Legislation – Page 3 – Plug-In Sites

Annapolis $100 Fine and Towing Could Apply to Unsuspecting EV Drivers

June 22, 2021September 28, 2022 Lanny

Overreaching “Anti-ICEing” Ordinance Needs Revision

If you drive an electric car, I bet you try to do the right thing. You care about the environment and your actions reflect your values. You may have even stretched your budget to buy an eco-friendly electric vehicle.

Imagine this scenario: You decide to be more active in speaking up for the future of the planet. So you drive your EV to the state capital to testify in front of lawmakers. You find a garage with EV charging and plug in to a Level 2. You need an extra boost to get home. Or maybe you just want to show your support for the public charging infrastructure. After all, many charging spots are rarely used these days.

You arrive at the committee meeting room. The legislation that you came to support is on a fluid schedule. The Chair could call your name at any moment. You don’t dare miss your opportunity to address the legislators who could decide policy that could affect the environment for years to come.

The hearing runs long. It’s early evening when you finally return to the garage. As you approach your car you notice a paper on the windshield. It’s a parking citation. For a hundred bucks!

The ticket states a violation of Sec. 12.20.090.B – Parking Reserved for Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicles Actively Charging. $100.00 fine.

What? Actively charging?

Tell it to the judge.

It doesn’t matter why your car was not actively charging. Your battery may be full. The charging station may have suddenly quit unbeknownst to you. Or maybe someone wanted to “stick it to the environmentalists” and unplugged your car for spite. Is there a law against unplugging EVs?

You’re lucky though. Your car could’ve been towed in addition to getting the ticket. How do you feel now?

First, Do No Harm

The scenario above is not far fetched. The City of Annapolis passed an anti-ICEing ordinance last year that could punish EV drivers who are not “actively charging.” The same $100 fine and/or towing penalty imposed on a diesel truck driver blocking a charging space could apply to an innocent electric car driver who’s simply trying to do the right thing by driving a zero emission vehicle.

EV drivers are getting punished more than you might think. Green Car Reports published an article that showed that in Montgomery County, MD, more electric vehicles got tickets for parking in charging spaces than ICE vehicles did. Ref: Illegal Parking in charging spots: The culprit? Electric cars

A few weeks ago I testified via Skype at the Annapolis City Council Meeting. I asked the Mayor and City Council to refine the ordinance to give some leeway for EVs and focus on the non-electric vehicles that are the main problem. I also pointed out that almost a year after the ordinance went into effect that there are still no signs and pavement markings required for enforcement. [testimony video] I submitted written comments explaining the issues in more detail.

The next day, I received an email from the Deputy City Manager who promised to work with City staff to get signs posted and get the spaces marked. However, they didn’t address the concern of the “actively charging” language in the current ordinance.

Yesterday, I submitted comments to the Annapolis Transportation Board, who I understand is a body that can make recommendations to the City Council. I asked the Board to consider making a recommendation to amend the ordinance to focus on penalizing cars that run on gasoline or diesel that are blocking the charging spots.

I suggested that signs could state the spots are for EV charging only but the law shouldn’t penalize them the moment they stop charging. I presented an example of someone charging their car overnight at a hotel. Are they expected to run out at 2:00 AM as soon as the battery is full in order to avoid a violation? My full comments to the Transportation Board and links to the discussion on the original bill are below.

Links to Discussion on Annapolis Anti-ICEing Ordinance O-14-20

Reference:
Annapolis City Ordinance 14-20 Details
Public Safety Committee meeting on 7/6/2020 Video
Transportation Committee meeting on 7/9/2020 Video
Annapolis City Council meeting on 7/13/2020 Video
Transportation Board meeting on 7/20/2020 Video

Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2021 Becomes Law

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021 Lanny

Will Fund Backlog of EV Tax Credit Applications

On May 28, 2021, Governor Hogan announced that he would allow a number of bills to become law without his signature. One of the bills on the list was HB 44, The Clean Cars Act of 2021, which authorizes the state’s EV tax credit funding.

PlugInSites followed the progress of electric vehicle legislation in the Maryland General Assembly this year. About half of the EV-related bills passed. In order to become law, they have to be approved by the Governor. The Governor can either sign the bill or let the bill become law without a signature, simply by not vetoing it.

