HB 1459

HOUSE BILL 1459
     E4, M5  6lr3208
  CF 6lr3618
     By: Delegates Jacobs, Adams, Arentz, Ghrist, and Hutchinson
     Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
     Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
  A BILL ENTITLED
1 AN ACT concerning
2Public Safety – Stationary Energy Storage Systems
3 FOR the purpose of requiring an owner or operator of a stationary energy storage system
4      to pay for certain fire response training and equipment for certain local fire
5      departments with certain fire suppression responsibilities; requiring the State Fire
6      Marshal to administer and enforce this Act; and generally relating to battery energy
7      storage system safety.
8 BY adding to
9      Article – Public Safety
10      Section 12–707
11      Annotated Code of Maryland
12      (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
13SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
14 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
15Article – Public Safety
16 12–707.
17      (A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, AN OWNER OR
18 OPERATOR OF A STATIONARY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM SHALL PAY FOR
19 SPECIALIZED FIRE RESPONSE TRAINING, INCLUDING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT FOR
20 BATTERY ENERGY FIRE SUPPRESSION, FOR EACH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT
21 HAS FIRE SUPPRESSION RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE AREA IN WHICH THE STATIONARY
22 ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM IS LOCATED.
23(2)
  THE FIRE RESPONSE TRAINING PROVIDED UNDER PARAGRAPH
24 (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
     EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
  [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
  *hb1459*
2HOUSE BILL 1459
1 ASSOCIATION (NFPA) 855 STANDARD FOR THE INSTALLATION OF STATIONARY
2 ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS.
3      (B)   THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL:
4(1)   SHALL ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THIS SECTION; AND
5(2)   MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.
6SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
7 October 1, 2026.