Bill > HB651

This bill expands the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) from five to seven commissioners, with specific regional representation requirements. The bill mandates that the seven commissioners must be selected to represent different regions of Maryland: one from Western Maryland (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties), one from Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties), one from the Eastern Shore (nine counties), two from Central Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Harford, Howard, and Baltimore City), and two from the Capital Region (Montgomery and Prince George's counties). Each commissioner must be a registered voter in the state, and the commission must reflect geographic and demographic diversity. The bill also changes how the Chair is appointed, with the Governor selecting the Chair from among the commissioners. Additionally, the bill requires the PSC to submit a slate of nominees for the two new commissioner positions by August 1, 2025, specifically seeking candidates from Western and Southern Maryland. The new commissioners will have five-year terms, serve full-time, and can be removed by the Governor for incompetence or misconduct. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, and will not impact the terms of current commissioners.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0651?ys=2025RS