Committee severs Watson amendment into four votes after members object to bundling reporting, permitting and EV language
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Summary
Senator Watson’s broad amendment — covering Clean Energy Center reporting, county solar-permit reporting, electric-vehicle accounting and a personnel word change — was split into four separate motions after members said the package mixed unrelated topics; the committee will take the parts up individually and consider rival amendments.
Senator Watson’s multi-part amendment was divided into four separate motions after members and staff agreed the single amendment bundled distinct topics that require individual consideration.
Staff described the amendment as containing four elements: (1) an annual reporting requirement by the Maryland Clean Energy Center on loans and funding under a nonprofit green-and-renewable-energy-efficiency loan program and the expected greenhouse-gas reductions; (2) a county-by-county annual report to the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) on the number of residential solar permits issued, aggregated into a statewide report; (3) restoring electric vehicles into an emissions-impact accounting section; and (4) changing the word “supervisor” to “officer” for compensation and bonuses. Senator Watson argued that the reporting and EV language would provide metrics for data-driven decisions: “We have to show that we're making progress in our reduction goals,” she said.
Vice chair Kagan said she supported reporting but preferred her more narrowly-drafted amendment on the nonprofit loan reporting, which would set an earlier report date and send the report to the governor. Committee members agreed the items should be considered separately. The chair called a vote to separate the amendment into four distinct component motions, and the committee approved that procedural motion and appointed Senator Washington as parliamentarian for the process. The committee also agreed to pause for House bill hearings and reconvene immediately afterward to take up the severed motions and related amendments by Senators Harris and Kagan.
The committee’s decision to sever preserves members’ ability to vote on each substantive change individually; several senators said they favor some parts and oppose others. The precise text and timing for votes on each separated item will be addressed when the committee reconvenes.
