HB870, the “Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act,” updates Maryland’s building and environmental regulatory framework for large new buildings. It requires the Maryland Department of Labor, by October 1, 2028, to adopt energy conservation requirements as part of the Maryland Building Performance Standards for new construction of covered buildings—generally commercial or multifamily residential buildings, or state-owned buildings, with at least 35,000 square feet of gross floor area, excluding parking garage area, and subject to the Department of the Environment’s building performance standards. The bill sets out the framework for those regulations, including requirements aimed at predicted annual net direct greenhouse gas emissions of zero, site energy use intensity performance targets, and rules for credits or performance thresholds that are not supposed to favor one fuel type over another in a way that lowers average efficiency standards.
The bill also requires local governments, beginning July 1, 2026, to notify the Department of the Environment within 10 business days after accepting a permit application for a qualifying new building. That notice must include the building address, permit application number, square footage, building type, planned energy sources, and owner contact information. In addition, the bill allows local jurisdictions to adopt stricter energy conservation requirements than the state baseline, and if a local jurisdiction already has stricter rules, the building must meet those more stringent local requirements. The bill also preserves the possibility of waivers for measures that cannot reasonably be implemented, including where technology is unavailable.
In practical terms, HB870 amends both the Environment Article and the Public Safety Article. It adds a new notice requirement for permit applications and creates a new section directing the Department of Labor to establish energy conservation standards for certain large new buildings. It also modifies the Maryland Building Performance Standards statute to recognize the new section and to coordinate state building code requirements with the Department of the Environment’s building performance standards for covered buildings. The bill is prospective only and does not apply to projects already in the pipeline before its effective date of October 1, 2026.
The general sentiment reflected in the voting history appears supportive but not unanimous. The bill passed third reading in the House by 88-36 and in the Senate by 38-9, indicating broad bipartisan approval with a meaningful minority of opposition. No committee transcript was provided, so the record does not show detailed floor or committee debate, but the vote margins suggest the bill was viewed favorably overall as a climate and building-efficiency measure.
The main points of contention likely center on the bill’s regulatory reach and compliance costs for developers, builders, and property owners of large commercial and multifamily projects. Potential concerns include the feasibility of achieving zero direct greenhouse gas emissions, the administrative burden of new permit-notification requirements, and whether state or local energy standards could become more stringent over time. Supporters likely view the bill as a way to improve building efficiency, reduce emissions, and give regulators better information about major new construction projects.
HB870 adds a new state framework for energy conservation requirements in the construction of large covered buildings and requires local permit-notification to the Department of the Environment for qualifying projects. It amends the Public Safety Article’s Maryland Building Performance Standards provisions and adds a new Environment Article section, affecting state agencies, local jurisdictions, developers, and owners of large new commercial, multifamily, and state-owned buildings. The bill also preserves local authority to adopt stricter standards and creates a prospective-only application rule for projects already underway.
The bill appears generally favorable in the legislature, as shown by its passage in both chambers with comfortable margins, though not without opposition. The vote totals suggest broad support for stronger building-energy standards and greenhouse-gas reduction measures, alongside some concern about regulatory burden or implementation details. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record does not show detailed debate, but the overall legislative posture is positive.
Likely areas of contention include whether the new standards are too stringent for builders and owners of large projects, whether the zero-direct-emissions framework is practical by the 2028 regulatory deadline, and how much discretion local governments should retain to impose even stricter requirements. Another possible point of dispute is the bill’s fuel-type neutrality language, which appears designed to prevent compliance rules from favoring one energy source over another. Supporters likely emphasize emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and better oversight of major construction projects, while opponents likely focus on cost, feasibility, and administrative complexity.