Easton Utilities Commission
2025 Legislative Bill Tracking
Friday, January 31, 2025 10:34 AM
| Bill (Crossfile) | Bill Title & Upcoming Hearings | Sponsor | Status | Position / Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB 24 | Bay Restoration Fund - Authorized Uses - Connection to Existing Municipal Wastewater Facility Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m.@Environment and Transportation |
Nawrocki | In the House - Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m. (1/15) | Monitor | Easton raised a concern that there is no regard to whether there is funding. Also, $300k income threshold seems high. |
| HB 25 (SB 265) | Environment - Reservoir Augmentation Permit - Establishment | Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee | In the House - Hearing 1/29 at 1:30 p.m. (1/13) | No Position | |
| HB 29 | Electronic Payment Transactions - Interchange Fees - Calculation and Use of Data | T. Morgan | In the House - Hearing 1/21 at 1:00 p.m. (1/8) | No Position | |
| HB 42 (SB 134) | Solid Waste Disposal Surcharge and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund and Grant Programs - Established | Boyce | In the House - Hearing 1/29 at 1:30 p.m. (1/13) | No Position | |
| HB 49 (SB 256) | Environment - Building Energy Performance Standards - Compliance and Reporting Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.@Environment and Transportation |
Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee | In the House - Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | No Position | |
| HB 97 (SB 409) | Economic Development - County or Municipal Corporation Economic Development Authority - Powers and Use of Proceeds | Qi | In the House - Hearing canceled (Ways and Means) (1/17) | No Position | |
| HB 100 (SB 102) | Insurance Pooling - Public Entity - Definition | Bagnall | In the House - Hearing 1/28 at 2:00 p.m. (1/13) | No Position | |
| HB 121 (SB 37) | Electric Companies - Regional Transmission Organizations - Report (Utility Transparency and Accountability Act) | Charkoudian | In the House - Hearing 1/23 at 1:00 p.m. (1/8) | Monitor | There is a carve out for munis on p.2, line 13 (we secured that in the 2024 bill as amended and passed out of the House) |
| HB 128 (SB 149) | Responding to Emergency Needs From Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act of 2025 | Fraser-Hidalgo | In the House - Hearing 1/23 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) (1/8) | Monitor | |
| HB 131 (SB 117) | Environment - Bay Restoration Fund - Septic System Upgrade Program Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m.@Environment and Transportation |
Stein | In the House - Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m. (1/15) | No Position | |
| HB 145 (SB 105) | Green and Renewable Energy for Nonprofit Organizations Loan Program and Fund | Boafo | In the House - Hearing 1/23 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) (1/8) | No Position | |
| HB 155 (SB 247) | Housing and Community Development - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions - Issuance of Loans and Achievement of Targets | Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee | In the House - Hearing 1/28 at 2:00 p.m. (1/13) | No Position | |
| HB 209 (SB 239) | State Finance and Procurement - Local Cybersecurity Preparedness and Response Plan and Assessment - Repeal Hearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m.@Health and Government Operations |
Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee | In the House - Hearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m. (1/8) | No Position | |
| HB 212 | Maryland Building Performance Standards - Fossil Fuel Use and Electric-Ready Standards | Acevero | In the House - Hearing canceled (Economic Matters) (1/9) | Monitor | |
| HB 213 | Public Utilities - Natural Gas Energy Generation - Authorization and Limitation | Mangione | In the House - Hearing canceled (1/9) | No Position | Mangione will likely withdraw. |
| HB 220 (SB 10) | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025) | Stewart | In the House - Hearing canceled (1/15) | No Position | |
| HB 227 (SB 561) | Corporations and Associations - Electric Cooperatives - Nonescheat Capital Credits | Adams | In the House - Hearing 1/21 at 1:00 p.m. (1/8) | No Position | |
| HB 270 (SB 116) | Data Center Impact Analysis and Report | Crosby | In the House - Hearing 1/23 at 1:00 p.m. (1/8) | No Position | |
| HB 340 | Climate Change - Attorney General Actions, Climate Change Restitution Fund, and Climate Change Restitution Fund Advisory Council Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.@Health and Government Operations |
Ruth | In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (1/21) | No Position | |
