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 641-715-3580 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, Chris Riehl at chris@rentatour.com.
2017 Maryland Tourism Council Bill Tracking
| Bill Number | Title | Sponsor | Description | Legislative Status | Tourism Position |
| HB0001 | Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act | Clippinger | CF: SB472 & SB230 – Requires employers of 15 or more employees to provide at least 56 hours of paid and earned sick and safe leave per year. If less than 15, leave is unpaid. Leave is earned at 1 hour for every 30 worked. HB580/16 – Tourism: Oppose – even with amendments submitted; Hotels & Lodging: Oppose | HECMAT: H-2/10@12:30pm; 2nd R PWA; SFIN: H-3/14@1pm; FWA; Passed Enrolled | Oppose |
| HB0004 | Hunting and Fishing Licenses – Active Military, Former Prisoners of War, Recipients of the Purple Heart Award, and Disabled Veterans | Simonaire | CF: SB46 – Requires Department to issue complimentary out of state or discounted licenses to former POWs, disabled veterans or recipients of the Purple Heart. | HENVTRN: H-1/25@1pm; SEHEA: NHS; Passed Enrolled | Monitor |
| HB0061 | State Designations – State Waterfowl – Canvasback Duck | Lisanti | CF: HB 0061: Designating the canvasback as the state waterfowl | HHGO: H-3/15@1pm; Failed | Support |
| HB0068 | Hunting and Fishing – Complimentary Licenses – Purple Heart Recipients | Carey | Authorizes DNR to offer complimentary angler, coastal sport fishing and hunting licenses to Purple Heart recipients. | HENVTRN: H-1/25@1pm; SB&T: H-3/28@1pm; Passed Enrolled | |
| HB0130 | Maryland Wine and Grape Promotion Fund | Req. Dept. Agriculture | Eliminates the Council portion of the MD Wine and Grape Promotion Fund and Council. Funding approvals would now come through the Secretary. | HENVTRN: H-2/8@1pm; 3rd R Passed; SEHEA: H=3/23@1pm; Returned Passed | Support |
| HB0150 | Budget Bill | Req. Admin | CF: SB170 – Making the proposed appropriations contained in the State Budget for the fiscal year ending 6/30/18. | HAPP: 3rd R Passed; Passed Enrolled | Support |
| HB0267 | Program Open Space – Authorized Transfer to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund – Increase | Wilson | CF: SB257 – Increasing from $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 the maximum amount that may be transferred, in the State budget or through a specified budget amendment process, to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund from funds that are distributed to Program Open Space. | HAPP: H-2/7@1pm; FWA; 2nd R PWA; SB&T: H-3/23@1pm; Returned Passed | Support |
| HB0368 | Hunting and Fishing Licenses and Stamps – Seniors, Veterans, and Military Personnel (Howard’s Law) | Metzgar | Removes fees for licenses for seniors and veterans; removes license requirement for military personnel on leave in the state if they show their leave papers. | HENVTRN: H-2/15@1pm; Unfavorable | Monitor/Support |
| HB0382 | Commonsense Paid Leave Act | Req. Admin | CF: SB305 – Requires employers of at least 50 people to provide paid leave for any reason at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked up to 40 hours. Requires employers to allow for carryover of up to 40 hours. Employers of less than 50 may offer paid leave and take advantage of a subtraction modification. | HECMAT: H-2/10@1pm; Failed | Monitor |
| HB0398 | Labor and Employment – Equal Pay – Job Announcement and Salary History Information Disclosures | K. Young | CF: SB404 – Requires the following disclosures in job announcements: minimum rate of pay, how pay is calculated, overtime and allowance availability. Prohibits asking about salary history unless to confirm after offering a position. Prohibits salary disclosures by employees to other employees. | HECMAT: H-2/14@1pm; FWA; SFIN: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| HB0505 | Maryland Tourism Development Board – Destination Marketing Organization Officials – Voting Rights | McMillan | CF: SB87 -Changes the three members appointed by the Governor who are directors or CEOs from destination marketing organizations from nonvoting to voting members. | HECMAT: H-2/8@1pm; 3rd R Passed; SFIN: H-3/23@1pm; Returned Passed | Support |
