EV Legislative Update, March 15, 2020

Maryland Legislature to Adjourn Early

The leaders of the Maryland General Assembly announced today that the 2020 session will adjourn on Wednesday March 18th due to the coronavirus outbreak. The 90-day session was scheduled to run through April 6th. This will be the first time since the Civil War that the Maryland lawmaking session has closed early.

EV Related Bills in Limbo

With the abbreviated session and the lawmakers focusing on emergency legislation related to the COVID-19 crisis and getting the budget passed, legislation related to electric vehicle issues will be strained. The House and Senate were in session over the weekend and two bills that we are tracking made some movement.

Electric Buses

HB 432 which would require the MTA to transition to electric buses beginning in fiscal year 2022, passed in the House 113-21. HB 1481, which would lengthen the time a zero emission electric school bus could operate from 12 to 15 years, passed second reading on the House floor.

ZEEVIC Reauthorization

A bill to extend the Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council (ZEEVIC) until June 30, 2026 has a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee Monday morning at 10:00. The fact that this hearing was put on the schedule indicates that it probably has been given some priority to get done before Sine Die.

Clean Cars Act of 2020 Uncertain

Three bills are in play to extend the Maryland excise tax credit for electric vehicles. Governor Hogan put forth a proposal for $12 million per year funding for the next three years. Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo sponsored his version that would have more funding and would also limit the EVs that would be eligible to cars with battery sized over 30 kWh. So far we’ve seen no movement on any of those bills but we are watching closely.

For daily updates see the PlugInSites Electric Vehicle Legislation Tracker

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