HB981 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Investor-Owned Public Service Companies - Base Rate Proceeding - Equity Market Return.

What is the status of HB981?

Failed as of March 2, 2026. Latest action: Withdrawn by Sponsor (March 2, 2026).

Andre Johnson (D, HD-034), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB981?

On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0981?ys=2026RS

Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session

Maryland HB981: Investor-Owned Public Service Companies - Base Rate Proceeding - Equity Market Return

Q: What does HB981 do?

In its own words: A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Investor-Owned Public Service Companies - Base Rate Proceeding - Equity Market Return FOR the purpose of requiring the Public Service Commission, in a base rate proceeding, to determine a certain equity market return for certain public service companies; authorizing the Commission to adjust certain rates based on the equity market return; and generally relating to public service company base rate proceedings. BY adding to Article - Public Utilities Section 4-206.2 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement).

Status: Failed, March 2, 2026

Requiring the Public Service Commission, in a base rate proceeding, to determine a certain equity market return for certain public service companies; and authorizing the Commission to adjust certain rates based on the equity market return.

What the bill says

A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Investor-Owned Public Service Companies - Base Rate Proceeding - Equity Market Return FOR the purpose of requiring the Public Service Commission, in a base rate proceeding, to determine a certain equity market return for certain public service companies; authorizing the Commission to adjust certain rates based on the equity market return; and generally relating to public service company base rate proceedings. BY adding to Article - Public Utilities Section 4-206.2 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement).

From the introduced text, February 6, 2026:

A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Investor-Owned Public Service Companies - Base Rate Proceeding - Equity Market Return FOR the purpose of requiring the Public Service Commission, in a base rate proceeding, to determine a certain equity market return for certain public service companies; authorizing the Commission to adjust certain rates based on the equity market return; and generally relating to public service company base rate proceedings. BY adding to Article - Public Utilities Section 4-206.2 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Public Utilities 4-206.2. (A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY THAT IS AN INVESTOR-OWNED GAS COMPANY, AN INVESTOR-OWNED ELECTRIC COMPANY, OR A COMBINATION INVESTOR-OWNED GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY. (B) (1) IN A BASE RATE PROCEEDING TO SET JUST AND REASONABLE RATES FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY UNDER THIS TITLE, THE COMMISSION EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb0981* HOUSE BILL SHALL DETERMINE THE CURRENT AVERAGE EXPECTED 10-YEAR UNITED STATES EQUITY MARKET RETURN. (2) THE COMMISSION SHALL USE MULTIPLE OBJECTIVE SOURCES TO DETERMINE THE EQUITY MARKET RETURN UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. (C) THE COMMISSION MAY ADJUST …

Maryland HB981: Investor-Owned Public Service Companies - Base Rate Proceeding - Equity Market Return

What the bill says

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