SS/SCS/SB 970 - This act provides that when calculating an enrollee's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket max or any cost-sharing requirement under a health benefit plan, a health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall include any amounts paid by the enrollee or paid on behalf of the enrollee for any medication for which a generic substitute is not available. Additionally, no health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall design benefits in a manner that takes into account the availability of any cost-sharing assistance program for any medication for which a generic drug substitute is not available. The provisions of this act shall apply to health benefit plans entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after August 28, 2026. This act is similar to HB 79 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in SB 45 (2025), and similar to provisions in SB 187 (2025), SB 512 (2025), SB 1106 (2024), SB 844 (2024), SB 1190 (2024), HCS/HB 442 (2023), HB 1628 (2024), SB 269 (2023), and SB 1031 (2022). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Travis Fitzwater

Howard County: DPZ must consider whether pedestrian infrastructure can offset minimum parking for new construction, potentially reducing spaces but not guaranteeing cuts.

Informal Calendar S Bills for Perfection

SB 970 — Howard County: Planning & Zoning — Parking Space Requirements for New Construction (Ho. Co. 13–25)

Status (selected)
- Introduced: January 28–29, 2025 (by Howard County Senators)
- Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee
- Public hearing scheduled: March 11, 2025 (1:00 p.m.)
- Proposed effective date: October 1, 2025 (if enacted)

Purpose
- Require the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) to consider whether pedestrian infrastructure can offset the need to construct mandatory minimum parking spaces for new construction projects. The measure is intended to add an explicit pedestrian-accessibility consideration into the county’s determination of minimum required parking.

Key provisions
- Adds a new section (proposed § 3.107) to the Public Local Laws of Howard County.
- Definitions:
- “Building” — a structure with exterior walls forming an occupiable structure (excludes certain temporary structures under the county building code).
- “New construction” — construction of a building requiring a Howard County building permit.
- Substantive requirement:
- When establishing the minimum number of mandatory parking spaces for new construction, the DPZ must consider whether pedestrian infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian access to transit or nearby destinations) could offset the need to construct some or all of the required parking spaces.
- No numeric parking reductions specified in the bill; it creates a required consideration for county decision-making rather than an automatic entitlement to reduce parking.
- Effective date provision: Act to take effect October 1, 2025.

Who is affected
- Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning (administrative standard for review).
- Developers and applicants for building permits for new construction in Howard County (may be asked to document pedestrian infrastructure and accessibility).
- Property owners, residents, and the local environment (potential downstream effects on parking supply, pedestrian connectivity, stormwater/impervious surface, and development costs).

Potential impacts and considerations
- Practical effect is likely increased flexibility: DPZ could allow fewer parking spaces where robust pedestrian infrastructure reduces demand.
- Because the bill mandates consideration but does not set specific criteria or automatic reductions, outcomes will depend on DPZ implementation and any supporting guidance or standards adopted by the county.
- Could reduce development costs and impervious coverage for projects that demonstrate strong pedestrian access; could also encourage more walkable, transit-oriented design.
- Fiscal impact for the county is expected to be minimal; implementation mainly involves planning/administrative review rather than new expenditures.

Related
- Companion/related local bills may address parking, zoning, or transportation policy; implementation may intersect with Howard County zoning standards and site-plan review processes.