 2:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment	X	Support	Contact your Senator on committee	Requiring the Department of General Services to establish and update standards for State buildings to conserve energy and minimize adverse impacts on birds; requiring the Maryland Green Building Council to include the standards in any requirements established for participation in a higher-performance building program in the State; and defining 'State building' as one acquired, constructed, or renovated by the State or one for which 50% of the money for acquisition, construction, or renovation came from State funds.
Transportation reserves	HB0051	SB0024	Department of Transportation - Consolidated Transportation Program and Debt Limit of Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds (State and Federal Transportation Funding Act)	Delegate Korman	Hearing 1/24 at 1:00 p.m.	Appropriations	X	Support		Requiring the financial forecast that supports the Consolidated Transportation Program to include a reserve of $30,000,000 for changes in certain revenue sources; altering the calculation of the maximum amount of debt secured by future federal aid that the Department of Transportation may issue; providing that the maximum amount of debt that may be issued is calculated as of June 30; and providing that the proceeds from the issuance of certain debt may be used only for certain purposes.
Transportation reserves	SB0024	HB0051	Department of Transportation – Consolidated Transportation Program and Debt Limit of Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds (State and Federal Transportation Funding Act)	Senator McCray	Hearing 1/19 at 1:30 p.m.	Budget and Taxation	X	Support		Requiring the financial forecast that supports the Consolidated Transportation Program to include a reserve of $30,000,000 for changes in certain revenue sources; altering the calculation of the maximum amount of debt secured by future federal aid that the Department of Transportation may issue; providing that the maximum amount of debt that may be issued is calculated as of June 30; and providing that the proceeds from the issuance of certain debt may be used only for certain purposes.
PFAS monitoring	HB0499	SB0225	Environment - Publicly Owned Treatment Works - PFAS Monitoring	Delegate Love	Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation	X	Support	Contact your Delegate on committee	Requiring the owner or operator of a publicly owned treatment works to monitor and report the levels of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in effluent, influent, and biosolids.
PFAS monitoring	SB0225	HB0499	Environment - Publicly Owned Treatment Works - PFAS Monitoring	Senator Elfreth	Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment	X	Support	Contact your Senator on committee	Requiring the owner or operator of a publicly owned treatment works to monitor and report the levels of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in effluent, influent, and biosolids.
Producer responsibility-packaging	SB0222	HB0284	Environment - Reducing Packaging Materials - Producer Responsibility	Senator Augustine	Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment	X	Support	Contact your Senator on committee	Requiring the Department of the Environment to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment every 10 years; requiring, by April 1, 2026, producers of certain packaging materials to individually or as part of a producer responsibility organization submit a producer responsibility plan to the Department for approval; prohibiting, on or after a certain date, a producer of certain packaging materials from selling or distributing the packaging materials unless the producer has an approved producer responsibility plan; etc.
Producer responsibility-packaging	HB0284	SB0222	Environment – Reducing Packaging Materials – Producer Responsibility	Delegate Love	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation)	Environment and Transportation	X	Support	Contact your Delegate on committee	Requiring the Department of the Environment to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment every 10 years; requiring, by April 1, 2026, producers of certain packaging materials to individually or as part of a producer responsibility organization submit a producer responsibility plan to the Department for approval; prohibiting, on or after a certain date, a producer of certain packaging materials from selling or distributing the packaging materials unless the producer has an approved producer responsibility plan; etc.
Transportation equity	HB0009	SB0019	Equity in Transportation Sector - Guidelines and Analyses	Delegate Ruth	Hearing 2/02 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation	X	Support	Contact your Delegate on committee	Requiring that equity be considered when State transportation plans, reports, and goals are developed; altering the membership of the advisory committee on State transportation goals; requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to conduct transit equity analyses, cost-benefit analyses, and consult with certain communities before announcing or proposing any major service change or any reduction or cancellation of a certain capital expansion project in the construction program; etc.
Transportation equity	SB0019	HB0009	Equity in Transportation Sector - Guidelines and Analyses	Senator Carter	Hearing 2/01 at 2:30 p.m.	Finance	X	Support	Contact your Senator on committee	Requiring that equity be considered when State transportation plans, reports, and goals are developed; altering the membership of the advisory committee on State transportation goals; requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct transit equity analyses, cost-benefit analyses, and consult with certain communities before announcing or proposing any major service change or any reduction or cancellation of a certain capital expansion project in the construction program; etc.
