Articles

Pertinent Green Bills Passing Through the 2010 Maryland General Assembly

Date: March 31, 2010

HOUSE BILLS

HB 224
Delegates Morhaim, Cardin, McIntosh, and Stein
PLUMBING - GREYWATER RECYCLING
Prohibiting a county from adopting or enforcing provisions of a local plumbing code that prohibit a system that recycles greywater; and defining "greywater."
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
BOP, § 12-206
Assigned to: Economic Matters

HB 464
The Speaker (By Request - Administration), et al
MARYLAND CLEAN ENERGY INCENTIVE ACT OF 2010
Extending until December 31, 2015, a specified credit against the State income tax for electricity produced by qualified Maryland facilities from qualified energy resources; and extending until December 31, 2015, the time period in which the Maryland Energy Administration may issue specified credit certificates.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010
TG, § 10-720 - amended
Assigned to: Ways and Means and Economic Matters

HB 471
The Speaker (By Request - Administration), et al
RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARD - SOLAR ENERGY
Altering the renewable portfolio standard for electricity derived from solar energy in specified years; and altering the compliance fees for a shortfall in the requirement to satisfy the standard with electricity derived from solar energy.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011
PUC, §§ 7-703 and 7-705(b) - amended
Assigned to: Economic Matters

HB 475
The Speaker (By Request - Administration) and Delegates Bartlett, Bobo, Bronrott, Cane, Carr, V. Clagett, Davis, Donoghue, Doory, Eckardt, Elmore, Frush, Gaines, Haddaway, Hammen, Healey, Jones, Kullen, Lafferty, McIntosh, Morhaim, Nathan-Pulliam, Proctor, Ramirez, Rice, and Stein
SMART, GREEN, AND GROWING - THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT OF 2010
Stating findings and intent of the General Assembly concerning sustainable communities; providing for the designation of specified areas as sustainable communities eligible for specified programs; reestablishing and altering the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to be the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program; authorizing the Director of the Maryland Historical Trust to issue up to $50,000,000 in the aggregate in initial credit certificates for the tax credit; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
EC, HS, SF, SG, TG, TR, and IN, Various Sections - amended, added, and repealed
Assigned to: Ways and Means & Environmental Matters

HB 579
Prince George's County Delegation and Montgomery County Delegation
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION - CUSTOMER NOTICES PG/MC 104-10
Authorizing the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to enter a specified building or premises at a reasonable time to post a notice on the entry door of the building or premises under specified circumstances.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
Art. 29, § 18-110 - added
Assigned to: Environmental Matters

HB 649
Delegate Barnes, et al
ENVIRONMENT - PHARMACEUTICAL DISPOSAL ACT
Prohibiting a health care facility and specified individuals acting on behalf of or under the direction or supervision of a health care facility from discharging, disposing of, flushing, pouring, or emptying an unused medication into a wastewater system; providing for an exception for the disposal of specified medications by specified health care facilities; requiring the Department of the Environment to enforce health care facility compliance with specified requirements; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
EN, § 9-258 - added
Assigned to: Environmental Matters

HB 705
Delegate Stein, et al
ENERGY PERFORMANCE RATINGS - STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
Requiring, beginning October 1, 2011, the governing body of a county or a municipal corporation to post a specified Energy Star rating for specified county or municipal buildings in a specified area of the buildings; and beginning on specified dates, requiring the Department of General Services to post a specified Energy Star rating for specified State buildings in a specified area of the buildings.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
Art. 24, § 1-111 and SF, § 4-808.1 - added
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations

HB 982
Delegate Niemann, et al
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT - RECYCLING - REQUIREMENTS
Requiring the Office of Recycling in the Department of the Environment to establish specified commodity-based solid waste reduction through recycling goals; altering county recycling requirements by requiring counties to include in specified county plans a specified commodity-based recycling plan by October 1, 2011, that provides for specified solid waste reduction and requires full implementation by January 1, 2020; establishing a solid waste management fee; etc.
Preliminary analysis: local government mandate
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
EN, Various Sections - amended, added, and repealed
Assigned to: Environmental Matters

