Legislative Session

The GBC is delighted to share that funding is in place for the expansion of the Howard Street Tunnel, a critical project and longtime priority of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC). The GBC has advocated for the expansion of the Howard Street Tunnel for more than a decade because...
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One of the most significant projects that may be undertaken to grow economic activity in the Greater Baltimore region often flies under the radar -reconstructing the Howard Street Tunnel to accommodate double stacked rail cars that are loaded at the Port of Baltimore. The project would benefit the State...
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A major development in Baltimore City is the growing role of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG is led by Isabel Cumming, who brings an extensive background and wealth of experience in fraud and abuse investigations, serving in similar roles in previous positions. To learn more about...
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The 2019 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly, the first of a new four-year term, concluded at midnight on April 8. A number of important pieces of legislation passed that impact businesses in the Greater Baltimore region. The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) monitored or took positions on approximately...
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The 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly concluded at midnight on Monday, April 8. Many impactful bills were passed during the 90-day session that will have ramifications, both positive and negative, for the Greater Baltimore region. Based on the GBC’s 2019 Legislative Priorities, please check out our end of...
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Any bills passed by the legislature more than a week prior to Sine Die, which falls on April 8 this year, must be acted upon by the Governor prior to the close of session. This provides the Maryland General Assembly the opportunity for a veto override in the same...
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The next major deadline for the Maryland General Assembly’s 2019 legislative session is April 1, which is the date that the budget bill must be passed by both chambers. More often than not, the legislature is able to meet this deadline and it appears this year will be no...
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On March 5, 2019 GBC leaders met with the newest member of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, Congressman David Trone. Congressman Trone, a Democrat representing District 6, which includes Western Maryland and parts of Montgomery County, visited the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) to discuss his legislative and policy priorities. Congressman...
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With the 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly well past its halfway point, it is time to assess where things stand with business-related legislation. On February 21, GBC President and CEO Don Fry penned the commentary, The Midsession Business Report from Annapolis, in The Daily Record. To read the commentary, click here. In...
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Some think of taxes when considering whether a business climate is positive or leaves room for improvement. In Maryland, this holds true – the tax climate does affect business competitiveness and is one factor a business considers when making moving or expansion decisions. The GBC agrees that the tax...
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The Maryland General Assembly’s bill introduction deadlines have passed. Any bills introduced after the bill introduction dates go to the respective chamber’s Rules Committee. To be viable, a bill must get out of the Rules Committee and be assigned to the appropriate standing policy committee. As of February 14,...
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Dates matter in the Maryland General Assembly. When facing a compact 90-day timeframe for the legislative session, deadlines offer a roadmap for legislators and citizens alike. This week marks an early milestone – bill introduction deadlines. This important deadline means that legislation introduced after a certain date is not...
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On January 28, 2019, the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) hosted its annual Maryland General Assembly Legislative Forum. The GBC holds this event a few weeks after the start of the Maryland General Assembly legislative session to provide members and guests the opportunity to hear from political “insiders” about the...
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After 10 years of a sustained recovery from the Great Recession of 2008-2009, there are economic warning signs that a slowdown is on the horizon. These storm clouds could bring challenges for Maryland’s economy and create headaches for the State’s budget planners. Some recent developments of note: During a...
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Every year, legislators clamor to get their “worthy legislative initiatives” funded through the capital budget. In the past, legislators have introduced these projects through “bond bills,” which if approved are incorporated into the capital budget. This is possible because unlike the operating budget, which once proposed by the Governor...
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The 2019 General Assembly legislative session, the beginning of a new four-year term for elected policymakers in Annapolis, ushers in a new era. This new term of office brings about the importance of educating for a strong business climate with both new and seasoned members of the Maryland General...
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Redistricting reform is back in the news, but did it ever leave? On November 7, 2018, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in Benisek v. Lamone ruled that Maryland’s 2011 congressional redistricting plan for the 6th Congressional District violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution....
