HB 1036 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Public Utilities - Generating Stations - Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act)

HB 1036, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, streamlines approval for solar energy projects in Maryland by changing how the Public Service Commission reviews applications. The bill requires the Commission to consider climate change impacts when reviewing projects and prohibits local governments from blocking solar installations through certain regulations or delaying site development plans. It also mandates that local governments expedite reviews for qualifying solar projects and establishes rules for community solar programs and residential rooftop solar systems. This directly affects renewable energy developers, local governments, and homeowners installing solar equipment.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Public Utilities - Generating Stations - Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act) → Third - Public Utilities - Generating Stations - Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill now includes a new requirement for the Power Plant Research Program to develop siting and design requirements, adds a special solar contractor license requirement under the Department of Labor, and modifies the Public Service Commission's consideration factors for renewable energy projects. The bill also expands the scope of sections being amended to include additional subsections related to solar energy and distributed generation certificates.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new requirements for distributed generation certificates and solar contractor licensing, while the applicability of the Public Service Commission's review process was modified to include additional statutory sections.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement for the Power Plant Research Program to develop and submit proposed siting and design requirements and licensing conditions by a certain date

New requirement for the Maryland Department of Labor to develop a special solar contractor license

Expanded the list of sections being repealed and reenacted to include additional subsections related to solar energy and distributed generation

Added a new requirement for the Commission to notify the Department of Natural Resources and Department of the Environment immediately upon application for power plant construction

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for persons who obtain Commission approval under Section 7-207.1 or a distributed generation certificate under Section 7-207.4

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 22, 2025

How they voted

34–11

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 24, 2025

D Democratic33

32 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican13

2 Yea 11 Nay

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 624

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate J. Lewis) Adopted

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Amended

Floor Amendment (Delegate Ghrist) Rejected

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate J. Lewis) Adopted

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until 04/04 (Delegate Crosby) Adopted

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-11-1)

senate

Mar 22, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (95-40-4)

house of delegates

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

First Reading Economic Matters

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors