2019 Maryland General Assembly Update - Two 
  February 19, 2019
Click here to go to the Maryland General Assembly Website

Welcome to your Garrett County Chamber's 2019 Legislative Update email. The following are bills that your Chamber is monitoring during the 2019 regular session of the Maryland General Assembly.  These are bills that may impact your business or our community. If you have questions, concerns or comments about the bills, please contact Senator George Edwards or Delegate Wendell Beitzel. From time to time throughout the session, we may need you to contact your legislators about a specific bill. Your assistance will be enlisted under the "Calls to Action" section of this email.

 

This email will be sent on an as needed basis and you may opt-out by clicking the unsubscribe link below. Thank you for your consideration and please contact Nicole Christian if you have any questions.

Calls to Action 
During the session we will alert you of critical legislation that is being heard by committees and ask you to testify in favor of or in opposition to the specified bill.

How to Testify: You can submit written testimony or attend the hearing in person to provide oral testimony. In either case, please email a written version of your testimony for Senate Bills to Senator George Edwards ( [email protected]) and House Bills to Wendell Beitzel ([email protected]) and interns will deliver your testimony to the appropriate committee. Your written testimony must include the bill number, the committee name, your name & organization, and the date of the hearing. Your testimony must be sent to Senator Edwards and Delegate Beitzel by noon the day prior to the hearing and you must indicate if it is strictly written testimony or if you plan to provide oral testimony. The intern will sign you up if you plan to provide oral testimony.  
   
OPPOSE the $15/Hr. Minimum Wage Bill
The MD Legislature is considering increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour, a 49% increase to the current rate of $10.10/hr. We need your help to defeat this legislation.  SB 280 is being heard by the Senate Finance Committee (   Finance testimony guidelines) on February 21 at 1:00 p.m. Please plan to attend the hearing and testify against the bill or submit written testimony to show your opposition. Please note that testimony will be limited to one minute per person. The Chamber's testimony can viewed here.
 
Your voice can make a difference! The House Economic Matters Committee hearing on HB166 took place February 8. The proceedings can be viewed in their entirety by clicking here. The committee heard testimony for nearly 8 hours. Thank you to those who took time away from their business to testify in person and/or submit written testimony. The information shared by the opposition definitely had an impact.
 
Maryland's minimum wage is currently 39% higher than the federal minimum wage rate and at least 15% higher than our neighboring states of Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania that all are at $8.75 or below. If the minimum wage is increased to $15 per hour, jobs will be lost, employee hours will be cut, benefits and raises will be reduced or eliminated, barriers to employment will be greater and businesses in Maryland will be put at a competitive disadvantage.
 
SB 280 Summary
Schedule of minimum wage increases:
  • July 1, 2019, $11.00 per hour
  • July 1, 2020, $12.00 per hour
  • July 1, 2021, $13.00 per hour
  • July 1, 2022, $14.00 per hour
  • July 1, 2023, $15.00 per hour
  • Beginning July 1, 2024 will be indexed to inflation for that 12-month period and every year thereafter
Other changes to current law:
  • Eliminates tip credit after 2026 (means tips will no longer count towards wages & tipped employees will be paid same minimum wage as everyone else)
  • Eliminates training wage (6 months lower wage while in training)
  • Eliminates lower wage for amusements not open year-round (i.e. Six Flags)
  • Eliminates straight commission for non-outside sales
  • Eliminates lower wage for employees engaged in canning, freezing, packing, or first processing of perishable or seasonal produce and food
  • Changes to agriculture workers' wages and basically eliminates reduced wages for all those except hand-harvest laborers.
 
If you are planning to testify in person, please contact Nicole Christian, [email protected] , by February 19 to ensure you are officially signed up. There may be an opportunity for carpooling. Written testimony on SB 280 should be submitted to Victoria in Senator George Edwards office, [email protected] , by February 19. Please copy Nicole on the email. When submitting written testimony, include specifics in how this legislation will impact your business. You must follow the required committee guidelines and please, respectfully request Victoria to submit your testimony to the committee for the hearing being held on February 21 at 1:00. For more assistance, please see the Opposition Advocacy Kit prepared by the MD Chamber of Commerce. Click here for a copy of the FSU Minimum Wage Study . Questions should also be directed to Nicole.
 
