Over 3,000 Bills Are Having Committee Hearings Budget Crisis Looms Over Everything

                                Over 3,000 Bills Are Having Committee Hearings

Budget Crisis Looms Over Everything

 The Maryland Legislative Session lasts 90 days and the legislative process in Annapolis has basically four stages.

In the first part of the session, legislators introduce bills and the Governor, and the General Assembly Leadership present their priority packages.  Phase 1 ended the first week of February when we passed the deadline for the timely introduction of legislation.   Over 3,000 bills and resolutions were introduced. 

In the second phase, House and Senate Committees have hearings on every bill introduced. (Not every state mandates hearings on every bill.  It is in the Maryland constitution.)  This occurs during February when Committees in both chambers meet for long hours to receive public testimony on each bill.

In the third phase, the House and Senate Committees vote on bills and if the vote is favorable, they are debated and voted on by the Senate and /or the House of Delegates.  This phase ends on March 11^th, Crossover Day.   That is the deadline for a bill to be passed by one house to be heard in a timely manner by the other chamber of the legislature.

In the last phase each chamber of the legislature has to hear the bill voted on by the other chamber.  Both chambers have to vote on the exact same version of the bill, and this has to be done by midnight of the 90^th day of the Session (Sine Die) which this year is Monday April 7^th.

Bills passed by both chambers are sent to the Governor for his signature. He has 30 days to sign or veto a bill.  If a bill is vetoed (doubtful with a Democratic Governor and legislature) it can be over-ridden by the legislature when they go back in session the next year or with a special session

Budget Deficit Casts Big Shadow over Annapolis

This legislative session is unique in that the looming budget deficit Maryland of over $3 billion is what everybody is talking about.  Governor Moore has proposed over $2 billion in budget cuts and $1 billion in new revenue.  In addition, there is the possibility of massive cuts in Federal grants and programs which could raise the deficit up to $6 billion and the impact of the layoffs and firings of Federal workers who live in Maryland.  There are approximately 160,000 federal civilian jobs in our state.   The legislature has to pass a balanced budget by the end of the legislative session.  Both chambers are expected to vote on the budget by March 31^st. 

            Governor Moore’s Budget will have House and Senate hearings on his budget on.  Many of the changes will be in the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 (HB 352). There will be an important hearing on that bill on February 27^th at 1 PM and February 28^th at noon.   You can watch the televised hearing at the MGA Website:  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0352     

Some Important Bills

            One important bill that has already made progress in that it was voted favorably by the House of Delegates was:

HB 211 Delegate Foley – This bill allows Graduate Assistants who are teaching at one of the University of Maryland System institutions to form unions and bargain with their university.  They currently do not have that right.  A companion bill has been introduced to allow University Professors to have the same right.

                Over the last few years, I have been working with the Maryland Legislative Coalition (https://mdlegislative.com ).  We regularly review the bills that have been introduced and then let people know about them and how they can advocate for them.  I will be copying their material from now on rather than rewriting what’s already been done.

Criminal Justice

SB0827 HB1107 Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations mitigate the negative impacts of restrictive housing, i.e., solitary confinement, on minors by limiting its use and ensuring humane conditions, which promotes better rehabilitation and reduces recidivism rates. Committees: Senate Judicial Proceedings and House Judiciary

 

HB0836 County Police Accountability Boards - Investigation of Complaints of Police Misconduct authorizes county police accountability boards to exercise investigatory and subpoena powers, allowing them to conduct independent investigations of police misconduct concurrently with law enforcement agencies. This bill aims to transform PABs from advisory boards to accountability boards, providing them with the necessary tools to conduct investigations free from interference. Committee: House Judiciary

Education  
HB0986 New Teachers - Retention Program would compel each county board of education to establish a new teacher retention program. By supporting new teachers through mentorships and more, this bill aims to improve student outcomes and create a more stable and effective educational environment. House Ways and Means Committee.

Elections

SB0633 HB0906 Campaign Finance - Political Organizations - Disclosures on Solicitations (Stop Scam PACs Act) mandates that organizations’ fundraising using a candidate's name, image, or likeness must disclose that the candidate was not involved and that donations may not be tax-deductible. Violations incur both civil and criminal penalties, and the offending entity would be temporarily prohibited from soliciting donations. Committees: Education, Energy, and the Environment plus Ways and Means

Environment  
HB0069 Environment - Plastic Products - Postconsumer Recycled Content Program states plastic beverage containers must contain at least 50% postconsumer recycled content by 2033. Rigid plastic containers must contain at least 40% postconsumer recycled content by 2034. By setting minimum recycled content among other requirements, the bill checks a lot of boxes by aiming to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, conserve resources, and reduce waste sent to landfills and incinerators. House Environment and Transportation Committee.

