# Maryland SB 0937: Electricity and Gas - Emissions Reductions, Rate Regulation, Cost Recovery, Infrastructure, Planning, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, and Energy Assistance Programs (Next Generation Energy Act) Maryland SB 0937, 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 Senate bill sponsored by Brian J. Feldman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-20 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 625); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0937-2025RS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0937 - 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: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-03 - Last action: 2025-05-20, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 625 - Sponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Subjects: Utility Regulation, Energy and Climate, Administrative Agencies, Air Pollution, Apprentices, Attorney General, Awareness and Outreach, 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, 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, Grants, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Hearings, High Voltage Lines, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, 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, Low-Income, Minority Business Enterprises, Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt; Hager; OC, Natural Resources, Department of, Notices, Nuclear Matters -see also- Power Plants, Open Government, Partnerships, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Pollution -see also- Air Pollution; Litter; Water Pollution, Power Plants, Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Privacy, Privatization, Procurement, Public Benefits -see also- FoodStmps; Housing; MedAsst, Public Information, 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, Small Business, Social Services -see also- Public Benefits, Solicitation, Standards and Best Practices, State Aid -see also- Public Benefits, Storage, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Sunset, Tax Credits, Testimony -see also- Witnesses, Time, Unions, Utilities -see also- Recycl; Refuse; Sewage; Teleph; Water, Veterans, Wholesale Distribution, Women -see also- Gender, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Zoning and Planning - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 6 (231 yes, 215 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 26 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Energy-saving services for low-income households: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2025, Maryland must provide or arrange energy-saving services for low-income people. Services include energy efficiency, conservation, programs that shift power use, and beneficial electrification. Further program rounds are due by January 1 every three years starting in 2027.… - Energy upgrade funding for lower-income housing: benefit, medium. Maryland's housing department must run a grant and loan program for energy projects in eligible buildings. Buildings must primarily house low- to moderate-income households, and projects must support qualifying energy conservation or renewable power. The Governor must include $5 million annually in… - Wage protections for utility project workers: benefit, medium. Covered underground gas and electric work, including traffic control, must pay at least Maryland's prevailing wage. This covers investor-owned utility contracts entered into, executed, amended, or altered after March 1, 2024. Covered storage construction also carries prevailing-wage rules for third… - Electric customers gain nuclear cost protections: benefit, low. Nuclear projects must pass combined bill-impact limits that include other nuclear projects over their pricing terms. The residential test uses 12,000 kilowatt-hours yearly; a separate test covers nonresidential customers as a blended average. The Public Service Commission keeps its limits confident… - Seasonal bill credits for electric customers: benefit, low. For fiscal year 2026, Maryland uses renewable energy compliance fees for residential electric bill refunds or credits, including cooperative and municipal customers. Half is paid in a peak summer month and half in a peak winter month. Credits depend on electricity use covered by the renewable energ… - Storage workers gain a union voice: benefit, low. Investor-owned electric utilities must operate and maintain storage devices they install under the law. Utilities must consult union representatives in good faith about worker assignments, training, and hiring for those duties. They can contract out work not performed by the bargaining unit, using… - Tax relief for energy refund recipients: benefit, low. Maryland residents receiving a Legislative Energy Hardship Credit Relief Refund can subtract the refund amount when calculating Maryland adjusted gross income. The tax rule applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. The subtraction lowers income used to calculate state tax; it is not a… - Existing contracts keep their legal protections: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2025, the Act cannot impair obligations or contract rights that already exist. This protects existing rights without creating a new payment or changing a stated household benefit amount. - Storage projects need battery safety plans: benefit, low. Covered energy storage projects must plan for eventual closure and maximize recycling or reuse of qualifying parts. Lithium-ion devices must meet the latest applicable NFPA 855 safety standard when the final permit application is filed. Owners or operators can submit revised recycling and reuse pla… - Maryland seeks partners for nuclear development: benefit, low. The Maryland Energy Administration must work with utility regulators and natural resources officials to seek nuclear-development agreements. It must seek cost-sharing with neighboring states in the PJM regional power market to reduce new-plant risks. It must also seek federal agreements about small… - More savings count toward low-income targets: benefit, low. Maryland can count qualifying energy savings from all funding sources toward its low-income greenhouse gas reduction targets. Savings must meet U.S. Department of Energy standards or the energy-saving requirements of the funding source. This expands program accounting flexibility but does not itsel… - Nuclear projects must share community benefits: benefit, low. Nuclear applicants seeking investors must make good-faith efforts to interview minority investors and disclose interview and investment information. They must sign agreements covering future outreach, skilled-labor plans, and best efforts to use minority-owned contractors where practicable. State o… - Businesses face limits on direct power: mixed, medium. While Maryland imports more electricity than it exports, the law generally restricts direct commercial or industrial supply that bypasses the grid or utility distribution. Federal law and the law's exceptions still apply, and the restriction ends when Maryland is no longer a net importer. A large-l… - Direct power users face assigned costs: mixed, medium. The Public Service Commission can assign attributable costs, fees, and obligations to covered direct-supply businesses and their generators. Large-load customers and their generators can also face attributable direct or indirect charges normally paid by retail customers. Regulators can assign avoid… - Fast power reviews favor nonpolluting projects: mixed, medium. Regulators can select up to 10 projects for expedited review, or more with enough resources and a