Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB973 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0973
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 973
8	8	E4 5lr1534
9	9	CF SB 804
10	10	By: Delegates Boafo, Charkoudian , Addison, Allen, Davis, Embry, Fair, Foley,
11	11	Guyton, Harris, Holmes, Kaufman, Lehman, R. Lewis, Ruth, Smith,
12	12	Solomon, Stein, Stewart, Terrasa, Vogel, and Young
13	13	Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2025
14	14	Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
15	15
16	16	A BILL ENTITLED
17	17
18	18	AN ACT concerning 1
19	19
20	20	Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use, Energy 2
21	21	Conservation, and Electric– and Solar–Ready Standards 3
22	22	(Better Buildings Act of 2025) 4
23	23
24	24	FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor, on or before certain dates 5
25	25	and as part of the Maryland Building Performance Standards, to adopt a 6
26	26	requirement that new buildings and significant improvements meet all laundry, 7
27	27	water, and space heating demands of the building without the use of fossil fuels, 8
28	28	energy conservation requirements, and an electric– and solar–ready standard for 9
29	29	certain buildings; and generally relating to the Maryland Building Performance 10
30	30	Standards. 11
31	31
32	32	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
33	33	Article – Public Safety 13
34	34	Section 12–503 14
35	35	Annotated Code of Maryland 15
36	36	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
37	37
38	38	BY adding to 17
39	39	Article – Public Safety 18
40	40	Section 12–503.1 19
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 20
42	42	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
43	43
44	44	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL A SSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
45	45	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
46	46
47	47	Article – Public Safety 24
48	48	2 HOUSE BILL 973
49	49
50	50
51	51	12–503. 1
52	52
53	53	(a) (1) The Department shall adopt by regulation, as the Maryland Building 2
54	54	Performance Standards, the International Building Code, including the International 3
55	55	Energy Conservation Code, with the modifications incorporated by the Department under 4
56	56	subsection (b) of this section. 5
57	57
58	58	(2) The Department shall adopt each subsequent version of the Standards 6
59	59	within 18 months after it is issued. 7
60	60
61	61	(b) (1) Before adopting each version of the Standards, the Department shall: 8
62	62
63	63	(i) review the International Building Code to determine whether 9
64	64	modifications should be incorporated in the Standards; 10
65	65
66	66	(ii) consider changes to the International Building Code to enhance 11
67	67	energy conservation and efficiency; 12
68	68
69	69	(iii) subject to the provisions of paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, 13
70	70	adopt modifications to the Standards that allow any innovative approach, design, 14
71	71	equipment, or method of construction that can be demonstrated to offer performance that 15
72	72	is at least the equivalent to the requirements of: 16
73	73
74	74	1. the International Energy Conservation Code; 17
75	75
76	76	2. Chapter 13, “Energy Efficiency”, of the International 18
77	77	Building Code; or 19
78	78
79	79	3. Chapter 11, “Energy Efficiency”, of the International 20
80	80	Residential Code; 21
81	81
82	82	(iv) accept written comments; 22
83	83
84	84	(v) consider any comments received; and 23
