There are now five weeks to go in the Legislative session and more bills are now being voted out of Committee and moving to a vote on the House and Senate floors.
The big news this was the passage of the $15 minimum wage bill (HB 166) out of the House of Delegates and the censuring of a House Delegate for using a racial slur.
HB 166 ($15 minimum wage) was passed by the House of Delegates on Friday and now goes to the State Senate. Unfortunately it was weakened by the Economic Matters Committee. The implementation was pushed back 18 months (to Jan 2025), automatic cost of living increases was removed, tipped workers were excluded, and a sub-minimum wage( (85% of the minim wage) or those people under 18 years of old was created. Hopefully some of these amendments will be taken out of the bill in the Senate.
Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti from Hartford County was censured by the House of Delegates for using a racial slur when describing one of the legislative districts in Prince George’s County. While there were many calls for her to resign she has stated that she will stay as a Delegate. She was stripped of all Leadership and committee positions.
Here is a report on a few other bills that made progress this week:
- A Senate Bill (SB 285) that bans Styrofoam containers made progress in the State Senate. The legislation would ban the use of foam products by restaurants and grocery stores starting in July 2020. County governments would be responsible for enforcing the ban and could impose fines of up to $250 per violation, after first giving a written warning. The Senate Bill is expected to pass on Monday.
- Making the Use of a Noose or Swastika a Hate Crime (HB 4) passed the House of Delegates.
- A bill (HB55) Requiring that an Ignition Interlock System be equipped with a camera capable of recording still images of the person taking the test of the person's blood alcohol level passed the House of Delegates by a unanimous vote.
- The End of Life Option (also known as Death with Dignity), HB 399, passed out of Committee on Friday and is scheduled for a full vote by the full House of Delegates next week. The vote will be very close.
- HB 708 passed the House. It would study the under-identification of traumatic brain injuries among school-aged children and would make recommendations on how to identify such injuries.
- HB 251 would provide grants to help seniors age in place. It also passed the House of Delegates.
- HB 110 sets a goal of 150 minutes per week of physical activity for school students, including 90 minutes of physical education. It will be voted on by the full House this week.
- HB 295 prohibits non-public schools that receive public funding from discriminating against students who are disabled, LGBTQ+, and other protected classes. It will also be voted on by the House of Delegates this week.
Here is the status of the other bills that I personally am tracking.
There are many other good bills but I don't want to overwhelm everybody. If there are specific bills that you want to know about let me know.
If you want to know any more about any of the bills go to the Maryland General Assembly web-site: www.mgaleg.maryland.gov and type in the bill number.
If you want to contact your representatives in District 47 about any of the bills, you should email or call:
Senator Malcolm Augustine Malcolm.augustine@senate.state.md.us 410-841-3745
Delegate Diana Fennell (47A) Diana.fennell@house.state.md.us 301-858-3478
Delegate Julian Ivey (47A) Julian.ivey@house.state.md.us 410-841-3326
Delegate Wanika Fisher Wanika.fisher@house.state.md.us 410-841-3340
If you do not know who are your representatives, you can go to www.mdelect.net to find out who are your elected representatives There is also a very good smart phone application MD GOV which lists all the Delegates and Senators, their Committees and their contact numbers.
Criminal Justice Reform
Increasing pre-release facility services
HB 715 Hearing held
Expungement of Nonviolent Convictions
HB 19 – Hearing Held
Occupational Licenses or Certificates – Prohibition on use of Criminal Records
HB 22 – Hearing Held
Consumer Rights
Prohibiting Use of Occupation or Education in Determination of car insurance rates
HB 329 – Hearing held
SB 233 – Hearing held
Prohibiting Use of credit factors in the determination of car insurance rates
HB 351 – Hearing Held
SB 235 –Hearing held
Banning Discrimination in Underwriting and Rating Because of Status As A Surviving Spouse
SB 607 – Hearing Not Scheduled
Prohibiting Deceptive Acts by Mortgage Lenders
HB 425 - Hearing held
Education
Money has to be appropriated for at least $325 million in new funding proposals for teacher salary increases, the expansion of community schools and pre-k education, and increased funding for mental health services. The legislature must also commit to full-funding for all Kirwan Commission recommendations with a requirement that $1.5 billion is put in next year’s budget.