HB 1014
Delegate Hecht, et al
CLEAN ENERGY LOAN PROGRAMS
Altering the requirements of a specified Clean Energy Loan Program adopted by a political subdivision under specified circumstances; requiring that a specified energy audit required to be performed before a political subdivision approves a specified loan identify specified cost-effective energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects that would generate a specified projected yearly energy cost savings; etc.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2010
Art. 24, § 9-1502 - amended
Assigned to: Economic Matters

HB 1040
Delegate Bronrott, et al
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS ACT - APPLICABILITY TO RECIPIENTS OF STATE AID
Making the High Performance Buildings Act applicable to specified capital projects that are funded solely or partly by a grant of State aid to specified grantees; altering in the definition of "state aid" the amount of a specified contribution, grant, or subsidy; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
SF, §§ 3-602.1 and 7-406(a)(5) - amended
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations and Appropriations

HB 1085
Delegates Mizeur and Hecht
CLEAN ENERGY LOAN PROGRAMS - RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
Altering the purpose of a specified Clean Energy Loan Program to include providing loans to commercial property owners for the financing of renewable energy products with an electric generating capacity of not more than the equivalent thermal energy output measured in BTUs that is equivalent to 100 kilowatts.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
Art. 24, § 9-1502 - amended
Assigned to: Economic Matters

HB 1112
Carroll County Delegation
CARROLL COUNTY - GREEN BUILDING TAX CREDIT
Expanding to residential property specified authority of the governing body of Carroll County to grant, by law, a green building tax credit against the county property tax imposed on specified properties on which a person installs specified environmentally friendly technologies; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2010; etc.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2010
TP, § 9-308(e) - amended
Assigned to: Ways and Means

HB 1125
Delegates Holmes, Barkley, Beidle, Cane, G. Clagett, Elmore, James, Jameson, Love, McConkey, Norman, O'Donnell, Serafini, Sossi, Stull, and Wood
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS - REQUIREMENTS
Establishing specified requirements for a specified redevelopment project design; authorizing a developer to make a fee-in-lieu payment to a local government to offset specified stormwater management requirements; requiring the fee-in-lieu payment to be in an amount determined by a local government and used for specified purposes; authorizing a person to submit a stormwater management plan that complies with specified laws and regulations if a development project receives specified approvals before May 4, 2010; etc.
EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT - EMERGENCY BILL
ENV §§ 4-201.1, 4-203, 4-203.1, 4-203.2 4-203.3, 4-204
Assigned to: Environmental Matters

HB 1291
Delegates McIntosh, Bronrott, Cane, Carr, Frush, Glenn, Healey, Hecht, Hucker, Kaiser, Lafferty, Montgomery, Niemann, Pena-Melnyk, Reznik, and Stein
RESIDENTIAL HOME SALES - DISCLOSURE OF UTILITY CONSUMPTION
Requiring a vendor of single family residential property to include in the listing of the property specified utility information for the 12 months before the date of the listing; requiring the vendor to submit specified utility information to the Maryland Association of Realtors; requiring the vendor to update the submitted utility information every 6 months during the period the property is listed for sale; requiring the vendor to provide to the purchaser specified materials and utility information; etc.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011
RP §§ 1-101 , 10-702.1
Assigned to: Environmental Matters

HB 1408
Delegate G. Clagett
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - REGULATIONS - DELAY AND ADOPTION OF NEW REGULATIONS
Making specified stormwater management regulations adopted by the Department of the Environment applicable to all new development and redevelopment projects that do not have final approval for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management plans by May 4, 2012; requiring the Department to repeal Title 26, Subtitle 17, Chapter 2 of the Code of Maryland Regulations and propose new stormwater management regulations developed in consultation with stakeholder groups; etc.
EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT - EMERGENCY BILL
ENV § 4-203
Assigned to: Environmental Matters

