The Maryland Tourism Coalition Legislative Committee is currently monitoring the following legislation being considered by the General Assembly. The committee convenes every Monday at 12:00 pm to discuss legislation, tourism positions, and courses of action. All MTC members are encouraged to join these calls and share their thoughts on the issues at hand. The call-in number is 712-770-5505 and the access code is 861-843. If you have questions or comments about any of the bills below, or if you think there is another issue or piece of legislation MTC should be monitoring, please email our Legislative Committee Chair, Kristin Hanna at kristin.hanna@flyingdog.com.
2020 Maryland Tourism Council Bill Tracking
|
Bill Number |
Title |
Sponsor |
Description |
Legislative Status |
Tourism Council Position |
|
Universal School Start Act of 2020 |
Admin. |
CF: SB558 – Prohibits a local jurisdiction from starting the school year before the first Tuesday after Labor Day without good cause to be defined by state regulation. |
Dead |
SWA |
|
|
Maryland Stadium Authority –Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program and Fun |
McIntosh |
CF: SB1076 – Creates a $1m annual fund to assist in bringing amateur and youth sports to the state. |
Returned Passed |
Support with Letter |
|
|
Maryland Stadium Authority –Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program and Fun |
McCray |
CF: HB1659 – Creates a $1m annual fund to assist in bringing amateur and youth sports to the state. |
Dead |
Support with Letter |
|
|
Natural Resources – State Lakes Protection and Restoration Program and Fund |
Beitzel |
CF: SB582 – Requires a $3m annual appropriation starting in FY2022; otherwise, it appears to just clean up the language. |
Dead |
Support Possible MTC Testimony Written |
|
|
Task Force on the Tourism Industry in Maryland |
Carter |
CF: HB1541 – Creates a task force to study the funding and training needed to support tourism related businesses with an emphasis on small and minority businesses with aim to increase diversity in the industry. |
Dead |
Support No Testimony |
|
|
Education – Required Number of School Days or Hours |
Adams |
Clarifies that school is opened for 180 actual days or a minimum of 1,080 hours. |
Withdrawn |
Support |
|
|
Chesapeake Bay Bridge – Reconstruction Advisory Group and Traffic Study |
Arentz |
CF: SB13 – Creates an advisory group whose purpose is to make recommendations on how to avoid traffic back-ups. Annual reports and recommendations begin July 2021. Membership not limited to residents from QA or AA Counties. |
Passed Enrolled |
Support |
|
|
Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2021) |
Admin. |
CF: SB190 – Budget Bill |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Department of Agriculture – Maryland Made Promotion Fund |
Lisanti |
Creates a fund to promote alcoholic beverages made in the state. |
Unfavorable |
Support |
|
|
Charles County – Public Safety – Buildings Used for Agritourism |
Charles County Delegation |
CF: SB432 – Adds Charles County to the list of jurisdictions whose buildings used for agritourism be structurally sound but don’t need to comply with other aspects of the various building codes. |
Withdrawn |
Support |
|
|
Solid Waste Management – Personal Cleansing Products Provided at Lodging Establishments – Prohibition |
Love |
Prohibits providing personal hygiene products – soap, shampoo, lotion, etc. unless requested by the guest, violation is up to $2,000. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Minimum Wage – Allegany County and Garrett County |
Beitzel |
CF: SB0862 – Extends full implementation of $15/hr. minimum wage from 1/1/26 to 1/1/28 in Allegany and Garrett Counties. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Environment – Business Recycling Reporting Requirements |
Smith |
Requires businesses that privately contract for waste removal and recycling services to report annually the total amount, by weight, of solid waste generated by the business; the amount and types of materials recycled by the business; and any other information required by the relevant county. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act – Seasonal Temporary Workers |
Hartman |
CF: SB906 – Expressly states that an employer may not be required to allow an employee to take leave within the first 120 (currently 106) calendar days of employment; and, requires reinstatement of unused leave if employee rehired within 32 weeks (currently 37). |
Unfavorable |
Support |
|
|
Alcoholic Beverages – Class MD License |
Kerr |
Creates a Class MD license that authorizes the holder to sell beer, wine, liquor manufactured in the state at the place described in the license for on-premises consumption – it is not subject to or included in any license quotas. Fee varies depending on location. |