Support Additional Funding for State Lakes Protection & Restoration Fund
 
During the 2018 session of the General Assembly, the Legislature approved the annual allocation of $1 million to the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund for the next three years. This amount is grossly inadequate for the State to uphold its responsibilities to all 16 lakes which it owns, including Deep Creek Lake. HB 405 will increase the amount of funding to $3 million an repeal the sunset provision so that the SLPRF will be funded in perpetuity. Your Chamber SUPPORTS this legislation. The Chamber's testimony can be viewed here.  
 
We need your assistance to pass this bill to protect the 4 state-owned lakes in Garrett County. Please send testimony supporting HB 405 to Carter in Delegate Wendell Beitzel's office, [email protected]. HB 405 is being heard by Environment & Transportation committee (  E&T testimony guidelines) on February 20 at 1:00 p.m.
 
Support Reducing Permit Fee for Structural Shoreline Stabilization  
 
The State of Maryland owns the shoreline around Deep Creek Lake known as the buffer strip. This is the land between the Lake and the property owned by a residence or business. However, the property owner ends up paying the expense for preventing erosion to the shoreline, not the State. Structural shoreline stabilization can cost the property owner thousands of dollars.
 
Besides paying this hefty bill, the property owner must also obtain a permit for the stabilization. The permit fee is currently $750 paid for by the property owner to stabilize shoreline owned by the State. HB 406 reduces that permit fee to $250 which will lessen the burden on the property owner who is helping protect a Maryland resource and saving the State tens of thousands of dollars. The Chamber's testimony can be viewed here.  
 
Your Chamber SUPPORTS this bill. Please send testimony supporting HB 406 to Carter in Delegate Wendell Beitzel's, [email protected]. HB 406 is being heard by Environment & Transportation ( E&T testimony guidelines) on February 20 at 1:00 p.m. 
Bills and Hearings
House Bill 38  and Senate Bill 328 - Labor and Employment - Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses
HB 38 Economic Matters, Second Reading Passed with Amendments. Hearing: SB 328 Finance, February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.  
 
House Bill 46 and Senate Bill 89 - Small Business Relief Tax Credit - Expansion 
Hearings: HB 46 Ways and Means, March 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 89 Budget and Taxation, January 30, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.   
 
House Bill 56 and Senate Bill 38 - Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Employers With On-Site Health Clinics - Exemption  
Hearings: HB 56 Economic Matters, January 24, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 38 Finance, January 31, 2019 at 1:00 pm.   
 
House Bill 100 and Senate Bill 125 - Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2020)
HB 100 First Reading Appropriations. SB First Reading Budget and Taxation. Chamber Supports.  
 
House Bill 109 and Senate Bill 285 - Environment - Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Products - Prohibition 
Hearings: HB 109 Environment and Transportation, February 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 285 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 126 - Labor and Employment - Labor Organizations - Right to Work  
Unfavorable Report by Economic Matters. Chamber Supports.  
 
House Bill 134 - Environment - Single Use Straws - Use in Restaurants
Hearing: HB 134 Economic Matters, February 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 141 - Commercial Law - Internet Privacy and Net Neutrality  
Hearing: HB 141 Economic Matter, February 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 150 and Senate Bill 174 - More Opportunities for Marylanders Act of 2019
Hearings: HB 150 Ways and Means, March 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 174 Budget and Taxation, February 27, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.  
 
House Bill 157 and Senate Bill 173 - State Government - Regulations Impacting Small Businesses  
Hearings: HB 157 Health and Government Operations, February 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 173 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 7, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.    
 
House Bill 166 and Senate Bill 280 - Labor and Employment - Payment of Wages Minimum Wage and Enforcement (Fight for Fifteen)  
Hearings: HB 166 Economic Matters, February 8, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 280  Finance, February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.   
 
