# Maryland SB 0556: Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms

Maryland SB 0556, Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jason C. Gallion (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 525); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0556-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0556
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 525
- Sponsor: Jason C. Gallion (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Utility Regulation, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Consumer Protection, Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Public Service Commission, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Sewage, 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: 2 (165 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Low-income help on water and sewer: benefit, medium. The law adds water and sewer utilities to Maryland’s limited‑income help for utility bills. Beginning July 1, 2027, the Public Service Commission can require these companies to offer approved bill credits, lower rates, riders, or payment plans. Utilities must adopt a program if the Commission appro…
- Rules to design and approve programs: benefit, medium. Starting July 1, 2027, utilities must file limited‑income program proposals for Commission review, either as a separate case or within a base rate case with approval. Plans must explain the program, how costs are shared across rate classes, and include a timeline and review plan. The Commission wei…
- Getting certified and stacking help: benefit, low. If a program requires it, the Office of Home Energy Programs certifies your income eligibility before you enroll. You can get this utility help and other aid at the same time, including state, utility, housing, or private programs. These rules take effect July 1, 2027.
- Local electric utilities can offer help: benefit, low. Municipal electric utilities may offer a limited‑income program with Commission approval. This lets local utilities give bill credits, lower rates, or payment plans to eligible customers. This starts July 1, 2027.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jason C. Gallion (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 125 | 9 | 6 |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 40 | 0 | 4 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 525
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (125-9) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-04-10: Rereferred to Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-04-09: Referred Rules and Executive Nominations (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (40-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {163524/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_525_sb0556t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-04-08: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0556t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0556f.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_525_sb0556t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0556t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0556f.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)
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- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0556-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).