Clean Transportation & Energy	HB0550		Maryland Energy Administration – Energy Programs – Modifications (Clean Transportation and Energy Act)	Speaker	First Reading Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters	Environment and Transportation	X	Support	Contact your Delegate on committee	Altering the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Program by extending the duration of the Program through fiscal year 2026, repealing the rebates that may be issued to retail service station dealers, and repealing the limitation on the total amount of rebates that the Maryland Energy Administration may issue in each fiscal year; altering the definition of 'grant' for purposes of the Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program; etc.
Maryland the Beautiful	HB0631	SB0470	Natural Resources - Land Conservation - Establishment of Goals and Programs (Maryland the Beautiful Act)	Delegate Stein	First Reading Environment and Transportation	Environment and Transportation	X	Support	Contact your Delegate on committee	Establishing certain goals and programs related to land conservation; establishing the Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Program to provide loans to certain land trusts to purchase land for conservation purposes; establishing the Land Preservation Rapid Response Advisory Committee to review loan applications and make recommendations on which projects to fund; establishing the Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Fund; requiring the Governor to include $10,000,000 in the fiscal year 2025 budget bill for the Fund; etc.
Maryland the Beautiful	SB0470	HB0631	Natural Resources - Land Conservation - Establishment of Goals and Programs (Maryland the Beautiful Act)	Senator Elfreth	Hearing 2/15 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment)	Budget and Taxation	X	Support	Contact your Senator on committee	Establishing certain goals and programs related to land conservation; establishing the Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Program to provide loans to certain land trusts to purchase land for conservation purposes; establishing the Land Preservation Rapid Response Advisory Committee to review loan applications and make recommendations on which projects to fund; establishing the Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Fund; requiring the Governor to include $10,000,000 in the fiscal year 2025 budget bill for the Fund; etc.
AG climate change enforcement	HB0347		Attorney General – Climate Change Actions – Authorization	Delegate Ruth	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m.	Health and Government Operations				Authorizing the Attorney General to investigate, commence, and prosecute or defend any suit or action that holds accountable a publicly traded entity with market capitalization greater than $1,000,000,000 or its subsidiaries for any tortious or otherwise unlawful conduct that has contributed to climate change; and authorizing the Attorney General to hire outside counsel on a contingency fee basis to assist with an action under the Act if the Attorney General makes a certain determination.
Clean Trucks Act	HB0230	SB0224	Department of the Environment - Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Regulations (Clean Trucks Act of 2023)	Delegate Love	Hearing 2/08 at 1:30 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations on or before December 1, 2023, establishing requirements for the sale of new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the State; defining a 'heavy-duty vehicle' as one with a gross vehicle weight rating equal to or greater than 14,001 pounds; etc.
Clean Trucks Act	SB0224	HB0230	Department of the Environment - Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Regulations (Clean Trucks Act of 2023)	Senator Augustine	Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations on or before December 1, 2023, establishing requirements for the sale of new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the State.
Electric recharging rebate	HB0007		Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program – Renewal	Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo	Hearing 2/02 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Altering the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program by extending the duration of the Program through fiscal year 2027, increasing the total amount of rebates issued annually under the Program to $2,000,000, repealing the rebates that may be issued to retail service station dealers, limiting the issuance of rebates to one recharging system per individual per address, and authorizing the Maryland Energy Administration to offer additional benefits under certain circumstances; etc.
Net energy metering flexibility	HB0068	SB0143	Electricity – Net Energy Metering – Accrual of Net Excess Generation (Net Metering Flexibility Act)	Delegate Korman	Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m.	Economic Matters				Authorizing an eligible customer-generator to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period; requiring an eligible customer-generator that elects to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period to forfeit any net excess generation at the time an account is closed; and altering the month used to establish an annual billing cycle for the payment of net excess generation accrued.
Net energy metering flexibility	SB0143	HB0068	Electricity – Net Energy Metering – Accrual of Net Excess Generation (Net Metering Flexibility Act)	Senator Feldman	Hearing canceled	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Authorizing an eligible customer-generator to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period; requiring an eligible customer-generator that elects to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period to forfeit any net excess generation at the time an account is closed; and altering the month used to establish an annual billing cycle for the payment of net excess generation accrued.
Climate Crisis Plan	HB0147	SB0250	Environment - Climate Crisis Plan - Requirement	Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo	Hearing 2/08 at 1:30 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Requiring each county to prepare a climate crisis plan to address the effects of climate change in the county; requiring each county to submit its plan to the Department of the Environment for review and feedback on or before June 1, 2024; requiring the Department to provide feedback to each county on or before November 1, 2024; requiring each county to finalize its plan on or before January 1, 2025; and requiring each county to review and update its plan at least once every 3 years.
