Our Testimony

This page archives written testimony submitted by Maryland Climate Partners to the Maryland General Assembly on priority legislation. These materials reflect the coalition’s collective policy positions and advocacy across climate, equity, and public health issues.

2026

• HB 1040 - Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund - Mandated Uses - Climate Change Programs
  Requires a portion of Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund revenues to be directed toward climate change programs and initiatives.
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | March 4 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• SB 781 / HB 1268 - CHERISH Our Communities Act
  Clarifies the Maryland Department of the Environment's authority to consider cumulative environmental and public health impacts when making permitting decisions.
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | March 13 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)
  Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee | March 3 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• SB 780 / HB 1287 - CHERISH Our Communities Act
  Clarifies the Public Service Commission's authority to consider cumulative environmental and public health impacts when evaluating applications under its jurisdiction.
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | March 13 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)
  Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee | March 3 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• SB 590 / HB 1199 - Climate Crisis Equity Act
  Strengthens Maryland's climate equity mandates by ensuring that climate investments and programs prioritize communities most burdened by pollution and climate impacts.
  Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee | February 26 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | March 4 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• HB 870 - Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act
  Establishes energy performance and decarbonization standards for large commercial and multifamily buildings in Maryland.
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | February 25 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• HB 572 – Climate Crimes Accountability Act
  Creates legal accountability mechanisms for entities that knowingly engaged in disinformation campaigns to obstruct climate action.
  House Judiciary Committee | February 17 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• SB 59 / HB 437 – Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026
  Requires Maryland's transportation planning and investment decisions to align with the state's climate emissions reduction goals.
  Senate Budget and Taxation Committee | February 25 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)
  House Appropriations Committee | February 10 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

2025

• SB 804 / HB 973 – Better Buildings Act of 2025
  Sets energy efficiency and building performance standards for existing buildings to reduce emissions from Maryland's built environment.
  Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee | February 27 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | February 26 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)

• SB 978 / HB 1484 – Cumulative Harms to Environmental Restoration for Improving Shared Health (CHERISH Our Communities Act)
  Establishes a framework for evaluating and addressing cumulative environmental harms affecting overburdened communities across Maryland agencies.
  House Environment and Transportation Committee | March 11 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)
  Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee | February 28 | Favorable Testimony (PDF)