public-interest finding. If no more than 10 apply, all must be selected, subject to the law's stated limitation. Selection generally requires four non-emitting projects per emitting project; transmissi… - Maryland adds storage bids and permits: mixed, medium. The Public Service Commission must seek up to 800 megawatts of transmission-connected storage by January 1, 2026, and again by January 1, 2027. Decisions are due October 1 of each year; selected devices generally must operate within 24 months, with good-cause extensions allowed. Covered storage con… - New power projects face capacity limits: mixed, medium. By October 1, 2025, regulators must invite new or expanded dispatchable and large-capacity power projects through a window lasting at least 30 days. Another window is allowed if the capacity target is unmet; bids must detail readiness, sites, grid connections, materials, and lifetime emissions. Gas… - Nuclear developers gain a review pathway: mixed, medium. After implementing rules take effect, nuclear developers can apply for long-term pricing support covering only new generation, including existing-plant additions. Each application window stays open at least 90 days after notice, with at least two additional windows before January 1, 2031. The Publi… - Utilities must plan local energy storage: mixed, medium. Maryland sets a goal of at least 150 megawatts of distribution-connected storage, divided among investor-owned electric utilities. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are excluded. Plans are due November 1, 2025, and November 1, 2026, with devices operating by November 1, 2027, and Novemb… - Gas replacement charges with customer safeguards: mixed, low. Gas companies can recover approved infrastructure replacement costs through a surcharge lasting five years from its start. Residential accounts cannot be charged more than $2 monthly, or $24 yearly, through this surcharge. Nonresidential charges must be at least the residential amount and stay with… - Nuclear bill charges with customer refunds: mixed, low. Electric companies can recover approved nuclear long-term pricing costs through a distribution bill surcharge that customers cannot avoid. Maryland's Public Service Commission sets each company's yearly credit purchase obligation based on its share of statewide electricity use. An escrow account ha… - Storage brings bill charges and credits: mixed, low. Electricity suppliers must buy selected transmission-storage capacity credits at a fixed monthly price for 15 years, based on their capacity obligations. Utilities recover costs through a surcharge on distribution or supply rates that customers cannot avoid by switching suppliers. Revenue from the… - Maryland changes which energy counts renewable: mixed, low. Maryland removes waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel from its top renewable energy category. It adds thermal energy from thermal biomass systems and wastewater used for heating or cooling. Wastewater energy must connect to Maryland's electric distribution grid or process wastewater from Marylan… - Qualifying power projects get faster permits: mixed, low. Qualifying projects receive expedited State certificate review, generally with 45 days' advance notice and a decision within 295 days after completion of the application. Projects in overburdened or underserved communities retain 90 days' advance notice. Large-capacity resources need at least 20 me… - Storage developers face payment performance rules: mixed, low. Storage bids must include at least 15 years of pricing, a cost-benefit analysis, wholesale-market capabilities, and a community benefit agreement. Proposals must use competitive bidding. Applicants must attest that contractors followed wage laws for the preceding three years or their entire busines… - Utilities face new rate review rules: mixed, low. Electric utilities can be regulated through price or revenue rules, return ranges, service categories, or price indexing. The Public Service Commission must give notice, hold a hearing, and find that the approach protects consumers and reliable service. It must also find that the approach serves th… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dalya Attar (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mary Washington (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-07 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 36 | 10 | 1 | | 2025-04-05 | House | Floor Amendment {813822/1 (Delegate Grammer) Rejected | fail | 39 | 97 | 1 | | 2025-04-05 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 97 | 39 | 1 | | 2025-04-01 | Senate | Floor Amendment {823825/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected | fail | 11 | 29 | 6 | | 2025-04-01 | Senate | Floor Amendment {133829/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected | fail | 11 | 31 | 4 | | 2025-04-01 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 37 | 9 | | ## Actions (23) - 2025-05-20: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 625 - 2025-04-07: Passed Enrolled (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Third Reading Passed (36-10) (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-05: Third Reading Passed (97-39) (House) - 2025-04-05: Floor Amendment {813822/1 (Delegate Grammer) Rejected (39-97) (House) - 2025-04-04: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2025-04-03: Motion Special Order until 04/04 (Delegate Crosby) Adopted (House) - 2025-04-03: Favorable with Amendments {223126/1 Adopted (House) - 2025-04-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2025-04-02: Rereferred to Economic Matters (House) - 2025-04-02: Referred Rules and Executive Nominations (House) - 2025-04-01: Third Reading Passed (37-9) (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Floor Amendment {133829/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected (11-31) (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Floor Amendment {823825/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected (11-29) (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Floor Amendment {703521/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Favorable with Amendments {343121/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Motion Laid Over (Senator Augustine) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Favorable with Amendments {343121/1 (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Hearing 2/28 at 1:30 p.m. (Senate) - 2025-02-03: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2025-05-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_625_sb0937e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2025-04-07: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0937e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2025-04-01: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0937t.pdf) - First Reading, 2025-02-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0937f.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed) - HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed) - SB 0157: 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_625_sb0937e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0937e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0937t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0937f.pdf) ## Related - [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS) - [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS) - [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS) - [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS) - [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-SB0937-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).