Unfavorable |
Support |
|
|
Admissions and Amusement Tax – Small Business Exemption |
Howard |
Exempts from admissions and amusement tax businesses with total gross receipts of less than $75,000 in a calendar year. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Certified Local Farm Enterprise Program and Certified Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Fund – Establishment |
Charkoudian |
CF: SB985 – Encourages units to obtain at least 20% of the total dollar value of their procured food directly or indirectly from certified local farm enterprises. |
Returned Passed |
Support |
|
|
Worcester County – Special Event Zones – Prohibitions |
Hartman |
CF: SB878 – Prohibits using special event zones for exhibition driving events in Worcester County. |
Returned Passed |
Support |
|
|
Task Force on the Tourism Industry in Maryland |
Brooks |
CF: SB707 – Creates a task force to study the funding and training needed to support tourism related businesses with an emphasis on small and minority businesses with aim to increase diversity in the industry. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
State Budget –Relief From Budget Mandates |
Admin. |
CF: SB1009 – Prohibits new budget mandates or increasing current ones without making an equal reduction in a different mandate. Does not apply to state personnel pension system. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Chesapeake Bay Bridge – Reconstruction Advisory Group and Traffic Study |
Hershey |
CF: HB56 – Creates an advisory group – all members are either Anne Arundel or Queen Anne’s County residents except for Port Authority member. Purpose is to make recommendations on how to avoid traffic back-ups. Annual reports and recommendations begin July 2021. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Income Tax – Credit for Small Businesses – State Minimum Wage Increase |
Ellis |
Grants qualified small businesses a tax credit to offset increases in minimum wage. Credit based on the difference between minimum wage and $10.10/hr. Applicable through 2029. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Natural Resources – Fishing and Hunting Rights |
Simmonaire |
Requires state to preserve the right to fish and hunt subject to regulations and restrictions enacted by the General Assembly. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Land Use – Alcohol Production and Agricultural Alcohol Production |
Req. Agriculture |
Authorizes charter counties to regulate the production of alcohol on agricultural land, including regulations related to tastings and storage. |
Returned Passed |
Support |
|
|
Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2021) |
Admin. |
CF: HB150 – Budget Bill |
Passed Enrolled |
Support |
|
|
Charles County – Public Safety – Buildings Used for Agritourism |
Charles County Senators |
CF: HB335 – Adds Charles County to the list of jurisdictions whose buildings used for agritourism be structurally sound but don’t need to comply with other aspects of the various building codes. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Transportation – Third Chesapeake Bay Crossing – Study |
Beidle |
Requires a study for a third Chesapeake Bay crossing route. Study to be conducted by UMD. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Universal School Start Act of 2020 |
Admin. |
CF: HB743 – Prohibits a local jurisdiction from starting the school year before the first Tuesday after Labor Day without good cause to be defined by state regulation. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Natural Resources – State Lakes Protection and Restoration Program and Fund |
Edwards |
CF: HB877 – Requires a $3m annual appropriation starting in FY2022; otherwise, it appears to just clean up the language. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Income Tax – Film Production Activity Tax Credit – Alteration |
Griffith |
Adds salary, wages or other compensation for writers, directors, or producers in definition of “total direct costs” and bumps credit from $11m in 2020 to $20m each year thereafter. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Minimum Wage – Allegany County and Garrett County |
Edwards |
CF: HB965 – Extends full implementation of $15/hr. minimum wage from 1/1/26 to 1/1/28 in Allegany and Garrett Counties. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Worcester County – Special Event Zones – Prohibitions |
Carozza |
CF: HB1493 – Prohibits using special event zones for exhibition driving events in Worcester County. |
Returned Passed |
Support |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act – Seasonal Temporary Workers |
