# Maryland HB 1164: Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms

Maryland HB 1164, Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Linda Foley (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 526); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1164-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 1164
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-11
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 526
- Sponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Utility Regulation, Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Public Service Commission, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Sewage, Standards and Best Practices, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Utilities -see also- Recycl; Refuse; Sewage; Teleph; Water, Water -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc.
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (296 yes, 11 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Utility bill help for low-income households: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, utility companies must adopt bill-help plans approved by the Public Service Commission. Municipal electric utilities may choose to offer plans; the Commission may require water and sewer companies to offer them. Residential customers generally qualify with income at or below…
- Bill-help customers face checks, retain options: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, some approved bill-help plans require a qualification check by the Office of Home Energy Programs. When required, the Office must certify that the customer qualifies before participation. Not every plan requires this check. Participants may also qualify for utility, state, o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 126 | 5 | 5 |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 127 | 6 | 5 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 526
- 2026-04-09: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (126-5) (House)
- 2026-04-09: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {873920/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (127-6) (House)
- 2026-03-21: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-21: Favorable with Amendments {983920/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-11: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_526_hb1164e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1164e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-21: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1164t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1164f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_526_hb1164e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1164e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1164t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1164f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1164-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).