| HB 398 (SB 316) | Abundant Affordable Clean Energy - Procurement and Development (AACE Act) Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Charkoudian | In the House - Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m. (1/16) | Support with Amendment | Munis will want an amendment to allow but not require them to develop an energy storage goal much like with did for AMI and solar. Nathan sent Brett and email from last year as an example. Brett to draft amendment for everyone's review on Monday, 2/3. |
| HB 419 | Natural Gas - Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (Ratepayer Protection Act) Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Embry | In the House - Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m. (1/16) | Monitor | |
| HB 431 (SB 413) | Civil Actions - Consumer Contracts - Limitations Periods | Stewart | In the House - Hearing 1/28 at 1:00 p.m. (1/16) | No Position | |
| HB 505 (SB 434) | Empowering New Energy Resources and Green Initiatives Toward a Zero-Emission (ENERGIZE) Maryland Act | The Speaker | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters (1/22) | Monitor | |
| HB 582 | Labor and Employment - Exemptions From Overtime Pay - Administrative, Executive, or Professional Capacity Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Vogel | In the House - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/23) | No Position | |
| HB 595 | Public Service Commission - Renewable Energy Generation - Targets (Maryland Energy Independence Act) Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Fraser-Hidalgo | In the House - Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (1/23) | Monitor | |
| HB 640 (SB 34) | Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Overhead Transmission Lines - Conservation Easements Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Guyton | In the House - Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (1/23) | No Position | |
| HB 645 | Transmission Line Siting - Comprehensive Plan, Recommendation, and Reporting Requirements Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Guyton | In the House - Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (1/23) | No Position | |
| HB 651 | Public Service Commission - Membership - Alterations | Pippy | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters (1/24) | Monitor | |
| HB 657 (SB 483) | Public Utilities - Alternatives to Construction of New Transmission Lines | Pippy | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters (1/24) | No Position | |
| HB 671 | Environment - On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems - Climate Vulnerable Areas Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.@Environment and Transportation |
Stein | In the House - Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (1/29) | Monitor | |
| HB 739 (SB 478) | Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Stations - Local Approval Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Ghrist | In the House - Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m. (1/29) | Monitor | |
| HB 742 (SB 640) | Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Stations - Eminent Domain Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Ghrist | In the House - Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m. (1/29) | ||
| HB 827 | Solar Energy - Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup | Clippinger | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters (1/29) | ||
| HB 829 | Public Utilities - Transmission Lines - Advanced Transmission Technologies Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.@Economic Matters |
Charkoudian | In the House - Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (1/29) | ||
| HB 900 | Electricity - Data Centers - Rate Schedule and Requirements | Wilson | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters (1/30) | HB0900 introduces a requirement for utilities to develop a special rate for data centers with demand over 2.5 MW. I cannot speak for the others, but Hagerstown does not have any data centers on our system and developing a rate for a customer that does not exist creates extra burden against our operating funds that are not in the best interest of our existing rate payers. We do not have the capital to fund a project of this size with uncertain ROI and cannot be held to certain deadlines as we are at the mercy of Potomac Edison to perform load studies on the subtransmission system for any customer over 1MW. It would be best to handle data centers as we would any other high-use customer, on a case-by-case basis with 100% of all costs associated with the project paid/refunded before the service is energized.
Hines: We would incur the costs to run this through a full cost of service study. These are only typically conducted when we go in for a full-blown rate case. Munis do full rate cases very infrequently to avoid the cost-of-service studies. I don't hate this idea of creating the rate schedule that conform with these requirements, but don't want to spend the money to arbitrarily make one with no need.