Carozza |
CF: HB1021 – Expressly states that an employer may not be required to allow an employee to take leave within the first 120 (currently 106) calendar days of employment; and, requires reinstatement of unused leave if employee rehired within 32 weeks (currently 37). |
Withdrawn |
Support |
|
|
ncome Tax Credit –Value–Added ProcessingExpenses |
Hester |
Grants a 25% credit against capital expenses related to value-added processing, defined as transforming a raw agricultural products into new products, including fermenting, cooling, packaging, etc. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
State Budget –Relief From Budget Mandates |
Admin. |
CF: HB1570 – Prohibits new budget mandates or increasing current ones without making an equal reduction in a different mandate. Does not apply to state personnel pension system. |
Dead |
Support |
|
|
Sales and Use Tax –Services |
Charkoudian |
Adds new categories to definition of services to include travel arrangement or reservation service. |
Dead |
Oppose with Testimony |
|
|
Digital Advertising Gross Revenues – Taxation |
Washington |
CF: SB2 – Taxes the gross revenue received by owners of digital interfaces such as websites for the money received as a result of displaying ads on seen by Maryland users of the website or application. Maryland user is someone whose device used to access the website (phone, computer, tablet, etc.) has an IP address indicates that the device owner is a Maryland resident. Quarterly payments required if annual revenue exceeds $1m. Tax is 2.5% if global annual gross revenues $100k to $1m; 7.5% up to $15m; and 10% over $15m. $5,000 fine and/or 5 years penalty. Probably not much of an impact for small businesses but if gross ad revenue exceeds $100,000 would need some very sophisticated tracking software to comply. |
Dead |
Oppose No Testimony |
|
|
Digital Advertising Gross Revenues – Taxation |
Miller |
CF: HB695 – Taxes the gross revenue received by owners of digital interfaces such as websites for the money received as a result of displaying ads on seen by Maryland users of the website or application. Maryland user is someone whose device used to access the website (phone, computer, tablet, etc.) has an IP address indicates that the device owner is a Maryland resident. Quarterly payments required if annual revenue exceeds $1m. Tax is 2.5% if global annual gross revenues $100k to $1m; 7.5% up to $15m; and 10% over $15m. $5,000 fine and/or 5 years penalty. Probably not much of an impact for small businesses but if gross ad revenue exceeds $100,000 would need some very sophisticated tracking software to comply. |
Dead |
Oppose No Testimony |
|
|
Economic Development – Maryland Tourism Development Board – Grants |
Brooks |
All grants to be made to non-governmental tourism organizations. |
Withdrawn |
Oppose |
|
|
Salesand UseTax –RateReductionand Services |
Luedtke |
Imposes the sales tax on services, including installation. Lowers sales tax from 6 to 5 cents per dollar. |
Unfavorable |
Oppose |
|
|
Labor and Employment –Fair Recruitment and Transparency Act |
Lee |
Expands law related to migrant farm labor to include all foreign workers who were not issued a green card but are eligible to work under a different category. Institutes expansive reporting requirement some of which to become public information. |
Dead |
Oppose |
|
|
Places of Public Accommodation and Public Buildings – Single–Occupancy Public Restrooms – Availability (The Accessible to All Act) |
Solomon |
CF: SB401 – Requires places of public accommodation that provide single occupancy restrooms to label them as restroom or bathroom and to not use gender identifying pictures. |
Withdrawn |
Monitor Wait for DMO feedback SB217 |
|
|
Places of Public Accommodation and Public Buildings – Single–Occupancy Public Restrooms – Availability (The Accessible to All Act) |
Kagan |
CF: HB1147 – Requires places of public accommodation that provide single occupancy restrooms to label them as restroom or bathroom and to not use gender identifying pictures. |
Dead |
Monitor Wait for DMO feedback SB217 |
|
|
Lodging Establishments – Accessible Rooms for Individuals With Disabilities – Bed Height |
Cassilly |
CF: HB771 – Requires rooms that are labeled “accessible” to comply with ADA and have a bed that is between 20-23 inches high with at least a 7-inch vertical clearance from the floor. |
Dead |
Monitor Defer to MHLA |
|
|
Maryland Horse Industry Board – Breeding Stables and Horse Establishments – Definitions |
Guyton |
Brings breeding stables under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Horse Industry Board. |
Withdrawn |
Monitor |
|
|
North Point State Park – Deer Bow Hunting Season – Establishment |