The Maryland Electric Vehicle Tax Credit

The Clean Cars Act of 2021, as introduced, was to extend the state excise tax credit for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) for two more years. It also was to fund the backlog of applications from EV purchasers who are on the waitlist from the prior EV tax credit program.

The part of the bill that was to extend the EV excise tax credit was removed because of concern over a provision in the federal COVID-19 relief act that prohibits states from using any of the $195 billion of federal aid “to either directly or indirectly offset a reduction” in net tax revenue.

The bill passed with funding to satisfy the backlog of applicants. This is welcome news for the thousands of Maryland residents who have been waiting on their checks of up to $3,000. Some have been waiting for several years.

The law will extend the EV charging equipment rebate as well as increase the annual funding for that program. The Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program will be extended for two more years and the funding will increase from $1.2M to $1.8M annually.

For official information about the Maryland Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles, visit the MVA Website.

Legislation Tracker

Follow the progress of EV related legislation at the PlugInSites Electric Vehicle Legislation Tracker.

Annapolis Anti-ICEing Ordinance Needs Refinement and Official Signs

May 25, 2021September 28, 2022 Lanny

Signs Not Compliant

The City of Annapolis has an “anti-ICEing” ordinance that requires special signs and green pavement markings in order to be enforced. There continues to be complaints of gas vehicles blocking EV charging stations in the city especially at Pip Moyer Recreation Center where BGE installed a Level 2 station in 2019. The signs there do not comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) nor with the requirements of the city code.

Could Punish Innocent EV Drivers

The Annapolis anti-ICEing ordinance could potentially punish EV drivers who are not “actively charging” through no fault of their own. If the equipment fails mid charge or someone unplugs your car or you just misjudge the length of time your car needs to charge, Annapolis seems to apply the same $100 penalty for an electric vehicle that may unintentionally not be charging as for a gas guzzling SUV driver that ignores the sign. I am attempting to have the City Council reconsider this and clarify the code and fine schedule. I spoke to the Mayor and City Council via Skype at the May 24, 2021 meeting and submitted the written comments below.

Talking to Annapolis City Council via Skype

Formal Written Comments Delivered to Annapolis City Council on May 24, 2021

Last year the Annapolis City Council passed an ordinance (Code: 12.20.090.B) meant to keep people from blocking electric vehicle charging stations.

In order to be enforced, the EV charging spaces must be designated with signs and pavement markings with the following requirements:

1. Be at least eighteen inches high and twelve inches wide;

2. Be clearly visible to the driver of a motor vehicle entering the plug-in electric drive vehicle charging space;

3. State the maximum fine that may be incurred for a violation; and

4.Meet any applicable state and federal requirements for parking signs. A plug-in electric drive vehicle charging space shall also be indicated by green pavement markings.

I would like to bring to the council’s attention that EV charging stations on City-owned property, including the Pip Moyer Rec. Center, do not have signs that meet these requirements. This consequently means that the ordinance is unenforceable. I’ve seen gas pickup trucks and other non-electric vehicles blocking the charging station at Pip Moyer recently.

But more importantly, the Annapolis ordinance and penalty provisions could unintentionally punish EV drivers who may not be “actively charging” through no fault of their own.

The penalties in the FY 2021 Fines Schedule by Authority: R-27-20 is listed as follows:

Code Reference: 12.20.090.B. Description: Parking reserved for plug-in electric drive vehicles actively charging. Fine for Initial Offense: $100.00. Fine for Repeat or Continuous Violations: $100.00

I respectfully ask the Council to consider refining the language to focus this legislation exclusively on penalizing cars that run on gasoline or diesel that have no reason to be parking in an electric vehicle charging spot.

The wording, “electric drive vehicles actively charging” does not appear in the ordinance itself and there are occasions that an electric vehicle may have just finished charging or the equipment fails or someone unplugs a car that could lead to an electric car driver getting unfairly punished for trying to do the right thing by driving electric.