Gun Control

HB0180 Public Safety - Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program creates a program that offers assistance and support to eligible victims and their families to ensure their safety and well-being through relocation. The purpose is to ameliorate immediate threats and psychological impacts, while providing a chance for victims to escape violent environments and rebuild their lives in a secure setting. Committee: House Judiciary

Health Care
SB0614 HB1020 Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act promotes fair credit practices by protecting consumers from the adverse effects of medical debt on their credit reports. The bill helps ensure medical debt does not disproportionately affect individuals' ability to access credit and financial opportunities, which would compound the impact of a health event. Committee: Health Government Operations

Housing

SB0856 Mold - Landlord Requirements and Regulations (Maryland Tenant Mold Protection Act) requires landlords to perform mold assessments and remediation within 45 days after receiving notice. These measures are designed to protect tenants' health by ensuring prompt and effective mold remediation, which is particularly important for vulnerable populations like children. Committees: Judicial Proceedings and Education, Energy, and the Environment

Immigration
SB0828 Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would require the Attorney General to develop guidelines for immigration enforcement at sensitive locations. Given the current environment, we need a bill to protect vulnerable individuals and communities by limiting immigration enforcement activities at locations such as schools, medical facilities, places of worship, childcare centers, and other locations designated by the Attorney General. Committee: Senate Judicial Proceedings

SB0977 Maryland Data Privacy Act would compel law enforcement agencies and units of state or local government to deny access to personal information and photographs unless presented with a valid warrant issued by a federal or state court. It also mandates the Attorney General to enforce these provisions and outline disciplinary actions for state employees who violate the act. Committee: Senate Judicial Proceedings

HB1431 State and Local Agencies - Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law - Restrictions on Access to Information (Maryland Data Privacy Act) mandates that state and local agencies deny access to personal data for federal immigration enforcement without a valid warrant and prohibits the use of facial recognition technology for this purpose. By ensuring that personal data remains protected, the bill provides an additional layer of security and fosters trust among Maryland residents, particularly within immigrant communities. Committee: House Judiciary

          Revenue

HB 1014/SB 859: Fair Share for Maryland Act is designed to address our budget shortfall in an equitable manner. Here’s what the Act aims to achieve:

·         Close corporate tax loopholes most other states have addressed, leveling the playing field for small businesses.

·         Fix our upside-down tax system by ensuring the wealthiest 1% of Marylanders contribute their fair share in taxes.

·         Expand working family tax credits, providing more support to hardworking families.

·         Generate $1.6 billion per year in new revenue, significantly boosting our state’s financial health.

Committees: House Ways and Means/Senate Budget and Taxation

 

Transportation

HB0517 SB0401 MARC Rail Authority Act of 2025 would create a dedicated authority to manage and improve the MARC rail service, WHERE NONE EXISTS! The bill also authorizes the MARC Rail Authority to issue revenue bonds to finance railroad facilities. Improved MARC rail services can reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a convenient and sustainable transportation option for commuters.  Committee: House Environment and Transportation

HB0958 SB0855 The Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025 includes requirements that a freight train must have a crew of at least two individuals or face fines of $10,000 to $25,000. A train operating on main lines in Maryland may not exceed 8,500 feet in length, unless granted an exception, or face a $10,000 penalty. That’s over a mile and a half! The bill also mandates the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to set up and oversee a system for reporting the transportation of hazardous materials and waste by rail. House Environment and Transportation Committee

 

HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR BILLS

 

When there is a Committee Hearing on A Bill Scheduled, it is important to contact members of the Committee.  The General Assembly website lists all the committees, the members of each committee and their contact information.  Go to the main page (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite) and click on the Committees tab.

 

Call or send an email to your legislators using the contact information found.   Here is where you can find out who are your Delegates and Senator:  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District.

 

If you would like to include a short description of the bills, you can include the descriptions shown above. You are also encouraged to include any details of why you think this bill is important.

 

Dear (legislator),

My name is _________ and my address is ______________.  I am writing to let you know that the following bill(s) is(are) important to me and to all Marylanders.  I would like to request that you be a champion for these bills and help them get passed quickly. 

