[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6612482,"mediaKeyId","2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9","parentId",2891144,"title","Committee concurs with House changes to allow certain parallel transmission lines in designated wildlands with strict conditions","audioSeconds",243,"startMs",2637000,"endMs",2880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9&start=2637&end=2880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9/thumbnail_2637000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6612482/Maryland/Committee-concurs-with-House-changes-to-allow-certain-parallel-transmission-lines-in-designated-wildlands-with-strict-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612482-6faf4128027e689071eee4beb3531979/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184448&Signature=hEsUPBee7hF20YNWmP7C0rKdgc8LpXioT4xhnixN~ImiqyWucO4cWCvp4J~sxgzyHc2oO7NUjddZJ~UbwmeCX9-NvZHAgIXopcGqPMUj4euBXFJhaPR8kdn318PYu3-SlU4hyV4jC89FaQHDVIEnO~SxsA0KoE4kRvcn0Z9wiWMsR34XcHw55HmHvbrcsH~56-GbjfKAH7Wmjq~vJkpD~B6zDslf0nsmqce7ReCDhu54VG2yaSdJrOGKmywaxm0IgFx1ru4OsqtypNb2JUsMqoBUWL4MgLxAAuSHIjPUcXRFWBzyXBk2DSiBXnPoaYXUH12Z2tQMYsxSWhjJYoUVjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Education, Energy and Environment","date","2025-04-07T16:55:18.037Z","article","The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee voted to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 399, a natural-resources bill that, as amended, allows specified overhead transmission lines to be excluded from designated state wildlands only under strict conditions.

Under the amended language described to the committee by staff, a NextEra transmission line would not be considered part of Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Penn Wildland, or Dans Mountain Wildland if it parallels an existing Potomac Edison transmission right-of-way and does not disturb any area more than 200 feet from the nearest point of that right-of-way. The 200-foot limit can be exceeded if federal law or regulation requires a greater separation or if the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) determines a larger separation is necessary to minimize effects on resources. The project must be designed in consultation with DNR to minimize forest loss, fragmentation, and habitat impacts.

The House amendments also require the transmission applicant to assist DNR in replacing type-1 state wildland acreage lost to construction with acreage twice the size and suitable for designation as wildland. The amendments add a codified requirement for a public, 120-day stakeholder and public-participation process that includes at least one advertised in-person meeting within 25 miles of each affected wildland area, at least one virtual meeting option, outreach to organizations with expertise in wildland and wildlife stewardship, a public comment portal forwarded to DNR, and a 90-day deliberation period by DNR before the Secretary makes a recommendation to the Public Service Commission regarding a certificate of public convenience and necessity.

Why it matters: The underlying bill had previously passed the committee without these additional conditions. The House changes add specific siting limits, mitigation duties, and an expanded public-participation requirement; those changes narrow the permissive effect of the exemption and increase environmental protections and public engagement requirements.

Committee members described the House amendments as additional environmental safeguards. The sponsor moved to concur with the House amendments and the motion carried after a vote; committee staff confirmed that the bill had passed the committee in its original 9-0 posture earlier in the session.

Speakers and staff appearing in discussion included April (staff who explained the House changes), Senator Augustine (moved to concur), Senator Washington (second on the motion), and others who took part in the concurrence vote. The transcript records the committee taking up the motion to concur and approving it; the bill will proceed in the legislative process with the House amendments attached.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","EEE Committee Session, 4/7/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 399 that allow certain overhead transmission lines to be excluded from three named wildlands only if strict siting, mitigation and public‑participation conditions are met.","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},6612487,"Committee narrows Housing Development Act, removes automatic vesting and creates time-limited HOME commission",407,1162000,1569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9&start=1162&end=1569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9/thumbnail_1162000.jpg","/articles/6612487/Maryland/Committee-narrows-Housing-Development-Act-removes-automatic-vesting-and-creates-time-limited-HOME-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612487-3013471d2fc702c243a3c6d0730fc4e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184448&Signature=H-jpdYjoKE3q0blLFCx3OgLnbDWq3LhJ8pLs7te3ep010JQddLJkFCjI3pijlFOO4Lc4L2yo8ywSOWlQmgu8r1Ic0AY~Y3I4CEXkOGNDEC2xPZvrX3LYsTBVzLZRnXhOwqCvjOb5aTC2-n4GJFvqGQ~QdQ632~6phub-cJoEb4hjthhTzDO32k37gUeyx1crGexWjjtj03rnBnmesskhc6~t7PfnVeHkVfbgkhkovK86EkxxeAevp9bIKyX4hQSMAADUdBE5QcoJnnDF7-pLogFWJOXzpYDUQhKqkQBObz7do0yrCzLu-VEKcR~HqD9jDd5YG7Qmz2Oxoo0lIp4cNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee voted to advance House Bill 503, the Housing Development Act, after adopting amendments that remove automatic regulatory freezes and five-year vested development rights and place a new study requirement with a time-limited commission.

