2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Planning and Zoning

The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) actively engaged in the 2026 General Assembly session, particularly on planning and zoning policies that would have shaped future data center development across the state. MACo successfully opposed two key pieces of legislation, House Bill 1411 (Data Center Planning and Transparency Act) and Senate Bill 992 (Public Utilities – Large Load Customers – Registration and Demand Response Program), which ultimately did not pass. House Bill 1411 proposed a statewide approach to managing data centers, requiring large-scale operators to report their environmental and resource impacts to state and local agencies. It also mandated that jurisdictions with over 10,000 residents create formal plans for managing these facilities by 2027. MACo opposed this bill, arguing it would have undermined local land use authority and imposed unfunded planning mandates on counties. Similarly, Senate Bill 992 aimed to establish a framework for large load customers, primarily data centers, to provide information to the Public Service Commission (PSC) before interconnecting to Maryland's power grid. While Maryland grapples with accommodating rapid data center expansion, MACo advocated for a framework that supports informed decision-making, protects ratepayers, and considers local infrastructure capacity. This bill also failed to pass. MACo's efforts focused on preserving local government flexibility in planning and zoning, balancing growth with preservation, and ensuring that statewide policies consider the unique needs and capacities of individual counties.