HB 1418
Delegate Lafferty
ENVIRONMENT - AT-STORE RECYCLING - PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS
Requiring the operator of specified stores to establish an at-store recycling program for plastic carryout bags; requiring stores to print or display specified language on plastic carryout bags; requiring stores to provide collection bins for the recycling of plastic carryout bags; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
EN, § 9-1701 - amended and §§ 9-1733 through 9-1736 - added
Assigned to: House Rules and Executive Nominations

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTIONS

HJ 6
Delegate Hubbard
COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND CLIMATE LEGISLATION
Requesting that the United States Congress pass and the President of the United States sign comprehensive federal clean energy jobs and climate legislation that meets specified criteria.
Uncodifed
Assigned to: House Rules and Executive Nominations

HJ 7
Delegate George, et al
WIND POWER PROJECT AT GREENBURY POINT
Supporting the United States Navy's consideration of a wind power project at Greenbury Point.
Uncodified
Assigned to: House Rules and Executive Nominations

SENATE BILLS

SB 11
Senator Conway
BUSINESS REGULATION - RETURNABLE CONTAINERS - PLASTIC SECONDARY PACKAGING
Prohibiting specified persons from accepting possession of four or more items of plastic secondary packaging for recycling, shredding, or destruction; requiring persons that purchase plastic secondary packaging to make a record of each transaction in which a person sells four or more items of plastic secondary packaging; requiring specified purchasers to verify the identity of sellers of plastic secondary packaging in a specified manner; requiring specified purchasers of plastic secondary packaging to keep specified records; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
BR, § 19-308 - added
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs

SB 156
Senator Brochin, et al
ENVIRONMENT - RECYCLING - APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND CONDOMINIUMS
Requiring owners or managers of apartment buildings or condominiums that contain 10 or more dwelling units to provide for recycling for residents on or before October 1, 2014; requiring that the recycling required under the Act be done in accordance with specified recycling plans; providing for a civil penalty for a violation of the Act; and providing for disbursement of penalties collected under the Act to specified jurisdictions.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
EN, § 9-1703(b) - amended and § 9-1711 - added
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs

SB 215
Senator Frosh, et al
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS ACT - APPLICABILITY TO RECIPIENTS OF STATE AID
Making the High Performance Buildings Act applicable to capital projects that are funded solely or partly by a grant of State aid to specified grantees.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
SF, § 3-602.1 - amended
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation

SB 277
The President (By Request - Administration), et al
RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARD - SOLAR ENERGY
Altering the renewable portfolio standard for electricity derived from solar energy in specified years; and altering the compliance fees for a shortfall in the requirement to satisfy the standard with electricity derived from solar energy.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011
PUC, §§ 7-703 and 7-705(b) - amended
Assigned to: Finance

SB 285
The President (By Request - Administration), et al
SMART, GREEN, AND GROWING - THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT OF 2010
Stating findings and intent of the General Assembly concerning sustainable communities; providing for the designation of specified areas as sustainable communities eligible for specified programs; reestablishing and altering the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to be the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program; authorizing the Director of the Maryland Historical Trust to issue up to $50,000,000 in the aggregate in initial credit certificates for the tax credit; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
EC, HS, SF, SG, TG, TR, and IN, Various Sections - amended, added, and repealed
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation

SB 287
The President (By Request - Administration) and Senators King, Madaleno, McFadden, Munson, Forehand, Garagiola, Harrington, Klausmeier, Lenett, and Pinsky
MARYLAND CLEAN ENERGY INCENTIVE ACT OF 2010
Extending until December 31, 2015, a specified credit against the State income tax for electricity produced by qualified Maryland facilities from qualified energy resources; extending until December 31, 2015, the time period in which the Maryland Energy Administration may issue specified credit certificates; and prohibiting the Administration from issuing initial credits under a specified amount.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010
TG § 10-720
Assigned to: Budget & Taxation

