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House Environment and Transportation Committee concurs with Senate amendments on two bills; voice votes recorded
Summary
The House Environment and Transportation Committee on the last day of session concurred with Senate amendments to HB 517, a study and reorganization bill for the Maryland Transit Administration, and HB 49, the states building energy performance standards bill; both were approved by voice vote.
The House Environment and Transportation Committee voted by voice to concur with Senate amendments to two bills: HB 517, which adjusts the timeline and staffing for a work group studying reorganization of the Maryland Transit Administration, and HB 49, which directs the Maryland Department of the Environment to study energy use intensity and removes certain waiver and alternative compliance provisions.
HB 517. The sponsor said the Senate amendments lengthen the time allowed for the study, clarify that the Department of Legislative Services and the Maryland Department of Transportation staff the work group, and require those entities to submit draft legislation to the presiding officers based on the work group's outcome. The sponsor moved to concur with the Senate amendments; a voice vote was taken and the chair said the committee had concurred.
HB 49 (building energy performance standards). The sponsor thanked Delegate Stein and the committee's environment subcommittee for work on the bill and said the Senate removed the waiver provisions and the alternative compliance fee for energy use intensity. Instead, the Senate's changes require the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to conduct an 18-month study to evaluate energy use intensity, including whether to follow Montgomery County's approach. The sponsor noted that existing percentage targets and the current compliance years remain unchanged and that exemptions for hospitals and national security facilities remain in the bill. The sponsor moved to concur with the Senate amendments; a voice vote was taken and the chair said the bill passed through concurrence.
Committee process and next steps. The chair said more concurrences were expected during the day and that the committee would operate in an ad hoc way; members should monitor texts and inboxes for further action. During discussion of HB 49, Delegate Doug Foley asked whether county building energy performance standards recognition by MDE remained in the bill; the sponsor responded that that change was not included in the concurrence the committee was taking.
Votes at a glance - HB 517 (study of MTA reorganization): Committee concurred with Senate amendments; voice vote, ayes recorded, no named roll-call. - HB 49 (building energy performance standards): Committee concurred with Senate amendments; voice vote, ayes recorded, no named roll-call.
No roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript for these items; outcomes were recorded as voice votes and announced by the chair.
