SB 201 modifies Maryland's requirements for approving new overhead transmission lines over 69,000 volts. It requires applicants to include specific details in their applications and mandates the Public Service Commission to consider certain evidence before approving projects. The bill also adds new reporting obligations for owners/operators of existing transmission lines. It defines "advanced transmission technologies" to include grid-enhancing tools, high-performance conductors, and energy storage used for transmission. These changes directly affect electric companies planning or operating high-voltage transmission infrastructure in Maryland.
SB 203 requires accredited lead paint abatement service providers in Maryland to maintain a reasonable performance bond or liability insurance policy. This applies to any person accredited by the Department of the Environment to conduct lead paint hazard removal, containment, or renovation work in buildings constructed before 1978. The law amends existing regulations to mandate this financial protection, ensuring providers can cover costs if services fail to meet standards. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all accredited professionals performing lead abatement work.
SB 434 ensures cooperative housing corporations and condominium owners in Maryland receive energy cost refunds directly through their governing bodies (boards or associations), rather than as individual customer credits. The bill requires electric companies to issue refunds to these governing bodies, which then distribute funds to individual members, mirroring how refunds are handled for other residential customers. These refunds, funded by compliance fees in the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund, are distributed equally between peak summer and winter months for fiscal year 2027. The policy applies to members who did not receive prior refunds under 2025 legislation and operates in addition to existing energy relief programs.
This bill requires landlords and property sellers in Maryland to ensure septic systems are inspected and pumped by licensed professionals before new tenants move in or property is sold. Landlords must comply by July 1, 2028, and inspections/pumping are valid for three years. Home sellers must include this requirement in real estate contracts starting July 1, 2028, with settlement delayed until proof of inspection and pumping is provided. Exceptions apply for transfers between family members, refinancing, or initial construction. Property owners must also report failing systems to local health departments and confirm repairs.
HB 112 extends the deadline for community solar energy systems to receive Public Service Commission approval from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2030, to qualify for agricultural property tax assessment. It specifically clarifies that land used for "agrivoltaics" (solar systems combined with farming) must be assessed as actively farmland under Maryland’s agricultural tax program. This change directly affects community solar developers and landowners with qualifying solar installations seeking lower agricultural tax rates. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.
SB 386 (Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026) requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (over 69,000 volts) in Maryland to join a regional transmission organization. It mandates that applicants seeking permits for new transmission lines must include alternative proposals using advanced transmission technologies and compare their cost-effectiveness. The bill creates a new Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration and directs funds from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential customers. These changes aim to modernize transmission infrastructure, promote technology adoption, and reduce costs for Maryland ratepayers.
HB 734 extends the deadline for community solar energy systems to qualify for agricultural property tax assessment from 2025 to December 31, 2030. It applies to systems placed in service after June 30, 2022, and approved by the Public Service Commission by the new deadline. The bill ensures land used for qualifying community solar projects is assessed as actively farmed agricultural land, allowing property owners to receive lower tax rates. This directly affects landowners operating community solar systems that meet these criteria.
SB 341 establishes new definitions for small portable solar systems (max 1,200 watts, plug-in devices for residential use) and creates two types of solar energy credits: SRECs for smaller systems and SREC-II for larger installations. It requires electric companies to procure a specific number of SREC-II credits from qualifying solar projects and mandates that certain compliance fees be deposited into an escrow account instead of the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. Homeowners using portable solar systems cannot have utility approval requirements or fees for grid connection, but these systems do not count toward renewable energy goals. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives gain flexibility in meeting solar requirements under the new framework.
HB 220 requires apartment buildings with multiple units to install individual water meters for each dwelling unit, replacing bulk meters. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks they caused, common-area usage, or maintenance costs, and mandates that charges reflect actual water use. Tenants gain the right to inspect leak detection monitors and review billing records, while unpaid water bills cannot be used to evict tenants for nonpayment. The bill also establishes a complaint process for tenants to address billing disputes with local housing authorities or consumer protection offices.
SB 266 authorizes Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local ordinances regulating the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), a nonnative tree that spreads aggressively and harms native ecosystems. The bill allows local governments to ban selling, planting, or allowing the tree to grow on property, require containment if it's present, and impose civil fines for violations. It also permits communities to create bounty programs incentivizing residents to remove the tree. This directly affects property owners who may have the tree and local governments seeking to manage its spread.