Thank you. Lanny Hartmann

Maryland Electric Vehicle Legislation Wrap-Up for 2021

April 13, 2021April 15, 2021 Lanny

Maryland Electric Vehicle Legislation in Annapolis

This was a good year for Maryland electric vehicle legislation. A number of bills that are of interest to EV drivers passed the legislature and have been sent to Governor Hogan to sign.

PlugInSites followed the progress of over a dozen electric vehicle related bills in the Maryland General Assembly in 2021. About half of the EV bills passed. In general, only about one in three bills pass in Annapolis in any given year, so we did pretty good.

Here is a brief rundown of what passed, what didn’t and what changes were made along the way.

The Maryland Electric Vehicle Tax Credit

The Clean Cars Act of 2021 (HB 44), as introduced, had several goals. First was to fund the backlog of applications from EV purchasers who are on the waitlist from the prior EV tax credit program. Then to extend the tax credit for two more years. And finally it was to extend the EV charging equipment rebate and increase annual funding. The good news is that the funding for the backlog stayed in the bill. That is welcome news for EV drivers who have been waiting for their checks of up to $3,000. In addition, the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program will be extended for two more years and the funding will increase from $1.2M to $1.8M annually.

Unfortunately, the part of the original bill to extend the EV excise tax credit was removed. This came about because of concern over a provision in the federal COVID-19 relief act that prohibits states from using any of the $195 billion of federal aid “to either directly or indirectly offset a reduction” in net tax revenue. For official information about the Maryland Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles, visit the MVA Website.

Pre-Wiring for EV Charging

House Bill HB 784 to encourage buyers of new residential housing units to pre-wire their homes for EV charging passed in the final hours of the session. This bill was sponsored by my representative, Delegate Jen Terrasa. I testified in support of this bill in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee along with EV advocate Paul Verchinski who is a big proponent of this legislation. This will ensure that home builders inform buyers that they have the option to include a Level 2 charging station or a dedicated electric line in their garage, carport or driveway. The builder must also provide information about EVSE rebate programs and other incentives.

Right-to-Charge

Maryland “Right to Charge” Bill Passes

April 8, 2021September 28, 2022 Lanny

Lifting Charging Restrictions at Condos and HOAs

Maryland Right to Charge — Map showing states that have passed “Right to Charge” legislation.

If your Maryland condominium or homeowners association ever said that you’re not allowed to install an EV charging station in your designated parking space, then you may soon have recourse. The General Assembly in Annapolis just passed a “Right to Charge” bill that would make Maryland the 9th state to remove such restrictions. The bill, (HB110) sponsored by Delegate Marc Korman of Montgomery County and cross-filed (SB144) by Senator Guy Guzzone of Howard County, is now headed to the Governor to be signed into law.

Maryland will join Florida, New York, Virginia, and five other states to prohibit HOAs and condo boards from arbitrarily denying permission for a homeowner to install an electric vehicle charging station. It would make void and unenforceable any covenants or restrictions of a condominium or homeowners association if they prohibit or unreasonably restrict the installation or use of electric vehicle recharging equipment in an owner’s deeded or designated parking space.

This bill gives homeowners the right to install a charging station in their parking spot as long as they pay for the costs of installation, maintenance, electricity and subsequent removal upon moving. Many people in Maryland live in housing that is governed by an HOA or condo board. Addressing the issue of charging at multi-family units is important to achieve the full potential of electric vehicle adoption in the state.

A Five Year Journey

This legislation has a history in Maryland going back at least five years. I’ve testified in support of Maryland Right to Charge since 2016. It seemed that the opposition from the HOA groups was strong and overwhelming back then. It seemed impossible to reconcile at the time. Consequently, the bills in 2016, 2017 and 2018 failed.

Virginia EV Rebate Legislation Proposed in 2021

January 12, 2021January 19, 2021 Lanny

Virginia House Bill 1979

Virginia Delegate David Reid of Loudoun County is proposing a rebate for Virginians who buy or lease an electric vehicle. The legislation will be introduced when the Virginia General Assembly convenes on January 13, 2021.

Used Vehicles Would Qualify

HB 1979 proposes that an individual who buys or leases a new or used electric motor vehicle from a dealer in Virginia and registers the vehicle in Virginia would be eligible for a $2,500 rebate. An additional $2,000 rebate would be available for certain income qualified individuals.