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Maryland voters went to the polls on Tuesday, November 6 to cast their ballots in the 2018 General Election for races including Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General and all 188 seats of the Maryland General Assembly. In the statewide races, all three incumbents, Governor Larry Hogan (R), Attorney General Brian...
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Marylanders went to the polls on June 26 to vote in the Primary Election. The Primary Election brought about significant changes to the makeup of the legislature. The election results tell us that the minimum turnover in the Maryland General Assembly may be higher than other election year cycles....
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With the 2018 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly completed, the GBC has begun its interim work. First, we will complete an assessment of how we performed for GBC members. Were we effective advocates on behalf of the business community? How can we improve our overall efforts? Looking...
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Many subscribe to the theory that a bad bill can do more damage than a good bill can prevent. As such, much of the Greater Baltimore Committee’s time and efforts are spent opposing bad bills. During the 2018 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly, the GBC opposed 27...
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The 2018 Maryland General Assembly concluded its 90-day 2018 legislative session Sine Die on Monday, April 9, much the way it started: with veto overrides. In January, the first order of business was to override Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of the Paid Sick Leave Bill that passed during the...
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The 2018 session of the Maryland General Assembly concluded at midnight on Monday, April 9. Many impactful bills were passed during the 90-day session that will have ramifications, both positive and negative, for the Greater Baltimore region. Based on the GBC’s 2018 Legislative Priorities, please check out our end...
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Only one week remains in the 90-day legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly. The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) has had a visible and active presence in Annapolis influencing legislation affecting a variety of issues of importance to the Greater Baltimore region and the State. As things stand with...
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The 90-day legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly, which began on January 10, has only two weeks remaining. After the March 19 deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin, approximately one-fourth of pending legislation remained active. During the two remaining weeks of session, which will adjourn...
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The 90-day legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly has three weeks remaining. March 18 is the crossover deadline, meaning that if a bill has not passed its chamber of origin, its prospects for passage are less likely. This deadline provides a clearer picture regarding the fate of the...
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The deadline to file for the 2018 election in Maryland was February 27, 2018 and there is now a clear picture of the candidates running for office. This year all statewide elected offices, consisting of one U.S. Senate seat, Governor, Attorney General and Comptroller, are up for election. The...
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The Greater Baltimore region lost one of its elected representatives yesterday with the unexpected passing of Senator H. Wayne Norman, Jr.  Senator Norman, a Republican, represented District 35, which includes portions of Harford and Cecil counties. As a legislator, he served with distinction on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee,...
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The 90-day legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly is nearly halfway over, bringing a clearer understanding of the legislative landscape for the 2018 session. The Senate bill introduction deadline was February 5 and the House of Delegates deadline expired on February 9. Bills can be introduced after these...
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On January 29, 2018, the Greater Baltimore Committee held its annual Maryland General Assembly Legislative Forum. The GBC holds the event a few weeks after the start of the Maryland General Assembly legislative session to provide members and guests the opportunity to hear from political “insiders” about the most...
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It has been a busy start to the 2018 legislative session, which has included veto overrides, an Amazon incentive package and emergency aid to Baltimore City Public Schools. Read about these issues – and more. Read the January 24, 2018 State House Update.
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The 2018 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly should prove to be another busy year. The session will not lack excitement, even with this being an election year. To keep track of the Greater Baltimore Committee’s efforts in Annapolis, please visit and bookmark our legislative webpage, which can be found here. Within the...
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The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) continually emphasizes the importance of creating a vibrant and competitive business climate. The GBC has adopted eight pillars that inform its advocacy efforts, promoting a strong business climate that spurs economic growth and job creation. The eight pillars are: Government leadership that unites with...
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In case you missed it, Governor Larry Hogan proposed a $9 billion concept to widen highways and add toll lanes for some of Maryland’s busiest roadways. The plan seeks to alleviate traffic on some of Maryland’s most congested roads – Interstate 495, Interstate 270 and portions of the Baltimore-Washington...