Possibly we add this language to the Bill:
Municipal Electric companies shall be obligated to create a conforming data center tariff rate schedule at such time an application with deposit is received for a data center connection over 2.0MW, or at any rate case filing with the Public Service Commission on or after July 1, 2027. | |
| HB 902 (SB 425) | Environment - Coal Combustion By-Products - Fees, Coordinating Committee, and Regulations | Lehman | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters and Environment and Transportation (1/30) | ||
| HB 904 | Department of Planning - Study on Solar Energy Project Sites | Moon | In the House - First Reading Economic Matters (1/30) | ||
| SB 10 (HB 220) | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025) Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Ferguson | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | No Position | |
| SB 34 (HB 640) | Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Overhead Transmission Lines - Conservation Easements Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Brooks | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | No Position | |
| SB 37 (HB 121) | Electric Companies - Regional Transmission Organizations - Report (Utility Transparency and Accountability Act) Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Hester | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | Monitor | last year's carve out we secured is in first draft of the bill this year (p.2) |
| SB 105 (HB 145) | Green and Renewable Energy for Nonprofit Organizations Loan Program and Fund | Kagan | In the Senate - Hearing 1/15 at 10:30 a.m. (1/8) | No Position | |
| SB 116 (HB 270) | Data Center Impact Analysis and Report Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Lewis Young | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | No Position | |
| SB 117 (HB 131) | Environment - Bay Restoration Fund - Septic System Upgrade Program | Hester | In the Senate - Hearing 1/28 at 2:30 p.m. (1/14) | Monitor | monitor for funding and income threshold |
| SB 149 (HB 128) | Responding to Emergency Needs From Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act of 2025 Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment)@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Hester | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment) (1/27) | No Position | |
| SB 239 (HB 209) | State Finance and Procurement - Local Cybersecurity Preparedness and Response Plan and Assessment - Repeal | Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 1/16 at 2:00 p.m. (1/13) | No Position | |
| SB 247 (HB 155) | Housing and Community Development - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions - Issuance of Loans and Achievement of Targets | Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 1/21 at 1:30 p.m. (1/15) | No Position | |
| SB 256 (HB 49) | Environment - Building Energy Performance Standards - Compliance and Reporting Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | Monitor | |
| SB 265 (HB 25) | Environment - Reservoir Augmentation Permit - Establishment | Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 1/28 at 2:30 p.m. (1/14) | No Position | |
| SB 316 (HB 398) | Abundant Affordable Clean Energy - Procurement and Development (AACE Act) Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Brooks | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | Support with Amendment | Munis will want an amendment to allow but not require them to develop an energy storage goal much like with did for AMI and solar. Nathan sent Brett and email from last year as an example. |
| SB 332 | Task Force to Study the Premature Retirement of Electricity Generation Facilities Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Ready | In the Senate - Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | Monitor | |
| SB 409 (HB 97) | Economic Development - County or Municipal Corporation Economic Development Authority - Powers and Use of Proceeds Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m.@Budget and Taxation |
King | In the Senate - Hearing 2/05 at 2:00 p.m. (1/30) | No Position | |
| SB 413 (HB 431) | Consumer Protection - Consumer Contracts - Limitations Periods Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m.@Finance |
Waldstreicher | In the Senate - Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m. (1/22) | No Position | |
| SB 425 (HB 902) | Environment - Coal Combustion By-Products - Fees, Coordinating Committee, and Regulations Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Jackson | In the Senate - Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (1/23) | ||
| SB 434 (HB 505) | Empowering New Energy Resources and Green Initiatives Toward a Zero-Emission (ENERGIZE) Maryland Act | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/21) | Monitor | ||
| SB 478 (HB 739) | Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Stations - Local Approval | Gallion | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/22) | Monitor | |
| SB 479 | Building Energy Performance Standards - Public Safety, Emergency, and Public Utility Buildings - Exclusion | Gallion | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/22) | Monitor | |
| SB 480 | Department of General Services - Clean Energy Procurement Program - Establishment | Gallion | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment and Budget and Taxation (1/22) | No Position | |
| SB 483 (HB 657) | Public Utilities - Alternatives to Construction of New Transmission Lines | Gallion | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/22) | No Position | |
| SB 561 (HB 227) | Corporations and Associations - Electric Cooperatives - Nonescheat Capital Credits Hearing 1/31 at 10:00 a.m.@Judicial Proceedings |
Hershey | In the Senate - Hearing 1/31 at 10:00 a.m. (1/28) | No Position | |
| SB 640 (HB 742) | Public Utilities - Solar Energy Generating Stations - Eminent Domain | Gallion | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/25) | ||
| SB 643 | Public Utilities - Energy Generation | Gallion | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/25) | Senate Bill 643, titled "Public Utilities - Energy Generation," proposes changes to energy generation in Maryland. Key provisions include: - Allowing the construction, permitting, and operation of energy generating systems that produce energy from natural gas.
- Requiring compliance with existing regulations for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity or commission approval for construction.
- Supporting the development of additional nuclear energy in the state, including small modular reactors and the combination of nuclear energy and natural gas.
- Encouraging PJM Interconnection, LLC to provide an expedited interconnection process for new thermal generation resources. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025. | |
| SB 675 | Public Service Commission - Full Costs and Benefits Analysis of Sources of Electricity Generation | Carozza | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/26) |