For the purposes of the rebate program, an electric motor vehicle “means a motor vehicle that uses electricity as its only source of motive power. ‘Electric motor vehicle’ includes fuel cell electric vehicles.”

UPDATE: I reached out to Delegate Reid to clarify if the bill would include incentives for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). He explained that right now, it does not include PHEVs or fleet vehicles. The reason being that there is a limited amount of money to get started with and they were looking for where the program could be scaled back in a way that they can achieve the environmental benefits of being able to get carbon out of the transportation sector in a manner that would provide the most bang for the buck. Given the budget constraints of the moment, the program is designed to begin by focusing just on battery electric vehicles.

Delegate Reid says he wants to be able to get consumers familiar with the idea that electric vehicles are a viable alternative for basic transportation. In the future, once the program moves forward and other sources of revenue are identified to fund the program, they can add plug-in hybrids, fleet vehicles and more.

Summary as Introduced

Electric vehicle rebate program; creation and funding; report. Creates a rebate program for the purchase or lease of new and used electric vehicles, to be administered by the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. A purchaser or lessee of an electric vehicle would receive a $2,500 rebate at the time of purchase, and a purchaser or lessee with an annual household income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level would be entitled to an additional $2,000 rebate. The motor vehicle dealer where the vehicle is purchased or leased would receive a refund for the amount of the rebate and a $50 incentive payment for each rebate processed. Funds would be allocated from the revenues generated by the sunset of the Virginia Coal Employment and Production Incentive Tax Credit and the Coalfield employment enhancement tax credit and prohibit the allocation of new credits on and after January 1, 2021. The bill also establishes an Electric Vehicle Rebate Advisory Council to oversee the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program and to make recommendations regarding its implementation. The Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is required to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the Program. The Program will expire on September 1, 2026.
Summary of Virginia HB 1979 as introduced.

Maryland EV Tax Credit Extension Proposed in Clean Cars Act of 2021

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 Lanny

Marylanders who purchased a plug-in electric vehicle since funds were depleted for the $3,000 state excise tax credit have been waiting to see if the legislature will reauthorize funding for the program. Purchasers were encouraged to file a form to reserve a place in the queue if and when additional funding is authorized.

There’s potential good news for those waiting on a Maryland EV tax rebate from a previous purchase and those considering buying an electric car in the future. The Clean Cars Act of 2021 (HB 44) proposes to extend and increase the funding for the Maryland electric vehicle excise tax credit. Annual funding would increase to as much as $26,000,000 through fiscal year 2023 under the proposal by Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo.

The Clean Cars Act of 2017 authorized an excise tax credit on plug-in electric cars for three years, from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020 subject to available funding which was limited to a maximum amount for each fiscal year.

Funding Backlog

Funds for the Maryland excise tax credit usually ran out early and applications were then held until the next round of funding was released and paid in the order that applications were received by the MVA. Satisfying the ever growing backlog meant that each year’s funding would run out sooner than the last. In May, 2019, a month before the release of the FY 2020 funds, the entire $6 million allocated for the final year authorized by the legislation was already spoken for by applicants on the waitlist who had already purchased.

In January, 2020, the Clean Cars Act of 2020 was introduced to extend the program for another three years. It also proposed to increase the annual funding from $6,000,000 to $12,000,000. Unfortunately, the bill didn’t pass before the Maryland General Assembly adjourned early due to COVID-19. In effect, the backlog of EV buyers waiting for funding to receive a rebate check extends back to May, 2019 at this point.

Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2021

Under the proposed Clean Cars Act of 2021:

Electric Vehicle Legislation Tracker – 2021

December 29, 2020April 13, 2021 Lanny

PlugInSites is tracking EV legislation in Maryland, Virginia and select bills of interest in other states. Check back often and subscribe below.

Pending Actions & Featured Bills

– New
Maryland General Assembly Session has ended for 2021.