Climate Crisis Plan	SB0250	HB0147	Environment - Climate Crisis Plan - Requirement	Senator Kramer	Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Requiring each county to prepare a climate crisis plan to address the effects of climate change in the county; requiring each county to submit its plan to the Department of the Environment for review and feedback on or before June 1, 2024; requiring the Department to provide feedback to each county on or before November 1, 2024; requiring each county to finalize its plan on or before January 1, 2025; and requiring each county to review and update its plan at least once every 3 years.
Plastics-recycled content	HB0342		Environment - Plastic Products - Postconsumer Recycled Content Program	Delegate Terrasa	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation)	Environment and Transportation				Prohibiting certain producers of certain plastic products from selling, offering for sale, or distributing the products to any person in the State unless certain conditions are met; requiring certain producers of certain plastic products to, individually or as part of a representative organization, register and pay a certain annual registration fee to the Department of the Environment; establishing certain minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage requirements for certain products; etc.
Low/moderate income housing	HB0310		Environment and Energy - Investment in Communities With Low- to Moderate-Income Households	Delegate Rosenberg	Hearing 2/15 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation)	Environment and Transportation				Requiring the Department of the Environment, on or before December 1, 2023, to develop certain policies and recommendations to require at least 40% of overall spending on certain programs, projects, or investments to benefit communities with low- to moderate-income households, starting with fiscal year 2025; requiring the Department to conduct public information-gathering sessions in different areas of the State to solicit input; etc.
Prohibit new auto emission standards	HB0487		Environment – Low Emissions Vehicle Program – Prohibition (Affordable Emissions Standards Act of 2023)	Delegate Buckel	First Reading Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters	Environment and Transportation		Oppose		Prohibiting the Department of the Environment from adopting certain regulations to implement certain new motor vehicle emissions standards and compliance requirements adopted by the California Air Resources Board unless certain analyses are prepared and submitted to the General Assembly and the General Assembly enacts a law authorizing the adoption of the regulations.
Transit-oriented development	HB0012	SB0151	Equitable and Inclusive Transit-Oriented Development Enhancement Act	Delegate Lewis, J.	Hearing 2/02 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation)	Environment and Transportation				Establishing the Transit-Oriented Development Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund to promote the equitable and inclusive development of transit-oriented developments; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; authorizing the Department of Transportation to use the Fund to provide financial assistance to local jurisdictions; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation sufficient to ensure a fund balance of at $10,000,000 at the start of the fiscal year; etc.
Transit-oriented development	SB0151	HB0012	Equitable and Inclusive Transit-Oriented Development Enhancement Act	Senator Augustine	Hearing 1/25 at 2:00 p.m.	Budget and Taxation				Establishing the Transit-Oriented Development Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund to promote the equitable and inclusive development of transit-oriented developments; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; authorizing the Department of Transportation to use the Fund to provide financial assistance to local jurisdictions; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation sufficient to ensure a fund balance of at $10,000,000 at the start of the fiscal year; etc.
Extreme weather mitigation fund	HB0190	SB0077	Housing and Community Development - Homeowner's Extreme Weather Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program	Delegate Ivey	Hearing 2/07 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Establishing the Homeowner's Extreme Weather Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development to assist homeowners, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in preparing and repairing residential properties to mitigate water damage caused by extreme weather; limiting a grant awarded to a homeowner to $5,000 or less; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $5,000,000 for the program beginning in fiscal year 2025.
Extreme weather mitigation fund	SB0077	HB0190	Housing and Community Development - Homeowner's Extreme Weather Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program	Senator Jackson	Hearing 1/26 at 3:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Establishing the Homeowner's Extreme Weather Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development to assist homeowners, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in preparing and repairing residential properties to mitigate water damage caused by extreme weather; limiting a grant awarded to a homeowner to $5,000 or less; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $5,000,000 for the program.
Credit for energy efficiency upgrades	SB0317		Income Tax - Credit for Energy Efficiency Upgrades - Passive Houses	Senator Brooks	Hearing 2/08 at 1:00 p.m.	Budget and Taxation				Allowing a credit against the State income tax for certain costs, paid or incurred after July 1, 2023, by an owner of certain residential property for certain energy efficiency upgrades; requiring the owner to obtain a tax credit certificate from the Maryland Energy Administration; and prohibiting a taxpayer from claiming the tax credit for a taxable year during which the Governor declares a state of emergency.
Solar investment tax credit	SB0103		Income Tax – Maryland Residential Solar Investment Tax Credit	Senator Ellis	Hearing 1/19 at 1:30 p.m.	Budget and Taxation				Allowing a credit against the State income tax for the costs of certain photovoltaic property placed into service by an individual during the taxable year; prohibiting an individual from claiming the credit under certain circumstances; providing for the carryforward of any unused credit; etc.
Forestry Education Fund	HB0289	SB0282	Maryland Forestry Education Fund - Establishment	Delegate Stein	Hearing 3/01 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Establishing the Maryland Forestry Education Fund to expand and enhance the Maryland Forestry Foundation's capacity to provide certain education and resources to forest landowners, the ability of district forestry boards and the knowledge of local governments to achieve healthy and sustainable forests, and the ability of businesses to test innovative best management practices in forestry; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill $250,000 for the Fund in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Forestry Education Fund	SB0282	HB0289	Maryland Forestry Education Fund - Establishment	Senator King	Hearing 2/08 at 1:00 p.m.	Budget and Taxation				Establishing the Maryland Forestry Education Fund to expand and enhance the Maryland Forestry Foundation's capacity to provide certain education and resources to forest landowners, the ability of district forestry boards and the knowledge of local governments to achieve healthy and sustainable forests, and the ability of businesses to test innovative best management practices in forestry; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill $250,000 for the Fund in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Greenspace equity	HB0503		Natural Resources - Greenspace Equity Program - Establishment	Delegate Stein	Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Establishing the Greenspace Equity Program in the Department of Natural Resources to provide grants to eligible applicants for enhancing the public health and livability of overburdened communities and underserved communities; requiring the Department to submit each grant award to the Board of Public Works for approval; requiring the Board of Public Works to approve or deny a proposed grant award submitted by the Department; and establishing the Greenspace Equity Advisory Board in the Department.
NE Waste Disposal Authority-review	HB0161		Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority – Evaluation and Termination of Bond Authority (Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority Sunset Act)	Delegate Korman	Hearing 2/08 at 1:30 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Prohibiting the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority from issuing bonds beginning June 1, 2023; requiring the Department of Legislative Services to evaluate the Authority providing enough detail for the General Assembly to determine whether the Authority should continue in its current form; requiring the Maryland Environmental Service and the Maryland Clean Energy Center to review certain aspects of the Authority and analyze whether the Environmental Service or the Clean Energy Center could assume those aspects; etc.
Buy Clean Maryland	HB0261	SB0424	Public Projects - Global Warming Potential of Materials (Buy Clean Maryland Act)	Delegate Kerr	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m.	Health and Government Operations				Requiring the Department of General Services to establish a maximum acceptable global warming potential for certain categories of eligible materials, any cement or concrete mixture, used in certain eligible projects; requiring a unit of State government to specify the eligible materials that will be used in an eligible project in the solicitation for an eligible project; requiring a successful bidder or offeror of an eligible project to submit certain information about each eligible material proposed to be used in an eligible project; etc.
Buy Clean Maryland	SB0424	HB0261	Public Projects - Global Warming Potential of Materials (Buy Clean Maryland Act)	Senator Elfreth	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m.	Budget and Taxation				Requiring the Department of General Services to establish a maximum acceptable global warming potential for certain categories of eligible materials, any cement or concrete mixture, used in certain eligible projects; requiring a unit of State government to specify the eligible materials that will be used in an eligible project in the solicitation for an eligible project; requiring a successful bidder or offeror of an eligible project to submit certain information about each eligible material proposed to be used in an eligible project; etc.
Low Income Housing-Performance	HB0169	SB0144	Public Utilities - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs - Energy Performance Targets and Low-Income Housing	Delegate Charkoudian	First Reading Economic Matters	Economic Matters				Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to procure or provide for electricity customers energy efficiency and conservation programs and services designed to achieve certain target annual incremental gross energy savings for the 2024-2026 program cycle; requiring the Department to update the weather-normalized gross retail sales against which savings are measured for certain plans; requiring the target annual incremental gross energy savings to be achieved based on an average of certain Department plans; etc.
Low Income Housing-Performance	SB0144	HB0169	Public Utilities - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs - Energy Performance Targets and Low-Income Housing	Senator Feldman	Hearing 1/31 at 3:30 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to procure or provide for electricity customers energy efficiency and conservation programs and services designed to achieve certain target annual incremental gross energy savings in certain years; requiring the Department to update the weather-normalized gross retail sales against which savings are measured for certain plans; requiring the target annual incremental gross energy savings to be achieved based on an average of certain Department plans; etc.
Solar energy compliance fees	SB0357	HB0511	Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Solar Energy - Compliance Fees	Senator Klausmeier	Hearing 2/14 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Altering the compliance fee for a shortfall from the required percentage of energy from Tier 1 renewable sources to be derived from solar energy for the renewable energy portfolio standard beginning in 2025 and later.
