# Maryland HB 1035: Electricity and Gas - Emissions Reductions, Rate Regulation, Cost Recovery, Infrastructure, Planning, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, and Energy Assistance Programs (Next Generation Energy Act) Maryland HB 1035, Electricity and Gas - Emissions Reductions, Rate Regulation, Cost Recovery, Infrastructure, Planning, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, and Energy Assistance Programs (Next Generation Energy Act), is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by C. T. Wilson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-20 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 626); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1035-2025RS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland HB 1035 - State: Maryland - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Electricity and Gas - Emissions Reductions, Rate Regulation, Cost Recovery, Infrastructure, Planning, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, and Energy Assistance Programs (Next Generation Energy Act) - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-05 - Last action: 2025-05-20, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 626 - Sponsor: C. T. Wilson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Utility Regulation, Energy and Climate, Administrative Agencies, Air Pollution, Attorney General, Boundaries, Coal, Collective Bargaining, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Community Development, Construction, Contractors -see also- Construct; Electricians; etc., Contracts -see also- Procurement, Debt Management, Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Energy Administration, Energy Matters -see also- Fuel; NuclearMatt; PwrPlnts; etc., Environment, Department of the, Environmental Incentives, Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut, Equipment -see also- Charging; Med. Equip.; MV Equip; etc., Escrow Accounts, Evidence, Exemptions, Federal Aid -see also- CARES Act, Federal Government, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Forms, Fuel -see also- Coal, General Services, Department of, Grants, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Hearings, High Voltage Lines, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Human Services, Department of, Income Tax, Industry and Technology, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Interstate Affairs, Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, Labor, Department of, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Loans -see also- Credit; Mortgages; Scholarships&SFA, Meetings -see also- Hearings; Open Government, Minority Business Enterprises, Natural Resources, Department of, Notices, Nuclear Matters -see also- Power Plants, Open Government, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Pollution -see also- Air Pollution; Litter; Water Pollution, Power Plants, Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Privatization, Procurement, Public Service Commission, Public Works -see also- Brg&Tun; Hwys; PublBlgFac; etc., Recruitment and Hiring, Recycling, Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling, Renewable Energy Sources -see also- Geotherm; Solar; etc., Reports, Residential Property -see also- Apartments; Condominiums, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Right-of-Way, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Security Interests -see also- Liens, Small Business, Social Services -see also- Public Benefits, Standards and Best Practices, State Aid -see also- Public Benefits, Storage, Sunset, Tax Credits, Testimony -see also- Witnesses, Time, Unions, Utilities -see also- Recycl; Refuse; Sewage; Teleph; Water, Veterans, Women -see also- Gender, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Zoning and Planning - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 10 (423 yes, 810 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 20 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Energy-saving help for low-income households: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2025, the law requires energy-saving, demand-response, and beneficial-electrification services for low-income individuals. Demand-response programs help manage electricity use, while beneficial electrification supports switching energy uses to electricity. Plans for 2025–2033 m… - Wage protections for utility construction workers: benefit, medium. Contractors on covered investor-owned underground gas and electric projects must pay at least the state-set prevailing wage. Covered work includes construction and related traffic control under contracts entered into, executed, amended, or altered after March 1, 2024. Covered storage workers also r… - Maryland seeks transmission-level storage projects: benefit, medium. The commission must hold competitive solicitations for transmission-connected storage by January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027. Each solicitation has a cap of 800 megawatts of cumulative effective nameplate capacity. Decisions are due October 1, 2026, and October 1, 2027, respectively. Selected devi… - Utilities must plan local grid storage: benefit, medium. The commission must assign investor-owned utilities shares of at least 150 megawatts of distribution-connected storage, with notices by July 1, 2025 and 2026. Plans due November 1, 2025, cover up to one-third of each share, with operation due November 1, 2027. Remaining plans are due November 1, 20… - Wage protections for energy project workers: benefit, medium. Covered energy project applications must include community benefit agreements requiring skilled local workers paid at least the prevailing wage. Agreements must address labor protections, dispute procedures, training, and local hiring, including people from historically disadvantaged groups. They m… - More safeguards in utility rate decisions: benefit, low. Maryland's utility commission can use alternative electric rate methods after a hearing and findings protecting consumers and reliable service. Multiyear gas or electric distribution rate plans must show customer benefits and cannot allow later adjustments for covered cost or revenue differences. R… - Electric bill refunds for Maryland households: benefit, low. The law directs renewable energy fee money toward residential electric bill refunds or credits for fiscal 2026. Half is distributed during a peak summer month and half during a peak winter month. Each customer's share depends on electricity use covered by the state's renewable energy standard. Bill… - Solar funding for eligible Maryland communities: benefit, low. The law reserves certain renewable energy compliance fees for loans and grants supporting new Maryland solar projects. Projects must be owned by or directly benefit eligible households or communities. Eligible groups include low- or moderate-income households and overburdened or underserved communi… - Nuclear projects must share community benefits: benefit, low. Nuclear projects need community benefit agreements and proof of net economic, environmental, and health benefits before receiving financing orders. Applicants seeking investors must make serious, good-faith efforts to interview minority investors and disclose the results. They must sign agreements… - Nuclear bill charges face rate limits: mixed, medium. Approved nuclear projects can create bill surcharges that customers cannot avoid by switching suppliers. The commission sets a per-megawatt-hour price cap and adjusts pricing every two years using projected wholesale and local market values. Approval requires