The committee’s amendment, moved by Senator Augustine and seconded by Senator Washington, struck provisions that would have frozen applicable laws and regulations when a housing development application was submitted and would have vested development rights for five years after approval. The amendment requires the HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equitable) Commission to study options to improve regulatory certainty for housing developments and to report recommendations back to the General Assembly. Committee members later approved a two-year sunset for the commission, terminating it on 05/31/2027.

Why it matters: The bill, carried by the administration as a housing-production and permitting measure, originally combined statewide and local housing production targets, reporting requirements, and regulatory protections for applicants. The committee’s changes remove immediate statutory vesting protections and instead direct review and recommendations to a commission, shifting the work from immediate statutory guarantees to a study-and-recommend model.

Under the bill as introduced, the Department of Housing and Community Development would have been required to establish housing production targets every 10 years for the state, each county, and municipalities with zoning or planning authority, and to report annually on progress toward those targets. The original version also would have governed which laws and regulations applied to a housing development application submitted as complete and would have granted a five-year vested right to an approved project. The committee amendment removed the regulatory-freeze and vesting text and directed the HOME Commission to study potential approaches, including whether to adopt objective standards, apply laws in effect at the time of a complete application, or grant vested rights through statute.

Committee discussion reflected competing priorities. Senator Augustine, who moved the amendment, said the change was intended to allow more time for careful work: “I just want to start by saying that we know how important it is that we improve or gain housing stock, but I just feel like we got to make progress on that. ... I think that this is a step forward ... so that we'll be able to come back and address this very, very complex issue in a way that's thoughtful with some more time.” Vice Chair Kagan and other members noted stakeholder presence and the need to avoid another lengthy floor debate; staff said the amendment was developed over the weekend.

The committee also accepted an administration-requested amendment establishing that the HOME Commission would terminate on 05/31/2027. After roll-call votes on the amendments and the bill as amended, the committee advanced HB 503 to the next stage of review.

The bill still must return to the House of Delegates because the committee amended the House-passed language; the House may accept or reject the committee’s changes.

Speakers quoted or explicitly identified in committee discussion were staff member April (staff describing the bill and amendment language), Senator Augustine (mover of the primary amendment), Senator Washington (second on motions and active in discussion), Vice Chair Kagan, Senator Hester (chairing portions of the discussion), and Senator Brooks (second on the final motion to move the bill as amended). No final vote tally for the full committee approval was recorded in the transcript excerpt; the committee’s proceedings show roll-call votes on amendments and a subsequent roll call on the bill as amended.","The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee advanced House Bill 503 after adopting amendments that strike automatic regulatory freezes and five-year vesting rights for approved housing projects and instead charge a newly created HOME Commission with studying regulatory certainty. The HOME Commission will have a two-year sunset.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6612477,"Votes at a glance: Committee advances housing bill and concurs on multiple energy, education and childcare measures",2919,0,2919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9&start=0&end=2919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891144-090af52ec51f24510850232d4f4c6cf9/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6612477/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Committee-advances-housing-bill-and-concurs-on-multiple-energy-education-and-childcare-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612477-4d9b29e84970b75e8c41ff19583f5f56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184448&Signature=Hu-o-TKtWnwQ~ALdxOKJJPWJkuDY840tl3WDHgPO9ywpmBUyI2J73TvfRgTB2VpGtWFiM2H~kLFF5fdh8cLVrUMRMNsmq0N5o2MQalNr2NavDXI--rEcykUMoT2AYKHIwXvWTxtJ4hHCHsaHuKVKhT0Q5DEi9pUyw2ePUEXgvgoVsbfujr7DULXN1V~QqY6nWEX2NU0dS2DNm9Bihg5mpWJIsX~1QLdHDrX00SyNyuud3QZuZRXuM10f1yxKFQbr1HsSVrwyx-KCNf6QP9Kb8hCqh~lQhDdeMqV~Pf3~X76A-Jxd4xwFxr6Vi1iXriyytUM5MzR9KSFCSDu8odlXyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee took final actions on a range of bills, adopting amendments, concurring with House changes, and advancing measures to the next stage of the legislative process. The committee approved motions on bills in energy, education, early childhood, language access, housing, and election administration. Key actions and outcomes follow.