| HB0506 | Labor and Employment – Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses | Carr | CF: SB468 – Makes null and void noncompete agreements where the employee earns less than $15/hr or earns less than $31,200 annually. | HECMAT: H-2/14@1pm; 2nd R Passed; SFIN: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| HB0597 | Public Health – Clean Indoor Air Act – Repeal of Exception Regarding Hotel and Motel Rooms | Platt | Eliminates smoking rooms in hotels. | HECMAT: H-2/15@1pm; Unfavorable | Monitor |
| HB0665 | Labor and Employment – Exemptions From Overtime Pay – Administrative, Executive, or Professional Capacity | Tarlau | CF: SB607 – Defines employed in an administrative, executive or professional capacity for purposes of being exempt from overtime as those earning, on a salary basis, a rate per wee4k of the 40th percentile or more of weekly earnings in the lowest-wage census region and is $913 or more. Requires Commissioner to make adjustments every 3 years. | HECMAT: H-2/21@1pm; Failed | Oppose |
| HB0673 | Business Regulation – Innkeepers – Records, Human Trafficking Awareness Training, and Hourly Accommodations | Chang | Requires that transactions be kept electronically for at least 6 months, requires annual training of staff regarding human trafficking and prohibits letting rooms at an hourly rate. | HECMAT: H-2/21@1pm; Unfavorable | Support |
| HB0691 | Corporations and Associations – Annual Reports – Filing Fees (Filing Fee Fairness Act of 2017) | Atterbeary | CF: YES – Changes filing rates from being based on type of entity to fees based on taxable assets ranging from $150-$4,000. | HECMAT: H-2/22@1pm; Withdrawn | Oppose |
| HB0907 | Chesapeake Bay Water Transportation Network | Lisanti | CF: SB850 – Requires Department to study feasability and cost of developing a transportation system throughout Bay. | HENVTRN: H-3/2@1pm; Failed | Support |
| HB0929 | Garrett County – Alcoholic Beverages – Licenses and Sunday Sales | Beitzel | Creates new licenses and authorizes sales through 2am on Sunday. | HECMAT: H-2/20@1pm; 3rd R Passed; SEHEA: H-3/21@1pm; 3rd R Passed; Returned Passed | Support |
| HB1030 | Baltimore City – Hotel Room Tax – Convention Center Promotion | Req. City | CF: SB846 – Requires City to appropriate at least 40% of hotel tax to promoting Baltimore through July 1, 2022. | HW&M: H-3/9@1pm; FWA; SB&T: H-3/30@1pm; Returned Passed | Support |
| HB1143 | Maryland Pay Stub Transparency Act of 2017 | Lierman | Requires specified information to appear on pay stubs with liquidated damages up to $2,500, | HECMAT: H-3/7@1pm; SFIN: H-4/5@1pm; Unfavorable | Oppose |
| HB1283 | Alcoholic Beverages – Class 5 Brewery License | Branch | Authorizes holders of Class 5 Brewery licenses to open for on-premises consumption 7-days a week, makes other changes to permissable activities. | HECMAT: H-2/20@1pm; SEHEA: H-3/29@1pm; Passed Enrolled | Oppose |
| HB1286 | Harford County – Admissions and Amusement Tax – Limitations in Municipal Corporations | Lisanti | Prohibits imposition of admissions and amusement tax in municipal corporations in Harford County. | HW&M: H-3/9@1pm; SB&T: H-3/30@1pm; Failed | Monitor |
| HB1366 | Labor and Employment – Number of Employees Granted H-1B or L-1 Visa – Disclosure | Fisher | Requires annual reporting of the number of employees granted an H-1B or L-1 visa to DLLR which shall make same available to the public. | HECMAT: H-3/6@1pm; Failed | Monitor |
| HB1391 | Baltimore County – Class 5 Brewery | Brooks | Cf: SB801 – Allows Class 5 license holders in Baltimore County to serve up to 5,000 barrels a year for on-site consumption. | HECMAT: H-2/20@1pm; Failed | Support with Amendments |
| HB1420 | Alcoholic Beverages – Modern Brewery License | Barkley | Creates a new Class 10 Modern Brewery license and sets forth limitations and requirements under the license. | HECMAT: H-2/20@1pm; Failed | Support |
| HB1614 | Maryland Fair Scheduling, Wages, and Benefits Act | Morales | CF: SB1116 – Requires employers to provide employees with 21 days of scheduling at a time, etc. | HRULES: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| HB1615 | Maryland Fair Scheduling Act | Morales | CF: SB1145 – Requires at least 4 hours of payment; if on call pay at least 2 hours; allows employees to decline shift work occurring during the 11 hours following the end of a shift; requires additional information on pay stubs and record keeping of at least 3 years; prohibits retaliation for employees refusing to work in violation of the law, etc. | HRULES: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| HB1619 | Maryland Stadium Authority – Maryland Sports and Affiliated Foundations – Establishment | Clippinger | CF: SB1148 – Creates an agency whose purpose is to bring national and international sporting events to the state. | HAPP: H-3/28@1pm; Passed Enrolled | Support |
