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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0460*
HOUSE BILL 460
M5, C5 6lr1862
By: Delegates Beauchamp, Adams, Anderson, Arentz, Baker, Bouchat, Buckel,
Ciliberti, Ghrist, Griffith, Hartman, Hinebaugh, Hornberger, Howard,
Hutchinson, Jacobs, Kipke, R. Long, Mangione, McComas, Miller,
T. Morgan, Nkongolo, Pippy, Reilly, Rose, Schmidt, Tomlinson, Valentine,
and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Solar Energy – Construction of Generating Stations in Priority Preservation 2
Areas and Study 3
FOR the purpose of reducing the percentage of priority preservation area acreage that may 4
be used for the construction of certain solar energy generating stations; requiring 5
the Maryland Department of the Environment to study the environmental impact of 6
the disposal of solar photovoltaic systems; and generally relating to solar energy. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Public Utilities 9
Section 7–218(h)(1) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Public Utilities 14
Section 7–218(h)(4) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Public Utilities 20
7–218. 21
2 HOUSE BILL 460
(h) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, a local 1
jurisdiction may not: 2
(i) adopt zoning laws or other laws or regulations that prohibit the 3
construction or operation of solar energy generating stations; or 4
(ii) deny site development plans for solar energy generating stations 5
that meet the requirements of subsection (f) of this section. 6
(4) (i) The total combined number of solar energy generating stations 7
that may be approved for construction in a priority preservation area that was established 8
before January 1, 2025, shall: 9
1. be limited in area to [5%] 2% of the total acreage of the 10
priority preservation area; 11
2. be located in the project area within the priority 12
preservation area; and 13
3. meet all requirements under this section. 14
(ii) The prohibitions in paragraph (1) of this subsection do not apply 15
to the remaining [95%] 98% of a priority preservation area once the [5%] 2% limitation 16
under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph has been achieved for the priority preservation 17
area. 18
(iii) A county shall report to the Commission when the [5%] 2% 19
limitation under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph has been achieved for a priority 20
preservation area. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 22
(a) The Maryland Department of the Environment shall study the environmental 23
impact of the disposal of solar photovoltaic systems at the end of their life cycle. 24
(b) On or before September 30, 2027, the Maryland Department of the 25
Environment shall report its findings under subsection (a) of th is section to the General 26
Assembly in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 27
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
October 1, 2026. 29