Grammer |
Establishes a deer bow hunting season in North Point State Park. |
Withdrawn |
Monitor |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Wage History and Wage Range |
K. Young |
CF: SB217 – Requires employers to disclose the wage range if asked and prohibits them from asking about wage history of potential employees. Allows employers to verify voluntarily given wage history information on after an offer of employment with named wages has been given. Fines and penalties for violation. |
Returned Passed |
Monitor |
|
|
Creation of a State Debt – Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2020, and the Maryland CF: SB191 – Consolidated Capital Bond Loans of 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019 |
Admin. |
CF: HB191 – Consolidated Bond Bill |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2020 |
Admin. |
CF: HB192 – BRFA |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Natural Resources – Sunday Hunting |
Req. Natural Resources |
Consolidates who can hunt what, when, and where on Sundays. |
Returned Passed |
Monitor |
|
|
Plastics and Packaging Reduction Act |
Lierman |
CF: SB313 – Prohibits stores from providing plastic bags less than 4mils thick at point of sale. Exceptions for produce bags, newspaper bags, etc. Requires store to charge at least 10 cents for each durable bag used at point of sale and prohibits store from absorbing this cost or otherwise rebating it to the customer. Durable bag presumably is anything other than a plastic bag less than 4mil. Stores are defined as retail establishments. In the Healthy Employee Act, retail establishment was defined as a place or business with the primary purpose of selling goods to a consumer at the place of business. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Queen Anne’s County – Alcoholic Beverages – Underage Employees |
Arentz |
Would only allow those 21 or over to be bartenders and those 18 and over to stock or serve alcohol provided they have completed an alcohol awareness program. Applicable to QA County only. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Leave With Pay – Bereavement Leave (Family Bereavement Act) |
Boyce |
CF: SB260 – Allows employees to use leave with pay for bereavement leave. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Lodging Establishments – Accessible Rooms for Individuals With Disabilities – Bed Height |
Reilly |
CF: SB158 – Requires rooms that are labeled “accessible” to comply with ADA and have a bed that is between 20-23 inches high with at least a 7-inch vertical clearance from the floor. |
Returned Passed |
Monitor |
|
|
Garrett County – Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2020 |
Beitzel |
CF: SB643 – Allows for on-site sales for distilleries and wineries for consumption on or off site. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Sales and Use Tax – Short–Term Rental Vehicles and Peer–to–Peer Car Sharing – Rate Alteration and Sunset Repeal |
Chang |
CF: SB573 – Eliminates current taxing structure and imposes a straight 10% tax on the taxable price for short term rentals and peer to peer shared vehicles. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
21st–Century Economy Sales Tax Act |
Korman |
CF: SB1001 – Imposes the sales tax on the sale of digital products and codes, includes things like music, movies, e-books, chat room or web blog access, video greeting cards, etc. |
Passed Enrolled |
Monitor |
|
|
Business Regulation – Amusement Attractions – Maryland Rider Safety Act |
Wilson |
Prohibits reckless rider behavior and requires injury reports to be submitted prior to leaving amusement park. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Racing and Community Development Act of 2020 |
speaker |
Creates an Equine Health, Safety, and Welfare Advisory Committee to study and make recommendations to enhance the health, safety, and welfare of horses engaged in racing and training at tracks and training facilities in the state; and, sets forth criteria for future improvements at Pimlico and Laurel. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Talbot County – Turkey and Deer Hunting – Sundays |
Mautz |
CF: SB500 – Authorizes the DNR to allow hunt turkey or deer with a firearm on Sunday if they are participating in a qualified Junior Hunt. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Baltimore City – Imitation Firearms – Prohibition |
Boyce |
CF: SB968 – Prohibits the sale or display of an imitation firearm in the City. No exemption for historic replicas at historic sites and souvenirs related thereto. |
Withdrawn |
Monitor |
|
|
Washington County –Hotel Rental Tax–Rate and Distribution of Revenue |
Corderman |