SB 462
Senator Raskin, et al
CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION CONSUMER RETAIL CHOICE ACT OF 2010
Prohibiting a store from providing disposable carryout bags unless the bags meet specified requirements; requiring a store to charge and collect a fee for each disposable carryout bag the store provides to a customer; requiring the operator of a store to remit a specified amount of money to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund; requiring the Department of the Environment to conduct public information and outreach campaigns; authorizing the use of specified funds; providing for a delayed effective date; etc.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
BR, § 19-103 - added and NR, § 8-2A-02(e) - amended
Assigned to: Finance and Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs

SB 479
Senator Stoltzfus
STATE CAPITAL PROJECTS - HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS - GREEN GLOBES RATING
Altering the definition of "high performance building" to include a building that achieves a rating of at least two Green Globes according to the Green Globes Program as adopted by the Green Building Initiative.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010
SF, § 3-602.1(a)(2) - amended
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation

SB 656
Senator Lenett
ENERGY PERFORMANCE RATINGS - STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
Requiring, beginning October 1, 2011, the governing body of a county or a municipal corporation to post a specified Energy Star rating for specified county or municipal buildings in a specified area of the buildings; and beginning on specified dates, requiring the Department of General Services to post a specified Energy Star rating for specified State buildings in a specified area of the buildings.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
Art. 24, § 1-111 and SF, § 4-808.1 - added
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs

SB 720
Senator Middleton
CLEAN ENERGY LOAN PROGRAMS
Altering the requirements of a specified Clean Energy Loan Program adopted by a political subdivision under specified circumstances; requiring that a specified energy audit required to be performed before a political subdivision approves a specified loan identify specified cost-effective energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects that would generate a specified projected yearly energy cost savings; etc.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2010
Art. 24, § 9-1502 - amended
Assigned to: Finance

SB 791
Senator Garagiola
PROCUREMENT - MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY - TERMINATION CLAUSES
Authorizing, on the recommendation of the Secretary of General Services, the Board of Public Works to waive a requirement to include an automatic termination clause in specified multi-year contracts for the procurement of energy generated from specified renewable sources; and requiring the Board to consider a specified factor in determining whether to grant a specified waiver.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
SF, § 13-217 - amended
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs

SB 925
Carroll County Senators
CARROLL COUNTY - GREEN BUILDING TAX CREDIT
Expanding to residential property specified authority of the governing body of Carroll County to grant, by law, a green building tax credit against the county property tax imposed on specified properties on which a person installs specified environmentally friendly technologies; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2010; etc.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2010
TP, § 9-308(e) - amended
Assigned to: Senate Rules

SB 939
Senator Jones (Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS - FINANCING - STATE ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACT LOAN OF 2010
Authorizing the financing of energy performance contracts by capital lease or general or special obligation bonds authorized by the General Assembly; providing for the timely payment of principal and interest on bonds and capital leases used to finance energy performance contracts; authorizing the issuance of $200,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance State energy performance contracts; etc.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2010
SF, § 12-301 - amended
Assigned to: Senate Rules

SB 952
Senators Conway, Currie, Dyson, Exum, Frosh, Harrington, Harris, Jones, Kelley, King, Lenett, Madaleno, McFadden, Muse, and Pugh
RESIDENTIAL HOME SALES - DISCLOSURE OF UTILITY CONSUMPTION
Requiring a vendor of single family residential property to include in the listing of the property specified utility information for the 12 months before the date of the listing; requiring the vendor to submit specified utility information to the Maryland Association of Realtors; requiring the vendor to update the submitted utility information every 6 months during the period the property is listed for sale; requiring the vendor to provide to the purchaser specified materials and utility information; etc.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011
RP §§ 1-101 , 10-702.1
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

SB 1082
Senator DeGrange
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS - REDEVELOPMENT AND PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVAL
Establishing requirements for a specified redevelopment project design; authorizing a developer to make a fee-in-lieu payment to a local government to offset specified stormwater management requirements; requiring the fee-in-lieu payment to be in an amount determined by a local government and used for specified purposes; authorizing a person to submit a stormwater management plan that complies with specified laws and regulations if a development project receives specified approvals before May 4, 2010; etc.
EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT - EMERGENCY BILL
ENV §§ 4-203, 4-204
Assigned to: Senate Rules