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The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, in conjunction with Baltimore City’s Senate and House delegations, recently held a hearing to address concerns about violent crime and public safety in Baltimore City. I was among those who testified at the nine hour hearing to ensure that Greater Baltimore business community’s perspective...
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School funding and student performance are vital issues for the business community because a strong school system provides a well-prepared workforce. For this reason, the GBC actively advocates for positive change. Not only is it our duty to provide the best possible outcomes for Maryland’s students, but it is...
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With the 2017 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly completed, the GBC begins its interim work. This work has a number of facets. First, we will complete an assessment of how we performed for GBC members. Were we effective advocates on behalf of the business community? How can...
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The 2017 session of the Maryland General Assembly concluded at midnight on Monday, April 10. Many impactful bills were passed during the 90-day session that will have ramifications, both positive and negative, for the Greater Baltimore region. Based on the GBC’s 2017 Legislative Priorities, please check out our end...
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Another legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly is drawing to a close. The Greater Baltimore Committee has had a visible and active presence in Annapolis influencing legislation affecting a variety of issues of importance for the Greater Baltimore region and the State. This session has been a busy...
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Legislators completed the FY2018 operating and capital budgets one week before the April 3 deadline. The $43.5 billion operating budget and the $1.065 capital budget, originally submitted by Governor Larry Hogan at the start of the session in January, will go into effect July 1. This year marked the...
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Governor Larry Hogan’s FY2018 operating budget continues to wind its way through the legislative approval process in Annapolis. Debate and committee voting is complete and cuts have been made based on the recommendations of budget analysts and the budget committees. Legislators are only able to make reductions in the...
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The increased likelihood of passage of mandatory sick leave legislation follows the well-worn path for many controversial proposals in Annapolis. It is not uncommon for controversial policy ideas to take more than one legislation session to earn passage in Annapolis. For mandatory sick leave, it looks like five years...
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A focus at this legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly is on the cost of doing business and the benefits that employees receive from their employer. Legislation includes proposals to raise the minimum wage or to mandate paid sick leave for employees. Other pending legislation includes a bill...
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A couple of weeks ago, we passed deadlines that guarantee bills introduced will be assigned to a committee and receive a hearing. Legislation can still be introduced after these deadlines, but chances for passage are decreased. There are two important deadlines looming in March. First, March 14 is known...
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Check out the priority legislation that the GBC weighed in on which received hearings last week in the Maryland General Assembly. In addition, the Maryland General Assembly has reached the halfway point of its 90-day legislative session. The halfway point allows for the opportunity to take stock in where things stand for the...
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The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Board of Directors received a visit last week from Governor Larry Hogan. During the meeting, the Board heard from the Governor on his legislative and budgetary priorities for the current 2017 session of the Maryland General Assembly. The Governor said that his package of...
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GBC President and CEO Don Fry testified this week in support of HB 317 — Labor and Employment – Wages and Benefits – Preemption of Local Authority. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Dereck Davis, Chairman of the House Economic Matters Committee, prohibits a county or municipality from enacting a...
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On February 1, Governor Larry Hogan delivered the annual State of the State address. The speech, delivered to a joint session of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, focused on the governor’s core legislative priorities for 2017. After touting an economic resurgence in Maryland, the Governor touched on...
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Last week, the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) held its annual Legislative Forum. Nearly 350 Baltimore business leaders heard from a panel of leading policymakers about the major issues of the 2017 Maryland General Assembly legislative session in Annapolis. The panel consisted of: Delegate Dereck E. Davis, Chair, Economic Matters Committee,...
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This week marked an important milestone for the 2017 session – the release of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget.  Maryland does not allow legislators to add or move money around in the budget. This gives the governor tremendous power to control the budget and its priorities. Governor Larry Hogan’s...
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The 90-day legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly began January 11 and runs through April 10. Every year, the GBC Legislative Priorities serve as the foundation of our efforts in Annapolis and throughout the year. These priorities communicate to policymakers a roadmap for creating jobs and improving the...
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