| HB1641 | Corporations and Associations – Nonprofit Corporations – Legislative Advocacy | Lam | Requires 501(C)(3)s to record the organiztions position in the minutes of the meeting at which a position was taken if the organization publicly advocates for or against legislation pending before the General Assembly. | HRULES: NHS; Failed | Monitor |
| HB1650 | Harford County – Hotel Rental Tax | Lisanti | Authorizes Harford County to impose a hotel rental tax not to exceed 7%. | HRULES: NHS; Failed | Hold |
| HB1659 | Employment Discrimination – Sexual Harassment – Definition of Employer | Simonaire | CF: YES – Adds to definition of “employer” those who have one or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceeding calendar year. | HRULES: NHS; Failed | Monitor |
| SB0046 | Hunting and Fishing Licenses – Active Military, Former Prisoners of War, Recipients of the Purple Heart Award, and Disabled Veterans | Simonaire | CF: HB4 – Requires Department to issue complimentary out of state or discounted licenses to former POWs, disabled veterans or recipients of the Purple Heart. | SEHEA: H-1/24@1pm; Favorable; HENVTRN: H-3/22@1pm; Passed Enrolled | Monitor |
| SB0066 | Hunter Safety Courses – Incentives Program – Establishment | Simonaire | Authorizes DNR to offer discounts or other incentives for out of state hunters to complete a safety course prior to hunting in MD. | SEHEA: H-1/24@1pm; FWA; HENVTRN: H-3/22@1pm; Returned Passed | Hold |
| SB0087 | Maryland Tourism Development Board – Destination Marketing Organization Officials – Voting Rights | Astle | CF: HB505 -Changes the three members appointed by the Governor who are directors or CEOs from destination marketing organizations from nonvoting to voting members. | SFIN: H-1/17@1pm, Favorable, HECMAT: Returned Passed | Support |
| SB0093 | Hotel Rental Tax – Accommodations Intermediary – Collection Requirement | Astle | CF: HB935 – Requires accommodations intermediaries to collect and remit state sale and use tax for hotel and motel accommodations without regard to any limitations or exemptions based on the location, number of rooms, or size of the hotel. | SB&T: H-2/1@2pm; Failed | Support |
| SB0170 | Budget Bill | Req. Admin | CF: HB0150 – Making the proposed appropriations contained in the State Budget for the fiscal year ending 6/30/18. | SB&T: NHS; Failed | Support |
| SB0230 | Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act | Middleton | CF:HB1 – Requires employers of 15 or more employees to provide at least 56 hours of paid and earned sick and safe leave per year. If less than 15, leave is unpaid. Leave is earned at 1 hour for every 30 worked. HB580/16 – Tourism: Oppose – even with amendments submitted; Hotels & Lodging: Oppose | SFIN: H-2/9@1pm; Special Order; HECMAT: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| SB0257 | Program Open Space – Authorized Transfer to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund – Increase | Kasemeyer | CF: HB267 – Increasing from $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 the maximum amount that may be transferred, in the State budget or through a specified budget amendment process, to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund from funds that are distributed to Program Open Space. | SB&T: H-2/8@1pm; FWA; 3rd R Passed; HAPP: H-3/21@1pm; Favorable; Returned Passed | Support |
| SB0305 | Commonsense Paid Leave Act | Req. Admin | CF: HB382 – Requires employers of at least 50 people to provide paid leave for any reason at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked up to 40 hours. Requires employers to allow for carryover of up to 40 hours. Employers of less than 50 may offer paid leave and take advantage of a subtraction modification. | SFIN: H-2/9@1pm; SB&T: NHS; Failed | Monitor |
| SB0404 | Labor and Employment – Equal Pay – Job Announcement and Salary History Information Disclosures | Lee | CF: HB398 – Requires the following disclosures in job announcements: minimum rate of pay, how pay is calculated, overtime and allowance availability. Prohibits asking about salary history unless to confirm after offering a position. Prohibits salary disclosures by employees to other employees. | SFIN: H-2/16@1pm; Unfavorable | Oppose |