State	Summary	Bill	Status	Update	Details
DE	EV Charging Fees	SB21	Enacted	9/17/2021	Permits State agencies to charge a fee for public or employee use of EV charging equipment installed by the agency so long as the fees do not exceed the agency’s costs.
NY	ZEV by 2035	S2758	Enacted	10/08/2021	Provides that one hundred percent of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks shall be zero-emissions by 2035
WA	Payment & Interop.	SB5192	Enacted	5/10/2021	EV charging station payment rules and interoperability standards.
OR	EV Charging in Parks	HB2290	Enacted	5/12/2021	EV charging stations in parking spaces at state parks.
OK	EV Charging Tax	HB2234	Enacted	4/22/2021	Imposes a tax of 3 cents per kWh on the electric current used to charge electric vehicles.
MD	Residential Construction	HB0784	Enacted	5/30/2021	Requiring a builder of new housing to provide buyer with the option to include EV charging.
MD	ZEV Bus Transition	SB0137	Enacted	5/30/2021	Prohibiting, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Maryland Transit Administration from purchasing buses for the Administration's State transit bus fleet that are not zero-emission buses
MD	EV Tax Credit	HB0044	Enacted	5/30/2021	Excise tax credit for electric vehicle purchases. (Amended to strike EV tax credit and only apply to backlog of previous EV purchases on the waitlist.)
MD	Climate Counsel	HB0030	Enacted	5/30/2021	Establish the Office of Climate Counsel in the Maryland Public Service Commission and include the Climate Counsel on ZEEVIC.
MD	HOA/Condo Charging	HB0110 (SB144)	Enacted	5/30/2021	Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment for Multifamily Units Act (Right-to-Charge)
MD	Comm EV Inspections	HB0250	Enacted	5/30/2021	Altering the mileage at which certain zero-emission Class F (tractor) vehicles are required to have the vehicle inspected.
MD	ZEV Bus Transition	HB0334 (SB0137)	Put into SB0414	2/12/2021	Prohibiting, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Maryland Transit Administration from purchasing buses for the Administration's State transit bus fleet that are not zero-emission buses
MD	Anti-ICEing	HB0480	❌ Died	4/12/2021	Prohibiting a person from parking a vehicle that is not connected to charging equipment in a space that is designated for charging plug-in electric vehicles.
MD	EV School Bus	HB0832	❌ Died	3/30/2021	Establishing the electric school bus pilot program
MD	ZEV State Fleet	HB0592	❌ Died	4/12/2021	Prohibiting, beginning in fiscal year 2023, a State unit from entering into a contract to purchase or lease a vehicle for the State vehicle fleet that is not a zero-emission electric vehicle.
MD	EV Charging Reimburse	HB1098	❌ Died	3/26/2021	Requiring State and local elected officials who use a State-owned EV charging station to charge a personal EV to reimburse the State for the electricity used.
MD	Anti-ICEing	SB0315	❌ Died	1/27/2021	Prohibiting stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle that is not a plug-in electric vehicle in a parking space that is designated for the use of plug-in electric vehicles.
MD	Tax Credit Funding	SB0152	❌ Died	1/19/2021	Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund – Use of Funds and Electric Vehicle Excise Tax Credits
MI	Charger Registration	HB4801	Active	10/14/2021	Registration procedure for electric vehicle charging stations.
MI	EVSP Licensing	HB4802	Active	10/14/2021	Licensing of electric vehicle charging station operators.
PA	EV Ready	HB0481 (HB0110)	Active	2/9/2021	Requiring new nonresidential buildings to provide electrical service capacity for electric vehicles.
NC	Anti-ICEing	HB296	✅ House (115-4)	4/01/2021	An act to regulate parking in an electric vehicle charging station.
NC	EV Tax Credit	SB592	Active	4/7/2021	Creating a $3,000 income tax credit for purchasers of a new plug-in electric vehicle.
PA	ZEV Tax Credit	HB0524 (HB0110)	Active	2/11/2021	Exclusions from Tax. The sale at retail or use of a zero-emission vehicle.
PA	ZEV Toll Discounts	HB0525 (HB0110)	Active	2/11/2021	10% discount on electronic toll collection.
WV	Anti-ICEing	HB2732	Postponed Indefinitely	3/10/2021	Establishing a penalty for any vehicle that is not a plug-in hybrid vehicle or plug-in electric vehicle for utilizing a parking space that is designated for charging an electric vehicle.
WV	Repeal EV Fee	SB0094	Adjourned	4/10/2021	Repealing additional registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles
WV	Repeal EV Fee	HB2223	Adjourned	4/10/2021	Repealing section of code authorizing additional registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles
WV	Repeal Hybrid Fee	HB2075	Adjourned	4/10/2021	Removing the registration fee for a vehicle operating on a combination of electricity and petrochemical fuels
NJ	EV Ready Redevelopment	A1653	✅ Passed	6/3/2021	Encourages development of zero-emission vehicle fueling and charging infrastructure in redevelopment projects.
NJ	EV Ready	S3223	✅ Passed	6/3/2021	Establishes numerical requirements and zoning standards for installation of electric vehicle supply equipment and Make-Ready parking spaces.
