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Votes at a glance: Economic Matters Committee advances multiple consumer, business and energy bills
Summary
The Economic Matters Committee moved a package of consumer, business and energy bills as amended, advancing measures ranging from EFTA‑style unauthorized transfer protections to changes in CPCN transparency and modifications to state incentive and registry programs.
The Economic Matters Committee considered a slate of bills and moved multiple measures as amended. Several bills were discussed only briefly or passed after amendment votes; the committee adopted changes and voted to advance the measures listed below.
Key items moved by the committee (summary of action taken):
- House Bill 332 — Electronic Fund Transfer protections: Committee counsel clarified that the bill addresses unauthorized transfers under the EFTA framework, limiting consumer liability for unauthorized transfers to $50 if reported within two business days and up to $500 if reported within 60 days; after 60 days consumers may be fully liable. The bill, as framed in committee, aims to place state‑chartered banks on parity with federally regulated banks for specified transfers; the committee moved the bill as amended.
- House Bill 577 — Comptroller enforcement of certain business license laws and stakeholder study: The committee adopted an amendment that requires the comptroller to consult stakeholders and study enforcement processes for miscellaneous state business licenses and moved the bill as amended.
- House Bill 992 — Franchise registration and disclosure: The committee adopted sponsor amendments to alter registration timing, exemption indexing and to require a pilot to expedite franchise registration renewals; the bill was moved as amended.
- House Bill 1046 — Mechanical repair contract consumer protections: The committee amended the bill to prohibit contract provisions that preclude coverage and to bar denial of claims for issues identified in technical service bulletins; the measure was moved as amended following a roll call.
- House Bill 1106 — Registration of travel sellers: The committee adopted amendments to transfer certain responsibilities to the Department of Labor, set fee‑setting by regulation, require specified insurance, and remove criminal penalties; the committee moved the bill as amended.
- House Bill 1111 — Floating solar eligibility for Small Solar Incentive Program: The committee expanded eligibility to floating solar systems on non‑navigable waters between 20 kW and 5 MW and amended the bill to leave tax‑exemption decisions for floating systems to individual counties and Baltimore City; the bill was moved as amended.
- House Bill 1273 — Customer‑sited solar program and use of certain funds: The committee moved an amended bill that expands allowable uses of certain funds to include building and transportation electrification, clarifies low‑ and moderate‑income definitions and adjusts reporting requirements.
- House Bill 1419 — DRIVE Act technical amendments: The committee adopted three technical amendments to the Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE) Act pilot program and moved the bill as amended.
Roll‑call tallies where recorded in the transcript (committee reading): - HB 332: recorded yeas and nays during the committee roll call; transcript lines show a series of “Aye/Yes” and “No” responses leading to the bill being moved as amended. (Transcript shows approximately 16 yeas and 4 nos on the committee roll call sequence.)
- HB 577: committee roll call recorded; transcript shows approximately 16 yeas and 4 nos and the measure was moved as amended.
Several other bills were moved as amended with no extended debate recorded in the transcript; where a recorded roll call took place, the committee’s clerk read member responses and the chair announced the motion carried.
Why it matters: Together the bills cover consumer protections, business‑license enforcement, energy program adjustments and technical fixes that affect permitting, incentive eligibility and regulatory processes. Several amendments were designed to narrow language, enable agency rulemaking or add consumer protections such as rescission periods and insurance requirements.
Next steps: Each bill moved from committee will proceed to the next stage of the Legislature’s process or to floor scheduling; members and staff noted follow‑up items for agencies (PSC, Department of Labor, Comptroller) to implement or interpret statutory changes.