Reduces current distributions to 25% and dedicates the remaining 50% to the Hagerstown/Washington County Industrial Foundation to assist with development projects and tourism attractions, as well as, supporting economic development, cultural, and recreational projects. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Creation of a State Debt – Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2020, and the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loans of 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019 |
Admin. |
CF: HB151 – Consolidated Bond Bill |
Returned Passed |
Monitor |
|
|
Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2020 |
Admin. |
CF: HB152 – BRFA |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Labor and Employment – Wage History and Wage Range |
Lee |
CF: HB123 – Requires employers to disclose the wage range if asked and prohibits them from asking about wage history of potential employees. Allows employers to verify voluntarily given wage history information on after an offer of employment with named wages has been given. Fines and penalties for violation. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Natural Resources – Sunday Hunting – Migratory Game Birds |
Bailey |
Eliminates the prohibition on hunting migratory game birds and allows DNR to authorize same on public or private land during open season. |
Withdrawn |
Monitor |
|
|
Talbot County – Sunday Hunting – Deer Bow Hunting Season |
Eckardt |
CF: HB1130 – Authorizes DNR to permit bow hunting of deer on private property during season. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Plastics and Packaging Reduction Act |
Augustine |
CF: HB209 – Prohibits stores from providing plastic bags less than 4mils thick at point of sale. Exceptions for produce bags, newspaper bags, etc. Requires store to charge at least 10 cents for each durable bag used at point of sale and prohibits store from absorbing this cost or otherwise rebating it to the customer. Durable bag presumably is anything other than a plastic bag less than 4mil. Stores are defined as retail establishments. In the Healthy Employee Act, retail establishment was defined as a place or business with the primary purpose of selling goods to a consumer at the place of business. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Talbot County – Turkey and Deer Hunting – Sundays |
Eckardt |
CF: HB1129 – Authorizes the DNR to allow hunt turkey or deer with a firearm on Sunday if they are participating in a qualified Junior Hunt. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Sales and Use Tax – Short–Term Rental Vehicles and Peer–to–Peer Car Sharing – Rate Alteration and Sunset Repeal |
McCray |
CF: HB841 – Eliminates current taxing structure and imposes a straight 10% tax on the taxable price for short term rentals and peer to peer shared vehicles. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
SB0643 |
Garrett County – Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2020 |
Edwards |
CF: HB786 – Allows for on-site sales for distilleries and wineries for consumption on or off site. |
Returned Passed |
Monitor |
|
Baltimore City – Imitation Firearms – Prohibition |
Washington |
CF: HB1160 – Prohibits the sale or display of an imitation firearm in the City. No exemption for historic replicas at historic sites and souvenirs related thereto. |
Withdrawn |
Monitor |
|
|
21st–Century Economy Sales Tax Act |
Rosapepe |
CF: HB932 – Imposes the sales tax on the sale of digital products and codes, includes things like music, movies, e-books, chat room or web blog access, video greeting cards, etc. |
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Hunting – Regulated Shooting Areas – Offshore Stationary Blinds and Blind Sites |
Eckardt |
CF: HB1296 – Allows use of off-shore blinds if located within a regulated hunting area.
|
Dead |
Monitor |
|
|
Annual Curative Bill |
Req. DLLR |
Annual curative bill. |
Returned Passed |
Hold |
|
|
Economic Development –Baltimore Symphony Orchestra –Fundingand Reporting |
McIntosh |
CF: SB1065 – Decreases required contribution from $1.6m in FY 2021 to $1.5m in FY 2022 and then by $200,000 annually for the next four years to $700,000 in FY 2026. Requires reporting as to the effectiveness of the contribution including financial statement and accounting of all receipts and expenditures. |
Returned Passed |
||
|
Economic Development –Baltimore Symphony Orchestra –Funding and Reporting |
King |
CF: HB1658 – Decreases required contribution from $1.6m in FY 2021 to $1.5m in FY 2022 and then by $200,000 annually for the next four years to $700,000 in FY 2026. Requires reporting as to the effectiveness of the contribution including financial statement and accounting of all receipts and expenditures. |
Dead |