NJ	EV Charging Price	A2360	✅ Assy Senate	6/3/2021	Requires electric public utility to charge residential rate for service used by residential customer for electric vehicle charging at charging stations within certain designated parking spaces.
NJ	EV Charging Pricing	A5303	Active	1/27/2021	Prohibits timed-use and per-charge pricing, and excessive price increases, in sale of plug-in electric vehicle charging services.
NY	AV Task Force	S03909	✅ Senate in Assy	5/10/2021	Relates to establishing the New York task force on automated vehicle technology.
NY	EV Ready	S00023	✅ Senate in Assy	5/10/2021	Requires the construction of certain parking facilities to be capable of supporting electric vehicle charging stations
NY	EV Charging Tariff	S03929	✅ Passed	4/26/2021	Establishes an electric vehicle charging commercial tariff
NY	ZEV	S04097	✅ Senate in Assy	6/09/2021	Directs the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing targets for the sales of zero emissions medium and heavy duty vehicles.
NY	Direct Sales	S1763 (A4614)	Active	3/20/2021	Certificates of registration for entities that manufacture or assemble ZEVs and have no franchised motor vehicle dealers in New York
NY	Clean Car Standard	A862 (S2962)	Active	3/08/2021	Establishes the low carbon fuel standard of 2021.
NY	Fee Exemption	S05087	Active	2/23/2021	Exempts new clean fuel vehicles and vehicles that meet the clean vehicle standards from first year of registration fees.
NY	Sales Tax Exemption	S04476	Active	2/5/2021	Provides an exemption for the sale of the first $35,000 of a battery, electric, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle from state sales and compensating use taxes
NY	EV Ready	A00346	Active	1/6/2021	Requires certain state owned and operated parking garages, open parking lots and other parking facilities to install and maintain charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles.
NY	EV Ready	A03179	Active	1/22/2021	Requires electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle capable parking spaces
NY	EV Ready	A3435	Active	1/26/2021	EV infrastructure at all new residential and commercial construction that has dedicated off-street parking.
NY	EV Ready	S0370	Active	1/25/2021	Requires state owned and operated parking facilities to install EV charging stations.
MA	ICEing Fine	H.3499	Active	3/29/2021	subject to a fine of $100 for a first offense and $200 for a second or subsequent offense.
MA	ICEing Fine	H3502	Active	3/29/2021	subject to a fine of $100 for a first offense and $200 for a second or subsequent offense.
MA	HOA/Condo Charging	H3425	Active	3/29/2021	Right-to-Charge
CT	EV Direct Sales	SB0127	Active	4/13/2021	To permit electric vehicle manufacturers to sell electric vehicles directly to the consumer.
CT	EV Ready	HB5640	Active	1/27/2021	To provide prewiring for solar power and electric vehicle charging stations for all new residential construction.
RI	EV Ready & ICEing Fine	SB0173	❌ Died	6/29/2021	Installation of EV charging stations - Designated parking spaces.
IL	EV Ready	HB5640	Active	3/27/2021	EV ready at new or renovated residential or nonresidential buildings.
IN	Task Force	HB1220	Enacted	4/26/2021	Reestablishes the 21st century energy policy development task force.
IN	EV Charging Pilot	HB1385	❌ Died	1/14/2021	Authorizes an electric utility to request approval from the IURC to implement a pilot program to operate EV charging infrastructure.
OH	EV Charging Grant	SB0032	Active	2/22/2021	Establish electric vehicle charging station grant rebate program.
HI	EV Charging Enforcement	SB0756 (HB803)	Active	3/25/2021	Authorizes the establishment of penalties for failure to make reasonable efforts to maintain EV charging stations in working order. Clarifies that certain enforcement officers may enter private property to enforce EV parking space violations.
MN	EV Charging Tax	SF 602	Active	3/01/2021	Electric fuel distributed by a utility through an electric vehicle charging station at a public or private parking space tax imposition.
NV	EV Charging Tax	SB 191	❌ Died	4/10/2021	Imposing a surcharge on the sale of electric service to charge the battery of an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
MS	EV Charging Tax & Grants	HB1441	❌ Died	3/19/2021	To impose a fee on motor vehicles charged at qualified alternative-fuel fueling stations in this state.
VA	Clean Car Standards	HB1965	Enacted	2/19/2021	State Air Pollution Control Board; low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program
VA	Charging Plan	SB1223	Enacted	2/19/2021	Analysis of EV charging infrastructure needed to support the 2045 net-zero carbon target in the transportation sector.
VA	Vehicle Wt. Limits	HB1850	Enacted	2/18/2021	Passed House (98-0). Motor vehicle weight limits; vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power.
VA	SCC-Report	HB2282	Enacted	2/18/2021	Directs the State Corporation Commission to report on policy proposals to accelerate transportation electrification.
VA	EV Tax Credit	HB1979	Enacted	2/27/2021	Electric vehicle rebate program; creation and funding; report.
VA	EV Grant Fund	HB2118	Enacted	2/28/2021	Electric Vehicle Grant Fund and Program; creation; report.
VA	EV School Bus	SB1380	❌ Failed	2/28/2021	Electric utilities; electric school bus projects.