Each of these bills is important for Maryland and I support them and would like your help in getting them passed.  If you are not on the relevant committee, I would appreciate your voting for them during the session.  If you are on the relevant committee, I hope you will fight for them and support the sponsors as much as possible.

Thank you for your consideration,

(name)

Impact of Trump Executive Orders, Budget Discussions and More Bills Are Introduced

While I usually write about the status of legislation in Annapolis, this year one must write about the big shadow over Annapolis and all of Maryland.  The re-election of Donald Trump will have a profound impact on the Maryland budget, legislation being passed in Maryland and on many Maryland residents.

            In the first two weeks President Trump issued over 50 Executive Orders many of which repealed multiple regulations and orders from previous administrations.  Many if not most will be challenged in the courts.  Some analysts have said that Trump is “flooding the zone” a football reference when many receivers are sent out to catch a pass.  We expect more executive actions to come on a daily basis.

 

            Some of the Executive Orders which have the most impact on Maryland residents are:

o   The pause on all federal grant programs.  This has been rescinded for now after it was blocked by a judge.  Maryland receives over $23 bill in federal grants.  These grants include: public safety grants to law enforcement, disaster relief, transportation projects, substance abuse treatment, biomedical research, K-12 and higher education, work programs, small business loans, veterans, arts institutions and and more.

o   Mandate that all Federal workers return to work.  Many Marylanders may have to leave their jobs.

o   Converting over 50,000 civil service positions into political positions in which people can be fired at will

o   Incentive for Federal employees to leave their jobs.  They will be paid through September 30th.

o   Deportation of undocumented MD residents, many of whom are our neighbors and pay taxes in Maryland. 

o   Pause on use of Federal Offshore lands for use of wind mills

o   Threat to cut off of Federal grants to institutions of higher education and local jurisdictions that teach or have DEI programs

 

Governor Moore’s Budget has been introduced and there will be House and Senate hearings on his proposals to raise $1 billion in revenue and cut $2 bill in important state services.  Many of the changes will be in the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 (HB 352). There will be an important hearing on that bill on February 25^th at 1 PM.  You can watch the televised hearing at the MGA Website:  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0352     

 

New Bills Introduced in the General Assembly

          The end of next week is the deadline for all bill to be introduced in the legislature and for them to be heard and voted on in a timely manner.  Already over 2,000 bills have been introduced and I expect 500-1000 more to be introduced next week.

                Over the last few years, I have been working with the Maryland Legislative Coalition (https://mdlegislative.com ).  We regularly review the bills that have been introduced and then let people know about them and how they can advocate for them.  I will be copying their material from now on rather than rewriting what’s already been done.

Criminal Justice

HB0634 SB0295 Income Tax - Income Tax Reconciliation Program - Established (Maryland Fair Taxation for Justice-Involved Individuals Act) allows justice-involved individuals to set up installment payment plans and receive waivers for interest and penalties on unpaid income taxes, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. This legislation is a powerful step towards economic justice and social equity, ensuring past mistakes don't lead to a lifetime of financial hardship.  Referred to House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

Environment

HB0340 Climate Change-Attorney General Actions, Climate Change Restitution Fund, and Climate Change Restitution Fund Advisory Council authorizes Maryland’s Attorney General to sue major fossil fuel companies, shifting the financial burden from Maryland families to polluters and creating a dedicated fund for addressing climate impacts. This bill addresses the fact that Maryland faces a severe budget shortfall, with climate-related damages draining taxpayer dollars and affecting funding for critical services. Referred to House Government Operations Committee.

HB0419 Natural Gas - Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (Ratepayer Protection Act) will introduce new requirements to the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Plan (STRIDE), ensuring that STRIDE spending is cost-effective, considers non-pipeline alternatives, prioritizes safety with modern leak-detection technology, and mandates utilities to provide customers with two years' notice on STRIDE work. Marylanders need gas utilities to maintain system safety, but overspending on new infrastructure doesn’t align with our climate goals or the interests of ratepayers. Referred to House Economic Matters Committee.

