Bill
SB 913
SB 913 creates a Maryland program to register, test, and regulate public EV charging for reliability (97% uptime) and consumer protections.
Status and timeline
- Introduced: January 24, 2025 (Sen. Hettleman). Hearing held Feb 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.; reported favorably out of committee May 5, 2025 and recommended for local & uncontested calendar. Companion: HB 1039.
- Effective date in bill: July 1, 2025. MDA must adopt implementing regulations by December 1, 2025 (uncodified provision). Registration compliance dates: equipment placed in service before Oct 1, 2025 may not be used after Oct 1, 2026 unless registered; equipment placed in service on/after Oct 1, 2025 may not be used after Jan 1, 2026 unless registered.
Purpose and intent
The bill creates a statewide registration, testing, reliability, consumer-protection, inspection, decommissioning, and reporting framework for public electric vehicle supply equipment (EV charging stations) under the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) weights and measures program, in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Key provisions
- New Subtitle 5 (Art. — Agriculture, §§11–501 to 11–509) defining terms (public/private/shared private EVSE, uptime, public funds).
- Registration: Owners of public EVSE must register with the Secretary of Agriculture, display a certificate on each unit, renew annually, and pay fees set to cover program costs. Fees are deposited to the Weights and Measures Fund.
- Exemptions: private EVSE, shared private EVSE (no fee; limited user groups), and EVSE already registered with the Comptroller or PSC.
- Testing and standards: MDA must establish a program to test weight/measure aspects of EVSE and ensure conformity with NIST Handbook 44.
- Reliability/reporting and consumer standards: MDA (with PSC) must set standards including power output, connector types, hours, fees, payment methods, uptime, labeling, language/payment options, employee training. Uptime must be measured (hours and days) and be at least 97%. Owners may designate third parties to comply.
- Enforcement and penalties: MDA may inspect on complaint, establish decommissioning process, and adopt regulations (to be consistent with NEVI where practicable). Civil penalties for reliability/reporting violations tied to publicly funded equipment may be imposed (penalties payable to the General Fund). Certain existing civil-penalty alternatives under Title 11 do not apply to Subtitle 5 violations.
- Reporting: Annual compilation of reliability/reporting information to the Comptroller, PSC, and General Assembly by July 1, beginning 2026.
Who is affected
- Charging station owners/operators (including public agencies and private operators) — must register, meet testing and reliability/consumer standards, and potentially pay fees and penalties.
- Third‑party network operators if designated for compliance.
- EV drivers/consumers — benefit from consumer protections (payment options, labeling, uptime standards).
- MDA, PSC, Comptroller — administrative and oversight responsibilities.
- Small businesses and local governments may face compliance costs (fiscal note flags potential meaningful effects for small businesses).
Fiscal impact (from fiscal note)
- Special fund revenues and expenditures estimated to increase by $636,500 in FY 2026 (fees deposited to Weights and Measures Fund); annualization and inflation thereafter.
- General fund expenditures increase significantly beginning FY 2026 (fiscal note estimates potentially > $3.0 million in FY 2026 and ~$1.0 million annually thereafter) for administrative/implementation costs; general fund revenues increase minimally.
- Local governments: costs assumed absorbable within existing resources.
Overall effect
SB 913 establishes a regulatory regime aimed at ensuring accuracy, reliability (97% uptime minimum), consumer protections, and centralized oversight for public EV charging infrastructure in Maryland, funded primarily by registration/renewal fees and administered by MDA in coordination with PSC.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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