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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland creates three clean energy advisory councils and special funds funded by technology fees
Last action · March 2, 2026: Withdrawn by SponsorSponsor: Kevin Harris
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 923 establishes three special funds and advisory councils within the Maryland Energy Administration to promote solar photovoltaic modules, s, and zero-emission vehicles, backed by new technology fees.
Manufacturers, retailers, and purchasers of solar equipment, energy storage, and electric vehicles face new fees ranging from $0.02 per watt to $200 per vehicle to finance state educational campaigns.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Manufacturers, Retail Sellers, and Installers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules, Energy Storage Systems, and Zero-Emission Vehicles
Manufacturers and retailers must pay new per-unit sales fees, and industry representatives serve on the newly established advisory councils.
Maryland Energy Administration
The Administration provides staff for the advisory councils, manages fund approvals, and collects up to 5% of deposited fee revenues for administrative costs.
Retail Electric Customers and Electric Companies
Purchases made by electric companies and retail customers are subject to the new technology fees when buying applicable systems.
Key Facts
- The Maryland Energy Administration shall impose a fee of $0.02 per watt of generating capacity on solar photovoltaic modules sold for installation in the State.
- The Maryland Energy Administration shall impose a fee of $5 per kilowatt-hour of storage capacity on energy storage systems sold for installation in the State.
- The Maryland Energy Administration shall impose a fee of $200 for each zero-emission vehicle sold in the State.
- Each advisory council consists of at least five industry representatives, at least two stakeholder organization representatives, and the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration or the Director's designee as chair.
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- Designated members of each advisory council serve five-year staggered terms, limited to a maximum of two terms, and receive $100 per day for up to 36 days per year when attending meetings or conducting council business.
- The Maryland Energy Administration is entitled to up to 5% of the fees deposited into each fund to reimburse costs for providing staff to the councils.
- Fees apply to wholesale and retail transactions, online transactions shipped to Maryland addresses, and purchases made by individuals, businesses, government agencies, and electric companies.
- Individual council fees are capped at the lesser of 0.5% of the wholesale value of the item sold or an amount sufficient to pay for the reasonable costs of the council.
- The three established funds are special, nonlapsing funds exempt from standard State Finance and Procurement provisions requiring interest to accrue to the General Fund.
- Any money appropriated to the funds in the state budget must be repaid to the State from the proceeds of the respective technology fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the fees imposed on covered technologies?
Who serves as the chair of each advisory council?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Withdrawn.
Procedural history
6 actions- Mar 2, 2026SenateWithdrawn by Sponsor
- Feb 16, 2026SenateHearing canceled
- Feb 16, 2026SenateHearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 16, 2026SenateHearing canceled
- Feb 10, 2026SenateHearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Dedicated Energy Technology Advisory Councils
The bill creates three distinct advisory councils paired with special funds to counteract technology misinformation and promote clean energy adoption.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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