What to know about Maryland's new laws taking effect July 1
New laws took effect in Maryland on July 1, including the Utility Relief Act which offers electric bill savings and streamlines the permit process for data centers utilizing batteries and solar power. This aims to encourage more sustainable energy solutions for data center development within the state.
Several new laws passed during Maryland's 2026 legislative session officially took effect on July 1. Among them is the Utility Relief Act, a measure designed to provide financial relief to residents through an average of $150 in annual savings on electric bills, with greater assistance for lower-income households.
A key component of the Utility Relief Act also directly impacts the data center industry by expediting the permit process for facilities that integrate batteries and solar power into their energy infrastructure. This regulatory change aims to streamline development for data centers adopting more sustainable and resilient power solutions within the state.
Other significant legislation includes the Phone Free Schools Act, mandating each county to devise and implement plans for school-wide phone bans by the 2027-2028 school year. Additionally, new requirements now compel public community colleges to offer access to over-the-counter contraception and oblige higher education institutions with on-campus housing to provide free menstrual hygiene products in student health centers by August 2028. Governor Wes Moore highlighted another law granting the Maryland Department of Health secretary authority to issue immunization recommendations based on scientific clinical guidance, stating it "decouples the state's vaccine authority from the federal government's."