A number of harmful forced electrification bills are still pending before the Maryland General Assembly. MAHPBA has been engaged throughout on these critical issues, and members should continue their outreach to legislators during the closing month of the legislative session.
Here is an update on the state of play for these bills:
- SB528 has been jointly assigned to the House Environment & Transportation and Economic Matters Committees after it passed the Senate on March 14. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled in the House. The Senate stripped out the statewide prohibition on fossil fuels in new construction and watered-down a mandated greenhouse gas emission reductions for buildings. However, it added language that would explicitly allow counties, if they choose, to ban heating oil and propane or force electrification when replacing HVAC or water heating systems.
- HB831, HB708, and HB806 are still alive in the House but no action has been taken on them to date. MAPDA expects the House will use SB528 moving forward.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP DEFEAT THESE BILLS?
Contact your legislators using our grassroots tool. Please share this link with your employees and customers, and feel free to PERSONALIZE the email text with specific details on your business.