Solar energy compliance fees	HB0511	SB0357	Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy – Compliance Fees	Delegate Queen	Hearing 2/16 at 1:00 p.m.	Economic Matters				Altering the compliance fee for a shortfall from the required percentage of energy from Tier 1 renewable sources to be derived from solar energy for the renewable energy portfolio standard beginning in 2025 and later.
Residential electric vehicle charging	SB0477		Residential Construction or Significant Renovation - Electric Vehicle Charging	Senator Feldman	Hearing 2/14 at 1:00 p.m.	Education, Energy, and the Environment				Establishing and altering certain requirements related to the installation of equipment for the charging of electric vehicles during the construction or significant renovation of certain housing units; and clarifying that a county or municipal corporation may require a greater number of electric vehicle parking spaces under certain circumstances.
School solar panels	HB0300	SB0235	School Buildings - Solar Technology - Solar Panels on Schools	Delegate Bhandari	Hearing 2/07 at 1:00 p.m.	Appropriations				Requiring local school systems, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2034, to consider whether to construct schools with solar panels on the roofs of the schools; and requiring local school systems to provide to the Interagency Commission on School Construction an explanation for a decision not to include solar panels as part of the construction of a school.
School solar panels	SB0235	HB0300	School Buildings - Solar Technology - Solar Panels on Schools	Senator West	Hearing 2/01 at 2:00 p.m.	Budget and Taxation				Requiring local school systems, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2034, to consider whether to construct schools with solar panels on the roofs of the schools; and requiring local school systems to provide to the Interagency Commission on School Construction an explanation for a decision not to include solar panels as part of the construction of a school.
Task force on recycling	HB0109		Task Force on Recycling Policy and Recycling and Waste Systems in Maryland	Delegate Love	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Establishing the Task Force on Recycling Policy and Recycling and Waste Systems in Maryland to review the Maryland Recycling Act, study the recycling and waste systems in Maryland, and make recommendations on updating the Maryland Recycling Act and implementing regional recycling and waste disposal facilities; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to certain committees of the General Assembly by June 30, 2024.
Solar tax incentive study	SB0469		Task Force to Study Solar Tax Incentives	Senator Elfreth	First Reading Budget and Taxation	Budget and Taxation				Establishing the Task Force to Study Solar Tax Incentives to study and make recommendations regarding a tax strategy that is more competitive than the State's current strategy to maximize the installation of rooftop solar panels, to facilitate and promote installation of grid-connected generation of renewable energy, and to meet the State's renewable energy goals; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 15, 2023.
Transportation - Equity impacts	HB0341		Transportation - Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs and Transportation Improvement Programs - Equity Impacts	Delegate Lewis, J.	Hearing 2/21 at 1:00 p.m.	Appropriations				Requiring the Department of Transportation to include in the statewide transportation improvement program analyses of how the transportation improvement program my impact low-income communities and minority communities; and requiring a metropolitan planning organization to include in a transportation improvement program analyses of how the transportation improvement program my impact low-income communities and minority communities.
Rail investment	HB0074	SB0412	Transportation – Maryland Rail Authority – Establishment (Maryland Rail Investment Act of 2023)	Delegate Korman	Hearing 1/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Appropriations) and Hearing canceled (Environment and Transportation)	Appropriations				Establishing the Maryland Rail Authority and the powers and duties that the Rail Authority, acting on behalf of the Department of Transportation, has with respect to the supervision, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of railroad facilities projects; altering the membership of the Maryland Transportation Authority to include the Executive Director of the Rail Authority; prohibiting the Transportation Authority from passing a budget plan that exceeds a certain amount; etc.
Rail investment	SB0412	HB0074	Transportation – Maryland Rail Authority – Establishment (Maryland Rail Investment Act of 2023)	Senator Rosapepe	Hearing 2/22 at 1:00 p.m. (Finance)	Finance				Establishing the Maryland Rail Authority and the powers and duties that the Rail Authority, acting on behalf of the Department of Transportation, has with respect to the supervision, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of railroad facilities projects; altering the membership of the Maryland Transportation Authority to include the Executive Director of the Rail Authority; prohibiting the Transportation Authority from passing a budget plan that exceeds $2,800,000,000; etc.
HOV lanes-plug in hybrids	HB0123		Vehicle Laws – HOV Lanes – Plug–In Electric Drive Vehicles	Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo	Hearing 2/02 at 1:00 p.m.	Environment and Transportation				Authorizing certain plug-in electric drive vehicles for which a permit has been issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicles; authorizing the Administration to charge a fee, not to exceed $20, for issuing the permit; and requiring, on or before January 1 of each year, a report to be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly on the effect of the use of the plug-in electric drive vehicle permits on the operation of HOV lanes.