Votes at a glance (bill — short description — committee action & outcome):

- House Bill 826 — Repeal of Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs interdepartmental advisory committee; creates governor’s subcabinet on socioeconomic procurement participation. Committee adopted an amendment; motion to move the bill as amended carried unanimously. (Mover of amendment: Senator Augustine; mover of bill: Senator Augustine; second: Senator Carrozza.)

- House Bill 1111 — Expands small solar incentive eligibility to systems on or over non-navigable water retention ponds, quarries or brownfields (20 kW–5 MW). No amendments; committee passed the bill unanimously. (Mover: Senator Gallien; second: Senator Brooks.)

- House Bill 1121 / Senate Bill 687 (cross-file) — Child Care Scholarship assistance pilot made permanent by amendment: establishes assistance for youth transitioning from foster care to help access child-care subsidies for parenting youth; removes termination date and certain reporting. Committee adopted Delegate Shetty amendment and moved to favorably report HB 1121 as amended; the committee then moved to conform SB 687 to the House amendment; both motions carried unanimously.

- House Bill 1316 / Senate Bill 897 (cross-file) — Requires the National Center for School Mental Health (University of Maryland School of Medicine), in consultation with MSDE, to develop a youth-centric technology and social media resource guide; committee passed HB 1316 and moved to conform SB 897. Sponsorships were added. Motions carried unanimously.

- House Bill 1473 — Language access: originally expanded requirements for state entities to provide equal access for individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities. Committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill to individuals with limited English proficiency (amendment carried 7–4 on the roll call for the amendment); after a roll-call vote on the bill as amended the motion carried (committee recorded the bill as carried 8–3 in the transcript summary).

- House Bill 1475 — Requires study of the mixed-delivery publicly funded full-day prekindergarten system; committee adopted an amendment substituting an MSDE-convened work group and passed the bill as amended unanimously.

- House Bill 503 — Housing Development Act. Committee adopted amendments striking statutory regulatory-freeze and five-year vesting provisions and creating a HOME Commission to study regulatory certainty; committee also adopted a two-year sunset on the commission and advanced the bill as amended (see separate, longer article on HB 503).

- Senate Bill 909 / House Bill 1037 (cross-file) — Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act: establishes a Strategic Energy Planning Office and reporting requirements for wholesale market and bulk power system risk; committee concurred with House amendments (motion carried).

- Senate Bill 931 / House Bill 1036 (cross-file) — Renewable energy siting and expedited permitting for small solar stations: committee concurred with House amendments that add a community-solar feasibility study and create an expedited distributed-generation CPCN process for 2–5 MW projects; committee recorded the concurrence vote as 8–2 (later tallies in transcript show members voting to align with prior split; final posture carried with Carrozza and Gallien recorded in the minority on the cross-file vote).

- Senate Bill 937 / House Bill 1035 (cross-file) — Next Generation Energy Act: wide-ranging changes to energy and rate processes including loans for certain HCD energy programs, contractor-vs-internal labor review, expedited CPCN timelines (45 days except 90 in EJ communities), and other utility planning and procurement changes; committee concurred with House amendments (motion carried).

- House Bill 222 — Public safety & corrugated stainless steel tubing: committee declined to recede and instead appointed a conference committee to resolve two missing words in the House version; motion carried.

- House Bill 427 — State Board of Public Accountancy, emeritus status: committee voted to recede to conform House language to the Senate version; motion carried.

- House Bill 702 — County Boards of Education, special education service-delivery models: committee voted to recede to make Senate clarifying amendments conforming to House language; motion carried.

- Senate Bill 259 — Election law; local boards of elections election plan requirements: committee concurred with House amendments that consolidate polling place, early voting center and drop-box planning into a single election plan and add transparency and meeting requirements; motion to concur carried.

- Senate Bill 867 — Cyber Maryland program revisions: transferred program duties and added the Adjutant General to the Cyber Maryland workforce board via House amendment; committee concurred.

What to expect next: Bills the committee advanced or concurred with will proceed to subsequent steps in the legislative calendar. Several items (including HB 503 and bills that were amended by the committee) must return to their originating chamber for concurrence on the committee amendments.

Sources and attribution: All summaries, motions and outcomes in this roundup reflect staff descriptions and member motions recorded in the committee transcript. Where the transcript recorded roll-call counts or named votes, those counts are reported; where the transcript summarized a motion without a complete tally, the article records the committee action and notes that the bill advances or that concurrence was granted.","The committee advanced or concurred on a set of bills spanning housing, energy, education, childcare and election law. Below are short summaries, motions, and recorded outcomes from the committee meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee concurs with House changes to allow certain parallel transmission lines in designated wildlands with strict conditions

Committee narrows Housing Development Act, removes automatic vesting and creates time-limited HOME commission

Votes at a glance: Committee advances housing bill and concurs on multiple energy, education and childcare measures