House Bill 268 and Senate Bill 240 - Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program - Alterations to the Award of Scholarship Funds 
Hearings: HB 268 Appropriations, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 240 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 284 and Senate Bill 983 - Procurement - Small Business and Minority Businesses - Qualification and Certification (Small and Minority Business Certification Streamlining Act of 2019)  
Hearing: HB 284 Health and Government Operations, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 983 First Reading Senate Rules. Chamber Supports.   
 
House Bill 285 and Senate Bill 466- Hotel Rental Tax - Limitation of Municipal Authority to Tax Small Hotels - Repeal
Hearings: HB 285 Ways and Means, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 466 Budget and Taxation, March 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm.   
 
House Bill 341 - Labor and Employment - Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program - Establishment (Time to Care Act of 2019)
Hearing: HB 341 Economic Matters, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes. 
 
House Bill 361 and Senate Bill 480 - Effective Corporate Tax Rate Transparency Act of 2019
Hearings: HB 361 Ways and Means, February 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 480 Budget and Taxation, February 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm.  
    
House Bill 375 - Corporate Income Tax - Rate Reduction
Hearing: HB 375 Ways and Means, February 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.  
 
House Bill 405 and Senate Bill 213 - Natural Resources - State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Mandatory Funding and Repeal of Termination Date
Hearings: HB 405 Environment and Transportation, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 213 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.   
 
House Bill 406 - Wetlands and Waterways Program - State-Owned Lands - Structural Shoreline Stabilization
Hearing: HB 406 Environment and Transportation, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.   
 
House Bill 408 - Natural Resources - Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund
Hearing: HB 408 Environment and Transportation, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.  
 
House Bill 437 and Senate Bill 128 - County Boards of Education - School Year - Start and End Dates
Hearing: HB 437 Ways and Means, February 14, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 128 In the House, First Reading Ways and Means. Chamber Opposes.   
 
 House Bill 450 - Income Tax - Itemized Deductions
Hearing: HB 450 Ways and Means, February 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.   
 
House Bill 534 and Senate Bill 519 -  Public Schools - State Aid for School Construction - Eligible Costs 
Hearings: HB 534 Appropriations, February 19, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 519 Budget and Taxation, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm.    
 
House Bill 686 and Senate Bill 912 - Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Adverse Actions - Absence Control Policy 
Hearing: HB 686 Economic Matter, February 19, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 912 First Reading Senate Rules.    
 
House Bill 723 and Senate Bill 547 - Garrett County - Alcoholic Beverages - Revisions 
Hearings: HB 723 Economic Matters, February 18, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 723 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 22, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 854 and Senate Bill 951 - Income Tax Rates - Reductions  
Hearing: HB 854 Ways and Means, February 27, 2019 at 1:00 pm. SB 951 First Reading Senate Rules.   
 
House Bill 873 -  Task Force on Tax Policy, Reform, and Fairness
Hearing: HB 873 Ways and Means, February 27, 2019 at 1:00 pm.   
 
House Bill 1040 - Labor and Employment - Exemptions From Overtime Pay - Administrative, Executive, or Professional Capacity (Overtime Modernization Act of 2019) 
Hearing: HB 1040 Economic Matters, March 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 1043 - Education - Required Number of School Days or Hours
Hearing: HB 1043 Ways and Means, February 28, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
 
House Bill 1057 - Alcoholic Beverages - Alcohol Awareness Program Certification Requirements - Alterations
Hearing: HB 1057 Economic Matters, February 18, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
House Bill 1124 - State Government - Regulations Impacting Small Businesses - Economic Impact Analyses
Hearing: HB 1124 Health and Government Operations, March 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm.    
 
Senate Bill 34 - Tourist Area and Corridor Program and Task Force on Attraction Signs
Hearing: SB 34 Finance, February 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm.   
 
