HB 870, the "Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act," requires new construction of large commercial and multifamily residential buildings (over 35,000 square feet) to meet specific energy conservation standards set by the Maryland Department of Labor. The bill defines "covered buildings" to include most large commercial structures and state-owned buildings, but excludes historic properties, schools, manufacturing facilities, and agricultural buildings. It mandates that adopted energy conservation requirements must be at least as stringent as the International Energy Conservation Code, with the state allowed to set stricter standards to improve efficiency. The law also establishes clear definitions for terms like "energy conservation measure" to guide implementation and ensure consistency.
HB 1071 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create regulations and a model ordinance for local stormwater management programs to enforce rules on agricultural land. It mandates that local programs must work with soil conservation districts to implement these rules and specifies that farm-related uses (like on-farm processing) must be clearly distinguished from commercial development in stormwater regulations. The bill also adds flexibility for enforcing stormwater management on agricultural land, rather than applying standard commercial development rules. This directly affects farmers, local governments, and soil conservation districts by changing how agricultural land is regulated under stormwater management.
SB 424 repeals a requirement that specific amounts from Maryland's Land Preservation Special Fund must be allocated to the General Fund for certain fiscal years (2002-2005). The bill modifies how remaining fund balances are distributed, shifting allocations away from mandatory General Fund transfers toward land preservation programs. Key provisions direct 75.15% to Program Open Space land acquisition, 17.05% to the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund, 5% to the Rural Legacy Program, and 1.8% to the Heritage Conservation Fund. This change affects state funding for conservation efforts and land preservation initiatives managed under Maryland's Natural Resources Article.
HB 460 limits solar energy generating station construction in Maryland's priority preservation areas (protected lands established before 2025) to 2% of the total acreage, down from a previous 5% cap. It requires counties to report when this 2% limit is reached and prohibits local zoning laws from blocking solar projects meeting specific criteria. The bill also mandates the Maryland Department of the Environment to study the environmental impact of disposing of solar panels at end-of-life and report findings by September 2027. This directly affects counties, developers, and landowners in priority preservation areas by restricting solar development space and creating new reporting requirements. The policy change aims to balance renewable energy growth with conservation of sensitive lands.
This bill transfers administration of the Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program from the Maryland Energy Administration to the Maryland Clean Energy Center. It removes the Energy Administration's authority to regulate the program and modifies reporting requirements for the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. The program provides loans for energy efficiency improvements to eligible businesses, local governments, and nonprofits. The bill reorganizes related sections in state law to reflect this administrative change.
SB 223 transfers administration of the Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program from the Maryland Energy Administration to the Maryland Clean Energy Center. The bill moves the program’s legal authority to the Maryland Clean Energy Center, repeals the Energy Administration’s regulatory power over the program, and updates reporting requirements for the related Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. The program itself continues to provide low-interest loans to nonprofit organizations, local governments, state agencies, and eligible businesses for energy efficiency projects that reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. This change is purely administrative and does not alter the program’s eligibility criteria, loan terms, or funding mechanisms.
HB 119 requires public bodies (including state agencies, counties, schools, and hospitals) to work with designated "navigators" when creating energy performance contracts - agreements where a company improves building energy efficiency in exchange for a share of savings. The Maryland Clean Energy Center must hire or contract with navigators in all Maryland regions using $1.5 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, providing assistance with grant applications, energy assessments, and navigating the Jane E. Lawton Conservation Program. Navigators help public bodies secure funding, review energy efficiency measures, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements for these contracts. The bill also updates state law to establish the navigator program and adjust funding mechanisms for energy efficiency initiatives.
SB 431 updates Maryland's rules for protecting endangered and threatened species and migratory birds. The bill requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to review and update species protection regulations by July 1, 2033, and every 10 years after that. It defines "harm" to include significant habitat changes that affect fish behavior, and clarifies that "take" means actions like hunting, trapping, or collecting. The bill also requires more detailed information in petitions to remove species from protection lists and allows for designating essential habitats for threatened species. These changes aim to strengthen species protection with clearer regulatory standards for state agencies.
HB 728 creates an exception to standard state procurement rules for specific Maryland departments (including the Department of General Services, Housing and Community Development, Planning, and Transportation) when contracting with nonprofits for historic preservation, archaeology, or conservation projects. The bill requires these contracts to include three key provisions: transparent competitive procurement of subcontracted work, annual reports on project outcomes and spending, and efforts to maximize community engagement. This exception applies only to the listed departments and services, leaving most other state procurement processes unchanged. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 654 modifies funding rules for Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority, directly affecting local jurisdictions and entities managing certified heritage areas. It removes previous 50% limits on grant coverage for project costs (allowing full funding for eligible activities like preservation and marketing) and adjusts how Program Open Space funds are used. Specifically, it increases the allowable percentage for operating expenses from 10% to 7% or $600,000 (whichever is greater), and raises the maximum funding transfer to the Authority's Financing Fund. These changes aim to provide greater flexibility for heritage area management while maintaining oversight of fund usage.