85	85
86	86	(vi) hold a public hearing on each proposed modification. 24
87	87
88	88	(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph and [§ 25
89	89	12–510] §§ 12–503.1 AND 12–510 of this subtitle, the Department may not adopt, as part 26
90	90	of the Standards, a modification of a building code requirement that is more stringent than 27
91	91	the requirement in the International Building Code. 28
92	92
93	93	(ii) The Department may adopt energy conservation requirements 29
94	94	that are more stringent than the requirements in the International Energy Conservation 30
95	95	Code, but may not adopt energy conservation requirements that are less stringent than the 31
96	96	requirements in the International Energy Conservation Code. 32
97	97	HOUSE BILL 973 3
98	98
99	99
100	100	(c) The Standards apply to each building or structure in the State for which a 1
101	101	building permit application is received by a local jurisdiction on or after August 1, 1995. 2
102	102
103	103	(d) In addition to the Standards, the Department shall: 3
104	104
105	105	(1) on or before January 1, 2023, adopt by regulation the 2018 4
106	106	International Green Construction Code; and 5
107	107
108	108	(2) adopt each subsequent version of the Code within 18 months after it is 6
109	109	issued. 7
110	110
111	111	12–503.1. 8
112	112
113	113	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 9
114	114	INDICATED. 10
115	115
116	116	(2) “ELECTRIC–READY” MEANS THE MORE STRIN GENT OF: 11
117	117
118	118	(I) ELECTRIC–READY REQUIREMENTS I N THE INTERNATIONAL 12
119	119	ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, INCLUDING RELEVANT A PPENDICES; OR 13
120	120
121	121	(II) HAVING ADEQUATE PANE L CAPACITY , DEDICATED 14
122	122	ELECTRIC PANEL SPACE, ELECTRICAL WIRE , ELECTRICAL RECEPTACL ES, AND 15
123	123	ADEQUATE PHYSICAL SP ACE TO ACCOMMODATE F UTURE INSTALLATION O F 16
124	124	HIGH–EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INCLUDING HEATING , LAUNDRY, WATER 17
125	125	HEATING, COOKING, AND DRYING. 18
126	126
127	127	(3) “ENERGY EFFICIENCY ” MEANS PERCENT AGE ENERGY USE 19
128	128	REDUCTION WITH REFER ENCE TO THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY 20
129	129	CONSERVATION CODE, AS CALCULATED FOR MARYLAND CLIMATE ZONE S AND 21
130	130	PUBLISHED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUILDING ENERGY CODES 22
131	131	PROGRAM AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, EXCLUSIVE OF: 23
132	132
133	133	(I) RENEWABLE ENERGY PROD UCED AND ELECTRIC VE HICLE 24
134	134	CHARGING PROVIDED AT THE BUILDING’S PREMISES; 25
135	135
136	136	(II) UNCONDITIONED FLOOR AREA; AND 26
137	137
138	138	(III) PARKING. 27
139	139
140	140	(4) “FUEL TYPE” MEANS THE COMBINATIO N OF ENERGY SOURCES 28
141	141	PLANNED FOR A USE IN A BUILDING, INCLUDING ELE CTRICITY AND MIXED F UEL. 29
142	142
143	143	(5) (I) “SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEME NT” MEANS ANY REPAIR , 30 4 HOUSE BILL 973
144	144
145	145
146	146	RECONSTRUCTION , REHABILITATION , ALTERATION, ADDITION, OR OTHER 1
147	147	IMPROVEMENT OF A BUI LDING OR STRUCTURE , THE COST OF WHICH EQ UALS OR 2
148	148	EXCEEDS 50% OF THE REPLACEMENT C OST OF THE ST RUCTURE BEFORE THE 3
149	149	IMPROVEMENT OR REPAI R IS STARTED. 4
150	150
151	151	(II) “SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEME NT” DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 5
152	152	IMPROVEMENT OF A BUI LDING: 6
153	153
154	154	1. REQUIRED TO CORRECT EXISTING HEALTH , 7
155	155	SANITARY, OR SAFETY CODE VIOLA TIONS IDENTIFIED BY A BUILDING OFFICIAL OR 8
