[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6620040,"mediaKeyId","2825360-8f7cb94510aff6e81b05638c0a4494c1","parentId",2825360,"title","Votes at a glance: committee advances bills on food resiliency, recycling, education and state property","audioSeconds",3381,"startMs",2143000,"endMs",5524000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825360-8f7cb94510aff6e81b05638c0a4494c1&start=2143&end=5524","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825360-8f7cb94510aff6e81b05638c0a4494c1/thumbnail_2143000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620040/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-advances-bills-on-food-resiliency-recycling-education-and-state-property","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620040-19c43f4a090debd7b1739fccecde675e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048377&Signature=IlCE8V7yq5~0rGmUFCBSyQe6LurE1MN8uBVly1najlAuJqVRZDBn~Ar7fWARWVwjPB6-4-HW3NG385KFZ10rdTLE71uLhMuRX~MWP~oCzPoctQZ84nkN02yORTydQn8k88YiLsFt0JW0CznAe5N1QixGoG6QRbftL9IzhyLlfLqE3Ezu1r90HsIs7KqbvM2N41tpoKVURbnAlU4i9ZwokOe8gJXjU9X7to3RIgkvZLN5ZqJS4pf5-XJi97836WXbzvaAKyEXcifOgTlWKrqiD~o6RgOpZqSTPTTnsCMzq1YF3vrAdRjMZwiuyKvGTNO7QAocFfhZETHSGTk4Lm0eIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Education, Energy and Environment","date","2025-03-31T15:41:33.417Z","article","At its session the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee voted on a series of House cross‑files and departmental bills on topics including food system resiliency, yard‑waste disposal at state facilities, environmental boards, housing vouchers, boating fees, and state facilities assessments. The committee reported multiple bills favorably and recorded vote tallies where taken.

Key votes and outcomes recorded in committee:

- House Bill 9 (Food System Resiliency Council): Committee moved favorable; motion carried unanimously. The bill refocuses council duties on equity, sustainability recommendations, reduced waste, and increased local procurement.

- House Bill 338 (state buildings and highways yard‑waste collection): Motion carried 7–3; the bill generally prohibits the use of single‑use plastic containers for yard waste collected on state property when suitable composting/recycling facilities exist within 30 miles.

- House Bill 344 (Maryland Environmental Service board composition): Committee moved favorable; cross‑file to Senate Bill 315 was noted as previously passed in the Senate; the committee approved the House version.

- House Bill 452 (outdoor lighting guidance and state funds): After holding the bill for clarification, the committee voted the bill favorable 8–2; the measure sets guidance and limits on correlated color temperature for state‑funded outdoor luminaires (with MDOT exceptions) and requires MDOT and the Maryland Building Council to update guidance.

- House Bill 494 (Recreational Equality for Service Members Act): Moved favorable and approved unanimously; the bill standardizes military‑related definitions across code sections.

- House Bill 562 (Baltimore County central committee elections): Moved favorable and approved unanimously; bill updates central committee membership definitions for Baltimore County.

- House Bill 716 (Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program alterations): Committee reported favorable 7–3; the departmental bill modifies DHCD authority and program administration details.

- House Bill 719 (Natural Resources — State Boat Act changes): Committee reported favorable 7–3; bill alters vessel fees, titling, and Waterway Improvement Fund parameters.

- House Bill 720 (Summers Cove Marina operations and fund): Carried unanimously; transfers management and fund balances to DNR and establishes an advisory commission.

- House Bill 747 (on‑site wastewater inspection and sale requirements): Held by the committee for further consideration; members requested additional work on closing‑and‑sale timing and foreclosure/transfer scenarios.

- House Bill 774 (Hunger Free Campus Grant Program alterations): Committee adopted a conforming amendment and reported the bill favorable (committee recording indicated majority support; see clerk’s roll call for final tally).

- House Bill 879 (Task Force to Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism): Committee moved favorable unanimously following a small amendment to add a cosponsor and clarify task force data duties.

- House Bill 1193 (Housing development permits reporting — Maryland Housing Data Transparency Act): Moved favorable unanimously; the committee later concurred in the Senate cross‑file.

- House Bill 1204 (student elopement reporting – ACES law): Moved favorable unanimously; requires same‑day parent/guardian notification after a student elopement and IEP review where applicable.

- House Bill 1277 (Savage River Lodge hotel rental surcharge): The committee held the bill and requested additional information from the Department of Natural Resources on existing payments in lieu of taxes, historical accommodation taxes and projected county receipts before taking a final vote.

- House Bill 1344 (DGS assessment of state‑owned facilities for child care suitability): Committee adopted a technical amendment, moved favorable and the bill carried unanimously; DGS will inventory state facilities and report suitability to lease space for child care.