New York info provided by Long Island EVs

Maryland General Assembly Session Ends April 12, 2021

The 2021 Legislative Sessions in Maryland began on January 13th and will adjourn Sine Die at 11:59 PM on Monday April 12th. Any bills that have not passed both chambers by then will die and have to be reintroduced and start the process all over again next January in the 2022 session.

Right-to-Charge Bill Passed

Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council Releases 2020 Annual Report

December 2, 2020December 2, 2020 Lanny

This week, the Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council (ZEEVIC) released their 2020 Annual Report.

Prescribed by the Maryland Clean Cars Act

Under the Maryland Clean Cars Act, the body is required to submit an annual report of the Council’s work and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1st. This is to give the Governor and legislature time to study the information and prepare important Zero Emission Vehicle related bills for the lawmaking session which begins in January.

Formed as The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council (EVIC) in 2011

The Council was created by legislation introduced by Governor O’Malley in 2011 to coordinate integration of electric vehicles into Maryland communities and transportation system. It was originally called the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council (EVIC). EVIC included representatives of automobile manufacturers, dealers, charging equipment manufacturers, utility companies, electrical workers, state and local governments, energy and environmental experts.

Legislation sponsored by Governor Hogan in 2019 added representatives of the hydrogen fuel industry to the Council. The name was also changed to the Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council. Maryland had set a goal of 60,000 EVs on the road by 2020 and 300,000 by 2025. The 2020 ZEEVIC Report noted that 26,672 Plug-in Electric Vehicles were registered in Maryland as of September 30, 2020.

District of Columbia EV-Ready Bill

November 20, 2020November 20, 2020 Lanny

20% Make-Ready for Electric Vehicle Charging

Washington, DC is moving forward with legislation to require “make-ready” infrastructure for the future installation of electric vehicle charging equipment in new and renovated commercial buildings and multi-unit dwellings.

The DC Council voted unanimously this week to approve B23-0193, the Electric Vehicle Readiness Amendment Act of 2019. The bill still faces a final vote before it is sent to Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The bill states that “all new construction or substantial improvement of commercial buildings and multi-unit buildings that have 3 or more off-road automobile parking spaces shall include electric vehicle make-ready infrastructure to accommodate the future installation of an electric vehicle charging site at at least 20% of the parking spaces.”