156	156	THAT ARE THE MINIMUM NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE LIVING CONDITIO NS; OR 9
157	157
158	158	2. BY ALTERATION OF A H ISTORIC STRUCTURE 10
159	159	PROVIDED THAT THE AL TERATION WI LL NOT PRECLUDE THE STRUCTURE’S 11
160	160	CONTINUED DESIGNATIO N AS A HISTORIC STRU CTURE. 12
161	161
162	162	(6) “SOLAR–READY” MEANS THE MORE STRIN GENT OF: 13
163	163
164	164	(I) SOLAR–READY REQUIREMENTS I N THE INTERNATIONAL 14
165	165	BUILDING CODE OR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, INCLUDING 15
166	166	RELEVANT APPENDICES ; AND 16
167	167
168	168	(II) DESIGN, ENGINEERING , AND CONSTRUCTION SO THAT AT 17
169	169	LEAST 40% OF THE ROOF AREA IS : 18
170	170
171	171	1. FREE FROM OBSTRUCTIO NS; AND 19
172	172
173	173	2. CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING THE INSTALLATION OF 20
174	174	SOLAR PANELS . 21
175	175
176	176	(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, AS PART OF THE STANDARDS, 22
177	177	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T: 23
178	178
179	179	(I) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 24
180	180	REQUIREMENT THAT NEW BUILDINGS AND SIGNIF ICANT IMPROVEMENTS M EET ALL 25
181	181	LAUNDRY, WATER, AND SPACE HEATING DE MANDS OF THE BUILDIN G WITHOUT THE 26
182	182	USE OF FOSSIL FUE LS; 27
183	183
184	184	(II) AN ELECTRIC–READY STANDARD FOR N EW BUILDINGS AND 28
185	185	SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEM ENTS THAT RECEIVE A WAIVER UNDER PARAGRA PH (2) OF 29
186	186	THIS SUBSECTION ; AND 30
187	187
188	188	(III) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 31 HOUSE BILL 973 5
189	189
190	190
191	191	REQUIREMENT THAT NEW BUILDINGS OR SIGNIFI CANT IMPROVEMENTS BE 1
192	192	SOLAR–READY IF THE BUILDIN G: 2
193	193
194	194	1. WILL HAVE 20,000 SQUARE FEET OR MORE OF 3
195	195	CONTINUOUS ROOF SPAC E, EXCLUDING THE PARKIN G AREA; AND 4
196	196
197	197	2. WILL BE 20 STORIES OR LESS IN H EIGHT ABOVE 5
198	198	GRADE PLANE . 6
199	199
200	200	(2) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PHS (II) AND (III) OF THIS 7
201	201	PARAGRAPH , A LOCAL JURISDICTION MAY GRANT A WAIVER F ROM THE 8
202	202	REQUIREMENT UNDER PA RAGRAPH (1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR: 9
203	203
204	204	1. EMERGENCY BACK –UP POWER SYSTEMS FOR NEW 10
205	205	BUILDINGS AND SIGNIF ICANT IMPROVEMENTS ; AND 11
206	206
207	207	2. NEW BUILDINGS , SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS , AND 12
208	208	ADDITIONS SPECIFICAL LY DESIGNATED FOR OC CUPANCY BY A COMMERC IAL FOOD 13
209	209	ESTABLISHMENT , LABORATORY , LAUNDROMAT , HOSPITAL, OR CREMATORIUM . 14
210	210
211	211	(II) 1. A WAIVER GRANTED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 15
212	212	THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE LIMITED TO BUILDI NG SYSTEMS AND AREAS THAT 16
213	213	CANNOT FEASIBLY USE ENERGY GENERATED FRO M A SOURCE OTHER THA N FOSSIL 17
214	214	FUELS. 18
215	215
216	216	2. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATI ONS ARE NOT A SUFFIC IENT 19
217	217	BASIS FOR DETERMININ G FEASIBILITY UNDER SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 1 OF THIS 20
218	218	SUBPARAGRAPH . 21
219	219
220	220	(III) A BUILDING OR SIGNIFICANT IMPRO VEMENT THAT IS 22
221	221	GRANTED A WAIVER UND ER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SH ALL: 23
222	222
223	223	1. SEEK TO MINIMIZE EMI SSIONS FROM ITS FOSS IL FUEL 24
224	224	USE; 25
225	225
226	226	2. MAXIMIZE HEALTH , SAFETY, AND FIRE PROTECTION ; 26