Housing

HB0817 SB0609 Residential Leases - Use of Algorithmic Device by Landlord to Determine Rent - Prohibition disallows the use of algorithmic devices that calculate rents by analyzing extensive nonpublic competitor data on rents by neighborhood to optimize profits and occupancy. However, these algorithms can escalate rents and overlook individual tenant circumstances, perpetuating existing biases and exacerbating Maryland’s housing crisis. Referred to House Environment and Transportation Committee and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee

HB0896 SB0677 Human Relations - Discrimination in Housing - Income-Based Housing Subsidies ensures fair housing opportunities for everyone, regardless of how they earn their income. Individuals and families using housing subsidies would have the same access to rental properties as anyone else and in inclusive communities that break down socio-economic barriers while combating housing instability. Referred to House Environment and Transportation Committee and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. 

HB0709 SB0651 Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction) Authorizing a county to adopt, by local law or ordinance, provisions prohibiting certain landlords of residential property from failing to renew a lease during the lease period or from terminating a holdover tenancy without good cause; establishing certain requirements and prohibitions for a local law or ordinance adopted in accordance with the Act; etc. Referred to House Environment and Transportation Committee and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. 

 

HB0767 SB0442 Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Procedures for Failure to Pay Rent, Breach of Lease, and Tenant Holding Over (Tenant Possessions Recovery Act) Requiring a landlord to provide certain notice to a tenant when a court has issued a warrant of restitution for a failure of a tenant to pay rent, a breach of lease, or a tenant holding over under certain circumstances; establishing certain procedures and requirements for the execution of a warrant for repossession; providing for the disposition of certain personal property following the execution of a warrant of restitution; etc. Referred to House Environment and Transportation Committee and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. 

 

HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR BILLS

 

When there is a Committee Hearing on A Bill Scheduled, it is important to contact members of the Committee.  The General Assembly website lists all the committees, the members of each committee and their contact information.  Go to the main page (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite) and click on the Committees tab.

 

Call or send an email to your legislators using the contact information found.   Here is where you can find out who are your Delegates and Senator:  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District.

 

If you would like to include a short description of the bills, you can include the descriptions shown above. You are also encouraged to include any details of why you think this bill is important.

 

Dear (legislator),

My name is _________ and my address is ______________.  I am writing to let you know that the following bill(s) is(are) important to me and to all Marylanders.  I would like to request that you be a champion for these bills and help them get passed quickly. 

Each of these bills is important for Maryland and I support them and would like your help in getting them passed.  If you are not on the relevant committee, I would appreciate your voting for them during the session.  If you are on the relevant committee, I hope you will fight for them and support the sponsors as much as possible.

Thank you for your consideration,

(name)

 

Governor Moore Introduces His Budget and Some New Bills of Interest

 

            On Wednesday January 15^th, Governor Moore introduced his Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (starts 7/1/25).  His budget addresses the $3 Billion budget deficit for the upcoming budget.  Maryland must pass a balanced budget before the end of the legislative session.  His proposal is to balance the budget with $2 billion in budget cuts and efficiencies, increase revenue by $1 billion and transfer $500 million from the Rainy Day (the Rainy-Day Fund will still be 8% of revenues which is above the mandated minimum of 7%). There are also some spending initiatives in the package.

            The most intriguing (for me) part of the package is the Governor’s initiative in putting forth some progressive revenue proposals.  These include:

o   *Setting two new tax brackets for high income earners

§  Rate for individuals who make over $500,000 goes up from 5.5% to 6.25% (the higher tax rate is only for the income above $500,000 – the rest is taxed at 5.5%)

§  The rate for individuals who make over $1,000,000 goes to 6.5% for the income above that amount.

o   Lowering the estate tax exemption from $5 million to $2 million and also eliminating the inheritance tax (MD is the only state that has both an estate tax and an inheritance tax)

o   1% surcharge on capital gains tax for households earning more than $350,000 (revenue goes to a ‘sunny day’ fund to attract new businesses to the state and goes away after 4 years)

o   Abolishing the combined reporting loophole that allows companies not to pay taxes on subsidiaries in MD and also lowers the corporate income tax by .25%.

o   Abolishing the ineffective Enterprise Zone Tax Credit

o   Increasing the tax on sports betting and the casino table tax

o   Increasing the tax on cannabis sales

o   Adding a 75-cent fee on retail deliveries for companies with over $500,000 in sales

There are also some very significant cuts in the budget including:

o   $2.5 billion in cutting back the historic Blueprint for Maryland’s’ Future Scholl funding Reform.

o   Reduced funding for the Development Disabilities Administration

o   Reduction of Childcare scholarship program

 If you want to read more you can look at the analysis of the budget by the Maryland Center for Economic Policy:  https://mdeconomy.org/first-look-governor-combines-revenues-cuts-to-narrow-budget-gap

 

Interesting Bills Introduced in the General Assembly

 

                Over the last few years, I have been working with the Maryland Legislative Coalition (https://mdlegislative.com ).  We regularly review the bills that have been introduced and then let people know about them and how they can advocate for them.  I will be copying their material from now on rather than rewriting what’s already been done.