confidential rate-impact limits for a h… - Storage brings bill charges and credits: mixed, medium. Selected transmission storage projects receive 15-year schedules of fixed monthly payments. Electricity suppliers must buy storage capacity credits in proportion to their capacity obligations. Utilities recovering project costs must use bill surcharges that customers cannot avoid by switching suppl… - Housing energy aid excludes fossil equipment: mixed, medium. Maryland provides grants and loans for energy-saving projects and renewable energy systems in qualifying multifamily buildings. These buildings must mainly house low- and moderate-income households. The Governor must budget $5 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2026. Funds cannot pay fo… - Huge power users get separate rates: mixed, medium. Investor-owned electric utilities and cooperatives must file special large-user rate schedules by September 1, 2026; municipal utilities file when an application arrives. Mandatory service generally covers expected use above 100 megawatts at one site or in combined contract capacity across a servic… - New power projects get competitive review: mixed, medium. The commission must seek new or expanded dispatchable and large-capacity energy projects by October 1, 2025, allowing at least 30 days for proposals. Large-capacity resources need at least 20 megawatts of accredited capacity and a regional grid connection application or approval by January 1, 2025.… - Nuclear developers gain a review pathway: mixed, medium. The law creates nuclear project application windows, including at least two additional windows before January 1, 2031. The commission must decide within one year after a window closes, with extensions for cause. Applicants must provide financial, bill-impact, jobs, market, environmental, decommissi… - Gas replacement charges face customer safeguards: mixed, low. The commission can allow faster recovery of eligible gas replacement costs, with residential surcharges capped at $2 per month. Nonresidential charges must be at least the residential amount; gas cooperatives are exempt. Plans must show customer benefits, assess cost-effective alternatives includin… - Storage developers face safety and cleanup rules: mixed, low. Covered storage proposals need 15-year pricing, cost-benefit reviews, community benefit agreements, and wage-law compliance statements. Operators must prove availability to keep receiving payments and face penalties for poor performance or termination after notice and a chance to improve. Lithium-i… - Direct-power businesses face cost-sharing rules: mixed, low. The commission can assign costs and obligations to businesses and power plants supplying electricity directly while bypassing utility systems. It can also assign avoided wholesale costs when those costs have been or may be unfairly shifted to other customers. This protects other retail customers bu… - Faster power permits retain review safeguards: mixed, low. The commission can select up to 10 projects for faster certificate review, or more if it has enough review resources. It must prioritize dispatchable generation and select four non-emitting projects per emitting project, unless too few qualifying applications arrive. Applicants generally give 45 da… - Renewable rules drop trash, add heat: mixed, low. Maryland removes waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel from its Tier 1 renewable energy sources. It adds heat from qualifying thermal biomass systems and wastewater used for heating or cooling. Wastewater must be connected to Maryland's electric distribution grid or process wastewater from Maryla… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: C. T. Wilson (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-07 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 34 | 8 | 5 | | 2025-04-05 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 40 | 1 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {493727/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected | fail | 36 | 95 | 5 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {443825/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected | fail | 36 | 97 | 3 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {653521/1 (Delegate Szeliga) Rejected | fail | 38 | 95 | 4 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {313623/1 (Delegate Griffith) Rejected | fail | 36 | 93 | 7 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {293920/1 (Delegate T. Morgan) Rejected | fail | 36 | 96 | 4 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {383524/1 (Delegate Chisholm) Rejected | fail | 36 | 95 | 6 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {473928/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 37 | 95 | 5 | | 2025-04-04 | House | Floor Amendment {903921/1 (Delegate Szeliga) Rejected | fail | 38 | 96 | 3 | ## Actions (24) - 2025-05-20: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 626 - 2025-04-07: Returned Passed (House) - 2025-04-07: Third Reading Passed (34-8) (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2025-04-05: Rereferred to Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2025-04-05: Referred Rules (Senate) - 2025-04-05: Third Reading Passed (96-40) (House) - 2025-04-04: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {743429/1 (Delegate Szeliga) Withdrawn (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {903921/1 (Delegate Szeliga) Rejected (38-96) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {653521/1 (Delegate Szeliga) Rejected (38-95) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {383524/1 (Delegate Chisholm) Rejected (36-95) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {473928/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (37-95) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {313623/1 (Delegate Griffith) Rejected (36-93) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {293920/1 (Delegate T. Morgan) Rejected (36-96) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {443825/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (36-97) (House) - 2025-04-04: Floor Amendment {493727/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (36-95) (House) - 2025-04-03: Motion Special Order until 04/04 (Delegate Crosby) Adopted (House) - 2025-04-03: Favorable with Amendments {123320/1 Adopted (House) - 2025-04-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2025-02-10: Hearing 2/28 at 1:30 p.m. (House) - 2025-02-05: First Reading Economic Matters (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2025-05-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_626_hb1035t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2025-04-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb1035t.pdf) - First Reading, 2025-02-05: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb1035f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed) - SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed) - HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law) - HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_626_hb1035t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb1035t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb1035f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS) - [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS) - [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS) - [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS) - [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS) - [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1035-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).