227	227	AND 27
228	228
229	229	3. BE REQUIRED TO COMPL Y WITH T HE 28
230	230	ELECTRIC–READY STANDARDS ADOP TED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS 29
231	231	SUBSECTION. 30
232	232
233	233	(IV) TO ENSURE A WAIVER GR ANTED UNDER SUBPARAG RAPH (I) 31 6 HOUSE BILL 973
234	234
235	235
236	236	OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS STILL NECESSARY , THE WAIVER SHALL BE REVIEWED: 1
237	237
238	238	1. EACH TIME THE STANDARDS ARE MODIFIE D BY THE 2
239	239	DEPARTMENT ; AND 3
240	240
241	241	2. BY THE LOCAL JURISDI CTION THAT GRANTED T HE 4
242	242	WAIVER EACH TIME THE LOCAL JURISDICTION M ODIFIES ITS LOCAL AM ENDMENTS 5
243	243	UNDER § 12–504 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 6
244	244
245	245	(3) REGULATIONS ADOPTED U NDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY 7
246	246	AUTHORIZE A LOCAL JURISDICTION TO WAIV E THE SOLAR–READY REQUIREMENTS 8
247	247	FOR A BUILDING ON A SPECIFIC FINDING THA T: 9
248	248
249	249	(I) INCIDENT SOLAR RADIA TION AT THE BUILDING SITE IS LESS 10
250	250	THAN 75% OF INCIDENT SOLAR RA DIATION AT AN OPEN S ITE; OR 11
251	251
252	252	(II) SHADOW STUDIES INDIC ATE THAT 25% OF A BUILDING ’S 12
253	253	ROOF AREA WILL BE IN SHADOW. 13
254	254
255	255	(4) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSE CTION MAY BE CONSTRU ED TO PROHIBIT 14
256	256	A LOCAL JURISDICTION FROM PROHIBITING THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS IN 15
257	257	BUILDINGS OR SIGNIFI CANT IMPROVEMENTS OR ADOPTING ENERGY 16
258	258	CONSERVATION AND SOL AR ENE RGY REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS OR 17
259	259	SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEM ENTS THAT ARE MORE S TRINGENT THAN THE 18
260	260	REQUIREMENTS ESTABLI SHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION. 19
261	261
262	262	(C) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION , “COVERED BUILDING ” MEANS A 20
263	263	COMMERCIAL OR RESIDE NTIAL BUILDING WITH A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF LESS THAN 21
264	264	35,000 SQUARE FEET OR MORE , EXCLUDING THE PARKIN G GARAGE AREA . 22
265	265
266	266	(2) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO NEW CONST RUCTION. 23
267	267
268	268	(3) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T, AS PART OF THE 24
269	269	STANDARDS, REGULATIONS ESTABLIS HING ENERGY CONSERVA TION 25
270	270	REQUIREMENTS FOR COV ERED BUILDINGS IN AC CORDANCE WITH THIS 26
271	271	SUBSECTION. 27
272	272
273	273	(II) IN DEVELOPING THE REG ULATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT : 28
274	274
275	275	1. A. SUBJECT TO ITEM B OF THIS ITEM , SHALL 29
276	276	ESTIMATE ENERGY EFFI CIENCY OUTCOMES OF T HE STANDARDS ACCORDING T O 30
277	277	PUBLICATIONS AND METHODS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OR ITS 31
278	278	CONTRACTORS ; AND 32 HOUSE BILL 973 7
279	279
280	280
281	281
282	282	B. MAY SEEK ADVICE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 1
283	283	ENERGY, ITS CONTRACTORS , OR SIMILARLY QUALIFI ED PARTIES TO MAKE T HESE 2
284	284	ESTIMATES; AND 3
285	285
286	286	2. SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSEC TION, 4
287	287	FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE STANDARDS AUTHORIZING COMPLIANCE VIA THE 5
288	288	ATTAINMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY CREDITS O R ACHIEVEMENT OF 6
289	289	PERFORMANCE THRESHOL DS, SHALL CALCULATE AND ADOPT CREDITS AND 7
290	290	PERFORMANCE THRESHOL DS IN A MANNER THAT COMPARES SITE ENERGY USE 8