Senate Bill 37 and House Bill 1139 - Corporate Income Tax - Rate Reduction  
Hearings: SB 37 Budget and Taxation, January 30, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 1139 Ways and Means, February 22, 2019 at 1:00 pm.     
 
Senate Bill 51 - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Target Investment Zones - Repeal
Hearing: SB 51 Finance, February 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.
 
Senate Bill 76 - Small Business Fairness Act  
Hearing: SB 76 Budget and Taxation, January 30, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.    
 
Senate Bill 131 and House Bill 53 - County Boards of Education - Length of School Year - Adjustments
Hearings: SB 131 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, January 30, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 53 Ways and Means, February 14, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.  

Senate Bill 183 - Recycling - Lodging Establishments - Notification to Guests
Hearing: SB 183 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
 
Senate Bill 190 and House Bill 922 - Corporate Income Tax - Rate Reduction  
Hearings: SB 190 Budget and Taxation, February 5, 2019 at 2:30 pm. HB 922 Ways and Means, February 22, 2019 at 1:00 pm.   
 
Senate Bill 213 and House Bill 405 - Natural Resources - State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Mandatory Funding and Repeal of Termination Date 
Hearings: SB 213 Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, February 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 405 Environment and Transportation, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.    
 
Senate Bill 216 and House Bill 244 - Garrett County - Hotel Rental Tax - Rate and Distribution of Revenue 
SB 216 Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation. Hearing: HB 244 Ways and Means, February 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm.   
 
Senate Bill 330 and House Bill 1244 - Public Buildings and Places of Public Accommodation - Diaper-Changing Facilities
Hearings: SB 330 Judicial Proceedings, February 14, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 1244 Health and Government Operations, March 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
Senate Bill 377 - Corporate Income Tax - Combined Reporting
Hearing: SB 377 Budget and Taxation, February 20, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.   
 
Senate Bill 500 - Labor and Employment - Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program - Establishment
Hearing: SB 500 Finance, March 7, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.   
 
Senate Bill 507 - Income Tax - Angel Investor Tax Credit Program
Hearing: SB 507 Budget and Taxation, March 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.  
 
Senate Bill 508 and House Bill 480 - Alcoholic Beverages - Maryland Brewery Promotion Program - Establishment
Hearings: SB 508 Finance, March 1, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 480 Economic Matters, February 22, 2019 at 1:00 pm.  
 
Senate Bill 533 - Sales and Use Tax - Limited Residential Lodging 
Hearing: SB 533 Budget and Taxation, February 27, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.  
 
Senate Bill 628 - Economic Development - Maryland Tourism Development Board - Grants
Hearing: SB 628 Finance, February 26, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Opposes.  
 
Senate Bill 663 - Commerce, Housing, and Community Development - Opportunity Zones
Hearing: SB 663 Budget and Taxation, February 27, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
 
Senate Bill 665 and House Bill 721 - Health Insurance - Policy of Group Health Insurance - Associations 
Hearings: SB 665 Finance, March 13, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 721 Health and Government Operations, March 14, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Chamber Supports.   
 
Senate Bill 681 and House Bill 1300 - Labor and Employment - Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Seasonal Temporary Workers  
Hearing: SB 681 Finance, February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 1300 First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations. Chamber Supports.  
 
Senate Bill 686 - Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Applicability
Hearing: SB 686 Finance, February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
 
Senate Bill 746 and House Bill 693 - Public Safety - Correctional Facilities - Mental Disorder Screening
Hearings: SB 746 Judicial Proceedings, February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 693 Judiciary, February 26, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
 
Senate Bill 839 and House Bill 994 - Labor and Employment - Criminal Record Screening Practices (Ban the Box)
Hearings: SB 839 Finance, March 15, 2019 at 1:00 pm. HB 994 Economic Matters, March 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
 
Senate Bill 906 - Income Tax - Itemized Deductions  
SB 906 First Reading Senate Rules.  

 

 

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Chamber's

 2019

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Garrett County Chamber of Commerce
  301.387.4386  I  visitdeepcreek.com