| SB0430 | State Highway Administration – Sale or Lease of Naming Rights for Rest Areas and Welcome Centers | Klausmeier | Authorizing the State Highway Administration to sell or lease to a private entity the naming rights for rest areas and welcome centers, as specified; prohibiting the sale or lease of rest area and welcome center naming rights unless the Administration makes specified determinations; requiring the term of a contract for the sale or lease of naming rights to be at least 1 year; requiring the proceeds from the sale or lease of naming rights for rest areas and welcome centers be credited to the Transportation Trust Fund; etc. | SB&T: H-2/8@1pm; Failed | Supoort with Amendment to designate portion of revenue to tourism promotion |
| SB0463 | Business Regulation – Limited Residential Lodging | Conway | CF: YES – Regulates Airbnb type transactions and requires licensure and tax collection for participating home owners. | SFIN: H-2/22@1pm; SB&T: NHS; Failed | Support |
| SB0468 | Labor and Employment – Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses | Astle | CF: HB506 – Makes null and void noncompete agreements where the employee earns less than $15/hr or earns less than $31,200 annually. | SFIN: H-2/22@1pm; Unfavorable | Oppose |
| SB0607 | Labor and Employment – Exemptions From Overtime Pay – Administrative, Executive, or Professional Capacity | Pinsky | CF: HB665 – Defines employed in an administrative, executive or professional capacity for purposes of being exempt from overtime as those earning, on a salary basis, a rate per wee4k of the 40th percentile or more of weekly earnings in the lowest-wage census region and is $913 or more. Requires Commissioner to make adjustments every 3 years. | SFIN: Withdrawn | Oppose |
| SB0716 | Admissions and Amusement Tax – Exemption – Agricultural Tourism and Promotion of Agricultural Products | Eckardt | Exempts ag tourism and promotion of ag products from admission and amusement tax. | SB&T: H-3/2@1pm; Failed | Monitor |
| SB0801 | Baltimore County – Class 5 Brewery | Zirkin | Cf: HB1391 – Allows Class 5 license holders in Baltimore County to serve up to 5,000 barrels a year for on-site consumption. | SEHEA: H-2/24@1pm; Failed | Support with Amendments |
| SB0846 | Baltimore City – Hotel Room Tax – Convention Center Promotion | Req. City | CF: HB1030 – Requires City to appropriate at least 40% of hotel tax to promoting Baltimore through July 1, 2022. | SB&T: H-3/8@1pm; HW&M: H-3/30@1pm; Favorable; Returned Passed | Support |
| SB0850 | Chesapeake Bay Water Transportation Network | Mathias | CF: HB907 – Requires Department to study feasability and cost of developing a transportation system throughout Bay. | SFIN: H-3/8@1pm; Failed | Support |
| SB0962 | Labor and Employment – Payment of Minimum Wage Required (Fight for Fifteen) | Cf: HB1416 – Raises minimum wage to $15 by July 1, 2023 and then increases by CPI thereafter. | SFIN: H-3/15@1pm; Failed | Oppose | |
| SB1052 | State Designations – State Waterfowl – Canvasback Duck | Mathais | CF: HB 0061: Designating the canvasback as the state waterfowl | SEHEA: H-3/7@1pm; Failed | Support |
| SB1116 | Maryland Fair Scheduling, Wages, and Benefits Act | Benson | CF: HB1614 – Requires employers to provide employees with 21 days of scheduling at a time, etc. | SRULES: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| SB1145 | Maryland Fair Scheduling Act | Benson | CF: HB1615 – Requires at least 4 hours of payment; if on call pay at least 2 hours; allows employees to decline shift work occurring during the 11 hours following the end of a shift; requires additional information on pay stubs and record keeping of at least 3 years; prohibits retaliation for employees refusing to work in violation of the law, etc. | SRULES: NHS; Failed | Oppose |
| SB1148 | Maryland Stadium Authority – Maryland Sports and Affiliated Foundations – Establishment | Ferguson | CF: HB1619 – Creates an agency whose purpose is to bring national and international sporting events to the state. | SFIN: H-3/21@1pm; 2nd R PWA; HRULES: NHS; Passed Enrolled | Support |
| SB1192 | Labor and Employment – Unemployment Insurance – Independent Contractors and Severance Pay | Manno | Clarifies what it means to be free from control and direction for independent contractors and establishes 13 criteria that must be met by the contractor, including a requirement that the work is performed off the employing unit’s premises. | SFIN: NHS; Failed |