No bill has introduced yet on funding for the recommendations
Environmental Initiatives
Prohibiting use of styrofoam
HB 109 Hearing Held
SB 285 Being voted on by the Senate Monday
Clear Energy Act
HB 1158 Hearing 3/8
SB 516 Hearing 3/5
Pipeline and Water Protection Act
HB 669 Hearing 3/7
SB 387 Hearing held
Gun Control Legislation
Banning of ghost guns: buying the parts needed to assemble a firearm
HB 740 – Hearing held
Prohibition of computer aided firearm fabrication
SB 8 – Hearing held
Plugging the Loan Loophole in the transfer of gun ownership
HB 96 – Hearing held
Health Care
Prescription Drug Affordability Board
HB 768 Hearing 3/6
SB 759 Hearing 3/6
Medicare for All Legislation (First Steps)
HB 1087 Hearing 3/14
SB 871 No Hearing Set
End of Life Option
HB 399 Being voted by the full House this week
SB 311 Hearing held
Raising the Age of Selling Tobacco to 21
SB 378 No hearing set
Immigration Justice
Maryland Dream Act
This legislation would protect students that might lose DACA and TPS because of President Trump and expand the ability to get in-state tuition.
HB 318 – Hearing held
U Visa Legislation
This bill will ensure that victims of crimes or witness of crimes who help the police can get a visa to keep them in the country
HB 214 – Hearing Held
SB 221 – Hearing held
Not Keeping Undocumented People in Jail Beyond Their Sentence
This bill ensures that undocumented immigrants are not held in jails indefinitely without judicial oversight.
HB 913 – Hearing 3/5
SB 17 – Hearing held
Safe Harbor Legislation
Bill Requiring to require schools and hospitals to establish a policy that limits immigration enforcement on the premises to the fullest extent possible consistent
HB 1273 – Hearing 3/5
SB 599 – Hearing held
Other Topics
New 5G wireless telephone poles placement has to follow local zoning laws
HB 1020 Hearing held
SB 713 Hearing held
Allowing the Legislature to Add Items to the Governor’s Budget
HB 1108 Hearing 3/12
Transportation
Majority of Counties Have to Agree Before New Toll Road Are Built Through Their Counties
HB 102 – Hearing Held
SB 442 - Hearing held
Railroad Companies - Movement of Freight - Required Crew
This bill would prohibit the movement of freight in the same rail corridor as a high speed commuter or passenger train unless the freight train has at least two workers.
HB 66 – Hearing Held
SB 252 – Hearing held
Voting Rights
Small donor public financing
HB 1017 Hearing 3/5
SB 414 Hearing held
Constitutional Amendment repealing Citizens United
HJ2 Hearing 3/4
SJ1 Hearing held
Special Election to Fill a Vacancy for State Delegate or Senator
HB 85 Hearing Held
Repealing a Limitation of Campaign Contributions from Developers to County Executive (I am in opposition to this bill)
HB 227 Passed the Prince George’s Delegation - Now has to Pass the full House
Presidential Tax Transparency Act –
Candidate Has to release tax returns to be on the Maryland ballot
HB 925 – Hearing held
Worker Rights
Collective Bargaining for community college workers
HB 766 Hearing 3/1
Minimum Wage to $15 /Hour
SB 2221 Hearing Held
HB 166 Voted on by the full House
Overtime for Low Paid Salaried Workers
HB 1040 Hearing 3/5
Expanding Prohibition Against Discrimination in Employment to Small Employers
HB 661 Hearing held
There are a couple of good websites that also track bills. You might want to look at QED’s web-site: https://qedinc.us/legislative-bulletin and the Maryland Legislative Coalition: http://mdlegislative.com
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