House Labor and Commerce panel advances broad package of labor, insurance and energy bills

The House Committee on Labor and Commerce met Feb. 13 and reported a large package of bills to the full House, moving measures addressing prevailing wages, health-insurance requirements, workplace safety, consumer protections, data-center reporting and solar project rules.

The committee—chaired in this session by Cheryl Maldonado—received subcommittee reports that recommended carrying several bills over to the 2027 session, while reporting most items to the House with amendments or substitutes. Notable bills advanced included HB 569, a prevailing-wage measure referred to Appropriations; HB 1400, requiring maternal mental-health screenings under health plans; HB 944, setting workplace-violence policy requirements for employers of 100 or more employees; HB 1092, directing the Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt heat-illness prevention regulations; and a set of bills regulating solar projects and contractor disclosures.

Why it matters: the committee’s actions move a cluster of policies closer to final consideration by the full House. Bills referred to Appropriations may need budgetary review before floor action; measures that create new regulatory duties for agencies or new private remedies could have legal and fiscal implications for employers and regulated industries.

Key outcomes: the committee reported many bills by voice or roll-call votes; several measures carried close tallies. HB 1400 (maternal mental-health screenings) reported 13–7; HB 569 (prevailing wage) reported with substitute and was referred to Appropriations 13–7; HB 944 (workplace violence policies) reported with substitute 13–7; HB 1092 (heat-illness prevention) reported with substitute 13–7 amid recorded objections; HB 1173 (menopause accommodations) reported 11–5. Several utility and energy-related bills, including HB 284 (demand-flexibility programs) and HB 1439 (residential solar contractor disclosures), advanced on unanimous or strongly favorable rolls.

Member remarks and dissent: Delegate Kilgore expressed opposition to HB 1092 on the ground that the bill creates a separate private cause of action outside of workers’ compensation and would be better addressed within existing workers’ compensation law. Other members voiced support for several utility and consumer-protection measures, noting amendments and substitutes addressed prior concerns.

What’s next: reported bills will go to the House floor or to Appropriations where specified. Continuations were recorded for several bills slated for 2027. The committee adjourned and announced tentative future meetings.

Votes at a glance: HB 1400 — reported 13–7; HB 569 — reported with substitute and referred to Appropriations 13–7; HB 944 — reported with substitute 13–7; HB 1092 — reported with substitute 13–7; HB 1173 — reported 11–5; HB 1218 — reported 20–0; HB 1439 — reported with substitute 20–0; HB 284 — reported with substitute 20–0.