Energy

HB0121 / SB0037 Electric Companies - Regional Transmission Organizations - Report (Utility Transparency and Accountability Act) would make electric companies submit an annual report to the Public Service Commission. It would also prohibit electric companies from using ratepayer money to pay for lobbying or political activity. The goal of this legislation is to enhance transparency and accountability by focusing on how electric companies spend ratepayer money and participate in planning with the regional transmission organizations. House Economic Matters /Senate Education, Energy and the Environment

 

HB0270 SB0116 Data Center Impact Analysis and Report requires the Maryland Department of Legislative Services to conduct an impact analysis of the economic, environmental, and social impacts of data centers. Under existing practices, all electricity customers pay for the expansion of the grid to essentially support bitcoin mining and AI! Data centers are straining our grid and increasing costs for everyone. This study is the first step in understanding this apparent inequity. House Economic Matters /Senate Education, Energy and the Environment

 

HB0220 SB0010 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025) would mean that we would no longer be subsidizing in-state and out-of-state incinerators to create more air pollution. House Economic Matters /Senate Education, Energy and the Environment

 

Housing

SB0154 HB0103 Access to Counsel in Evictions - Task Force Termination and Special Fund would ensure access to legal representation for tenants facing eviction by requiring the Comptroller to move $14M of abandoned property funds each year to ensure this special fund can provide the support required for low-income Marylanders. Given Maryland’s housing crisis, this bill seeks to promote fairness in the eviction process and prevent unjust evictions. House Judiciary/Senate Judicial Proceedings

 

Criminal Justice

SB0141 Criminal Procedure - Incarcerated Seniors - Motion to Reduce the Duration of a Sentence aims to authorize incarcerated individuals who are at least 60 years old and have been imprisoned for at least 20 years to file a motion to reduce the duration of their sentence. We have way too many people whose lives have been on hold for committing offenses for which they have long ago served an adequate amount of time.  Senate Judicial Proceedings

   

Criminal Justice

HB0089 SB0152 Criminal Law - Crimes Relating to Animals - Conviction and Sentencing increases the severity of animal cruelty offenses by preventing the grouping of multiple animals harmed into a single crime. It also ensures that penalties for animal cruelty are addressed separately and not diluted by merging them with other charges House Judiciary/Senate Judicial Proceedings

 

Environment

HB0128 SB0149 Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act of 2025 establishes the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Payment Program to secure payments from fossil fuel extractors and refiners. This program provides a source of revenue for state efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change effects and to address health impacts on vulnerable populations. If your legislator appears here, please send the email(s) as noted. If not, consider emailing this. House Economic Matters /Senate Education, Energy and the Environment

Health

HB0268 Hospitals - Financial Assistance and Collection of Debts - Policies mandates hospitals to reduce a patient's out-of-pocket expenses based on family income. For all patients, HB0268 prevents filing civil actions to collect debts of $500 or less and extends the interest-free payment period to 240 days. House Government Operations

 

HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR BILLS

 

When there is a Committee Hearing on A Bill Scheduled, it is important to contact members of the Committee.  The General Assembly website lists all the committees, the members of each committee and their contact information.  Go to the main page (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite) and click on the Committees tab.

 

Call or send an email to your legislators using the contact information found.   Here is where you can find out who are your Delegates and Senator:  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District.

 

If you would like to include a short description of the bills, you can include the descriptions shown above. You are also encouraged to include any details of why you think this bill is important.

 

Dear (legislator),

My name is _________ and my address is ______________.  I am writing to let you know that the following bill(s) is(are) important to me and to all Marylanders.  I would like to request that you be a champion for these bills and help them get passed quickly. 

Each of these bills is important for Maryland and I support them and would like your help in getting them passed.  If you are not on the relevant committee, I would appreciate your voting for them during the session.  If you are on the relevant committee, I hope you will fight for them and support the sponsors as much as possible.

Thank you for your consideration,

(name)