Committee leadership said the list included additional bills and cross‑files; at the close of the session the chair reported the committee had acted on a set of bills and would reconvene for floor scheduling and any technical redrafting needed before chamber action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","EEE Committee Session, 3/31/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Education, Energy and the Environment Committee took roll‑call and voice votes on a package of House cross‑files and departmental bills. Several passed unanimously; a small number carried by 7–3 splits. One bill (Savage River Lodge surcharge) was held for more information.","taxTitle","Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15092,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620042,"Committee advances solar‑siting bill with 5% cap on priority preservation areas",2200,63000,2263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825360-8f7cb94510aff6e81b05638c0a4494c1&start=63&end=2263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825360-8f7cb94510aff6e81b05638c0a4494c1/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6620042/Maryland/Committee-advances-solarsiting-bill-with-5-cap-on-priority-preservation-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620042-00f1d5f3467de82c0ae17c5f682dea9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048377&Signature=Lq71Z781LWkO7gNtSZiV5MeEEdHnneJvIv3g9zgfEwAxcTWfUWDXOST6-IIVxU6kiyN9trH~Q4j06Hezkr14zLCfp8yzEpKihNyPusc3djfKS3g03wuRftWNtOjinxlrtVg5Y6SvIUcWkTRFLVIxvEfnYB9vjicMN-vDSlNRD3-lYf2rt6bwmxpqShwLi8fDb3FdlqHA2vXsXfHt0npwa9MZnrhJmMayyORNrMq2vt4ONvswJQfU~tMwrAGWqKf9xvcenAoHFSh3PM47UBcpoU0NR2Xn58649S4OetH1gpffpGhmsl6mtjni4S8XZWw9hjLnNzCOoxpY8kHkWbnuBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education, Energy and the Environment Committee advanced Senate Bill 931, a package intended to speed in‑state renewable generation while adding new siting standards and a first‑in‑the‑nation cap on utility‑scale solar in state priority preservation areas, after a full committee vote that passed 8–2.

The bill’s sponsor and the committee chair said the bill was designed to reduce regulatory uncertainty and speed construction of projects currently queued in PJM while responding to farmer and local‑government concerns by adding soil protection, setback and grading standards. “Without this bill solar projects 2 megawatts or above can apply for CPCN, circumvent any local zoning restriction,” the chair said during debate, arguing the bill creates enforceable standards where none now exist.

Those protections include a cap that removes 95% of the state’s preemption authority for priority preservation areas once the cap is reached; the chair described that provision as unprecedented nationally. Committee members debated the cap’s size: proponents said the 5% cap balances future energy needs and agricultural protection, while opponents argued a 2% cap would be less disruptive to farmland. A motion to lower the cap to 2% failed on a roll call vote, 3–7.

The committee adopted multiple amendments before final passage. Key changes approved (all vote results as recorded by the committee): agrivoltaics exempted from the bill’s siting provisions (Senator Hester amendment; carried unanimously), a Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) technical‑assistance directive to inventory state‑owned land suitable for solar and publish a database (Senator Hester amendment; carried unanimously), explicit requirements that solar owners comply with state stormwater, erosion and soil‑compaction laws (Hester amendment; carried unanimously), and removal of proposed automatic community‑solar enrollment (opt‑out) so the program remains opt‑in under current law (Augustine amendment; carried unanimously). The committee also added a clarifying wording change to reference “noxious” weeds and defeated the motion from Senator Gallien to change the cap from 5% to 2% (motion failed 3–7).

Senators raising agricultural concerns emphasized private property rights, easements and existing agricultural‑land protections. Committee members and staff clarified that recorded contractual easements that prohibit development (for example, agricultural preservation easements) would remain enforceable and would not be overridden by the bill. The chair reiterated that, if the bill fails, the Public Service Commission (PSC) retains full preemption authority allowing CPCN applicants for projects of 2 MW or greater to seek approval that can supersede local zoning.

The final roll call on the bill as amended was recorded by the committee clerk; the committee reported the bill out of committee 8–2. Committee members who voted yes or no were read into the record during the roll call. The bill will move to the Senate floor for consideration and remains subject to negotiations with the House, which had opposed a cap in earlier discussions.

Evidence in the transcript shows the committee spent a substantial portion of the session on the bill, introduced the amendments described above, and completed a roll call. The committee chair and multiple senators emphasized the balance the legislation tries to strike between increasing in‑state generation and protecting agricultural interests.

The committee also noted related policy threads remain unresolved: how Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) carve‑outs relate to resource adequacy, whether the numeric cap should be modified if demand projections change, and how county preservation funds interact with siting decisions. The sponsor and staff said technical edits would be made to several amendments before the floor.

Next steps: Senate Bill 931 will be placed on the Senate floor calendar; any further amendments or House‑chamber negotiations would be resolved before final passage in both chambers.","The Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 931 as amended after adopting multiple changes that add agricultural protections, technical requirements and opt‑in community solar language; the bill passed the committee 8–2 and will go to the Senate floor.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: committee advances bills on food resiliency, recycling, education and state property

Committee advances solar‑siting bill with 5% cap on priority preservation areas