Status of Important Legislation in Annapolis
The legislative session is a little more than one month old and over 2,000 bills have been introduced. All bills have to pass both houses by midnight on Monday April 8th. Every bill has to have a committee hearing and then if approved by the committee voted by the full chamber. It then has to go to the other house and has to go through the same procedure (committee vote and vote of the full chamber.) I have highlighted about 30 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. Delegate Diana Fennell (47A) Diana.fennell@house.state.md. Delegate Julian Ivey (47A) Julian.ivey@house.state.md.us Delegate Wanika Fisher Wanik 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. Minimum Wage to $15 /Hour HB 166 (Sponsored by Delegate Fennell) – Committee Hearing Held SB 2221 – Committee Hearing: 2/21/19 Criminal Justice Reform Increasing pre-release facility services HB 715 Hearing: 2/26/19 Expungement of Nonviolent Convictions HB 19 – Hearing Held Decriminization of Attempted Suicide HB 77 – Hearing Held Hate Crimes - Use of a Noose or Swastika to Threaten or Intimidate HB 4 – 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 2/13 Prohibiting Use of credit factors in the determination of car insurance rates HB 351 – Hearing Held SB 235 –Hearing 2/13 Banning Discrimination In Discrimination in Underwriting and Rating Because of Status As A Surviving Spouse HB 191 – Hearing Held SB 607 – Hearing Not Scheduled 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. The money for this year is being discussed in the Appropriations Committee No bill has introduced yet on future years funding for the recommendations Environmental Initiatives Prohibiting use of plastic bags HB 109 Hearing Held SB 285 Hearing 2/12 Clear Energy Act HB 1158 Hearing 3/8 SB 516 No Hearing set Pipeline and Water Protection Act HB 669 Hearing 3/7 SB 387 Hearing 2/19 Gun Control Legislation Banning of ghost guns: buying the parts needed to assemble a firearm HB 740 – Hearing 2/25 Prohibition of computer aided firearm fabrication SB 8 – Hearing 2/27 Plugging the Loan Loophole in the Transfer of Gun Ownership HB 96 – Hearing 2/25 Health Care Prescription Drug Affordability Board HB 768 No Hearing Set SB 759 No Hearing Set Medicare for All Legislation (First Steps) HB 1087 No hearing set SB 871 No Hearing Set End of Life Option HB 399 Hearing 2/15 SB 311 Hearing 2/19 Immigration Justice Maryland Dream Act This legislation would protect students that might lose DACA and TPS because of Trump and expand the ability to get in-state tuition. HB 318 – Committee Hearing 2/21/19 U Visa Legislation U-Visa Legislation 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 – 2/21/19 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 not yet scheduled SB 17 – Hearing not yet scheduled Legalization of Marijuana To put legalization of recreational marijuana on the ballot in 2020. HB 632 – Hearing 3/5 Municipal Concerns New 5G wireless telephone poles cannot be placed without local agreement HB 1020 2/21 SB 713 2/26 Transportation Majority of Counties Have to Agree Before New Toll Road Are Built Through Their Counties HB 102 – Hearing Held SB 442 - 2/27 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 2/13 Voting Rights Small donor public financing HB 1017 No Hearing Scheduled SB 414 Hearing Feb 28 Constitutional Amendment repealing Citizens United HJ2 No Hearing Scheduled SJ1 Hearing Feb 14 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 Worker Rights Collective Bargaining for community college workers HB 766 No Hearing Scheduled Overtime for Low Paid Salaried Workers HB 1040 3/5 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- |
Monday, February 11, 2019
Status of Important Legislation in Annapolis