291	291	INTENSITY CHANGES FR OM ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES TO A 9
292	292	MARYLAND–SPECIFIC BASELINE MO DEL THAT DOES NOT VA RY ACCORDING TO FUEL 10
293	293	TYPE OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING FOR RELEVAN T BUILDING TYPES . 11
294	294
295	295	(4) CREDITS OR PERFORMANC E THRESHOLDS MAY NOT BE 12
296	296	CALCULATED IN A MAN NER THAT AUTHORIZES BUILDINGS OF A CERTA IN FUEL TYPE 13
297	297	TO COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS WHILE ACHIE VING A LOWER ENERGY 14
298	298	EFFICIENCY ON AVERAG E THAN BUILDINGS OF A DIFFERENT FUEL TYP E. 15
299	299
300	300	(5) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (7) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 16
301	301	REGULATIONS SHALL RE QUIRE NEW RESIDENTIAL BU ILDINGS LESS THAN FO UR 17
302	302	STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANE TO ACHIEVE , ON AVERAGE , ENERGY EFFICIENCY 18
303	303	EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN: 19
304	304
305	305	(I) 35% FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVE D 20
306	306	FROM MARCH 1, 2027, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2030, BOTH INCLUSIVE ; 21
307	307
308	308	(II) 50% FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVE D 22
309	309	FROM MARCH 1, 2030, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2033, BOTH INCLUSIVE ; AND 23
310	310
311	311	(III) 65% FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVE D ON 24
312	312	OR AFTER MARCH 1, 2033. 25
313	313
314	314	(6) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (7) OF THIS SUBSECTION AND EXCEPT 26
315	315	AS PROVIDED IN PARAG RAPH (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE REGULATIONS SHAL L 27
316	316	REQUIRE ALL BUILDING S, REGARDLESS OF FUEL T YPE, TO ACHIEVE ON AVERAG E 28
317	317	ENERGY EFFICIENCY EQ UAL TO OR GREATER TH AN: 29
318	318
319	319	(I) 45% FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVE D 30
320	320	FROM MARCH 1, 2027, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2030, BOTH INCLUSIVE ; 31
321	321
322	322	(II) 55% FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVE D 32
323	323	FROM MARCH 1, 2030, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2033, BOTH INCLUSIVE ; AND 33 8 HOUSE BILL 973
324	324
325	325
326	326
327	327	(III) 65% FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVE D ON 1
328	328	OR AFTER MARCH 1, 2033. 2
329	329
330	330	(7) (I) A LOCAL JURISDICTION M AY ADOPT ENERGY 3
331	331	CONSERVATION REQUIRE MENTS FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE MORE STRING ENT THAN 4
332	332	THE REQUIREMENTS EST ABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION. 5
333	333
334	334	(II) IF THE LOCAL JURISDIC TION WHERE A COVERED BUILDING 6
335	335	WILL BE LOCATED HAS ADOPT ED ENERGY CONSERVATI ON REQUIREMENTS MORE 7
336	336	STRINGENT THAN THE R EQUIREMENTS ESTABLIS HED UNDER THIS SUBSE CTION, 8
337	337	THE BUILDING SHALL B E REQUIRED TO MEET T HE MORE STRINGENT 9
338	338	REQUIREMENTS . 10
339	339
340	340	(8) IF THE VERSION OF THE STANDARDS IN EFFECT A T THE TIME A 11
341	341	BUILDING PERMIT APPL ICATION IS RECEIVED REQUIRES THE BUILDIN G TO MEET 12
342	342	ENERGY CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS THAT AR E MORE STRINGENT THA N THE 13
343	343	REQUIREMENTS ESTABLI SHED UNDER THIS SUBS ECTION, THE BUILDING SHALL B E 14
344	344	REQUIRED TO MEET THE MORE STRINGENT REQUI REMENTS. 15
345	345
346	346	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 16
347	347	October 1, 2025. 17
348	348