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HB 1111 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Systems - Systems Located on or Over Water Retention Ponds, Quarries, or Brownfields

HB 1111 expands Maryland's Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program to include floating solar systems on water retention ponds, quarries, and brownfields, while exempting these installations from property tax. It amends state law to explicitly add "floating systems" and "systems located on brownfields" to the eligibility criteria for both the incentive program (under Public Utilities law) and the property tax exemption (under Tax law). This directly affects property owners, developers, and local governments with sites like water retention ponds, quarries, or brownfields where solar panels could be installed. The bill makes these specific locations eligible for financial incentives and tax relief, effective July 1, 2025.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill exempts solar systems from property tax, providing tax relief and directly modifying tax law per the summary.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands solar incentive program to include floating systems on water/brownfields with property tax exemption, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure adoption.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands solar incentives for floating systems on brownfields and water retention ponds, promoting clean energy adoption and repurposing contaminated land - directly advancing environmental conservation and renewable energy goals.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Systems - Floating Systems and Systems Located on Brownfields → Third - Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Systems - Systems Located on or Over Water Retention Ponds, Quarries, or Brownfields · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill expanded eligibility for floating solar systems beyond just water retention ponds and quarries to include any water retention pond or quarry currently or previously designated for industrial use. It also added a new property tax credit provision for solar systems on brownfields or these water bodies, while maintaining existing exemptions for rooftop, canopy, and brownfield systems.
Scope change
Expanded from only floating systems on water retention ponds/quarries to include any water retention pond or quarry currently or previously designated for industrial use; added new tax credit authority for Baltimore City and counties/municipal corporations
ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility criteria for floating solar systems to include water retention ponds or quarries currently or previously designated for industrial use, rather than limiting to specific types of water bodies

FISCAL

Added new Section 9-275 authorizing Baltimore City Mayor and Council and county/municipal governing bodies to grant property tax credits for nonresidential solar energy generating systems constructed on brownfields or water retention ponds/quarries designated for industrial use

REQUIREMENT

Modified certification requirements to include documentation for systems located on or over water retention ponds or quarries designated for industrial use, alongside existing requirements for rooftop, canopy, and brownfield systems

SCOPE

Removed original title language that only referenced floating systems and brownfields, replacing with broader language covering water retention ponds, quarries, and brownfields

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2025

How they voted

42–4
Passed
Total votes 46
Mar 24, 2025
D Democratic33
33 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican13
9 Yea 4 Nay
69% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 458
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (42-4)
senate
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
lower
Mar 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion Special Order until 03/17 (Delegate Szeliga) Adopted
lower
Mar 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 9, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (99-37-3)
house of delegates
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
First Reading Economic Matters
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of David Fraser-Hidalgo
David Fraser-Hidalgo
DDemocratic
MD
15