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. 2019 Maryland Tourism Council Bill Tracking

Bill Number Title Sponsor Description Legislative Status Tourism Position
HB0178 Maryland Stadium Authority – Ocean City Convention Facility – Renovation Req. Admin CF: SB177 – Increases the maximum amount of outstanding debt on bonds related to the Ocean City Convention Center from $17,340,000 to $24.5m. HAPP: H-2/28@1pm Support (Written Testimony)
HB009 Consolidated Senior Sport Fishing License – Minimum Age Chang Lowers the minimum age from 65 to 62. HE&T: H-1/30@2:30 Support
HB0027 Clean Indoor Air Act – Use of Electronic Cigarette Devices – Prohibition Holmes Prohibits use of e-Cigarettes and similar devices in in-door areas accessible by the public. HECMAT: NHS Support
HB0046 Small Business Relief Tax Credit – Expansion Admin CF: SB89 – Provides tax credits as follows: If provide either parental leave or sick and safe leave $500; if provide both; $1,000; or the amount that equals the total amt. of parental leave and sick/safe leave accrued by the qualified employee. I think there is a drafting error – see pg.2 L30 through pg3 ll 11. HW&M: NHS Support
HB0100 Budget Bill Admin. 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: SB0125 – Approximately $10m to various convention centers from MD Stadium Authority; $2.7m to Museum Services & $1.6m for Historic Preservation from Planning; $75.8m for major information technology develop funds & $13m for infrastructure; $2m for agricultural land preservation and $40m for various other agricultural and pest management activities; $39.6m for Tourism; $45m for Technology Development Corporation; and $400m for State Police; and, other various appropriations. HAPP: NHS Support
HB0157 State Government – Regulations Impacting Small Businesses Req. Admin. CF: SB173 – Requires agency personnel to be trained every 2 years of economic impact analysis for new regulations, including impact to small businesses.  Allows small business to sign up to receive notice of changes in regulations and requires that notice be written in plain English. HHGO: H-2/5@2pm Support
HB0197 Wicomico County – Alcoholic Beverages – Bed and Breakfast License Wicomico Del. CF: SB19 – Creates a beer and wine licenses for B&Bs in Wicomico County. HECMAT: H-2/18@1pm Support
HB0375 Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction Buckel Reduces corporate income tax by 0.5% per year starting in 2020 and ending in 2023 so that rate reduces from 8.25% to 6.25%. HW&M: 2/13@1pm Support
HB0405 Natural Resources – State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund – Mandatory Funding and Repeal of Termination Date Beitzel CF: SB213 – Mandated annual fund amount increases from $1m to $3m and expiration date is removed. HE&T: H-2/20@1pm Support
HB0432 Property Tax – Exemptions – Nonprofit Charitable Museums Dumais CF: SB293 – Exempts from property tax property owned by a nonprofit charitable museum that is open to the public and does not charge an admission fee. HW&M: H-2/12@1pm Support
SB0012 Capital Projects – Inclusion of Public Art Req. Commerce Limits requirement of public art incorporated into capital projects where at least 50% of funding comes from state. SFIN: H-1/23@2pm; 3rd R Passed Support
SB0019 Wicomico County – Alcoholic Beverages – Bed and Breakfast License Eckardt CF: HB197 – Creates a beer and wine licenses for B&Bs in Wicomico County. SEHEA:  H-2/22@1pm Support
SB0037 Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction Serafini Lowers corporate income tax from 8.5% to 7% by 0.5%/year over a 3yr period. Lowers corporate income tax from 8.5% to 7% by 0.5%/year over a 3yr period. Support
SB0051 Maryland Heritage Areas Authority – Target Investment Zones – Repeal Req. Planning Eliminates the identification and use of the “target investment zone” concept by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. SFIN: H-2/5@1pm Support
SB0089 Small Business Relief Tax Credit – Expansion Admin CF: HB46 – Provides tax credits as follows: If provide either parental leave or sick and safe leave $500; if provide both; $1,000; or the amount that equals the total amt. of parental leave and sick/safe leave accrued by the qualified employee. I think there is a drafting error – see pg.2 L30 through pg3 ll 11. SB&T: H-1/30@2pm Support
SB0125 Budget Bill Admin. CF: HB100 – Approximately $10m to various convention centers from MD Stadium Authority; $2.7m to Museum Services & $1.6m for Historic Preservation from Planning; $75.8m for major information technology develop funds & $13m for infrastructure;  $2m for agricultural land preservation and $40m for various other agricultural and pest management activities; $39.6m for Tourism; $45m for Technology Development Corporation; and $400m for State Police; and, other various appropriations. SB&T: NHS Support
SB0173 State Government – Regulations Impacting Small Businesses Req. Admin. CF: HB157 – Requires agency personnel to be trained every 2 years of economic impact analysis for new regulations, including impact to small businesses. SEHEA:  H-2/7@1pm – SFIN: NHS Support
SB0177 Maryland Stadium Authority – Ocean City Convention Facility – Renovation Req. Admin. CF: HB178 – Increases the maximum amount of outstanding debt on bonds related to the Ocean City Convention Center from $17,340,000 to $24.5m. SB&T: H-2/6@1pm Support
SB0190 Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction West CF: YES – Decreases rate from 8.25% by 0.25% each year starting in 2020 tax year until rate is 6%. SB&T: H-2/5@2:30PM Support
SB0213 Natural Resources – State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund – Mandatory Funding and Repeal of Termination Date Edwards CF: HB405 – Mandated annual fund amount increases from $1m to $3m and expiration date is removed. SEHEA: H-2/12@1pm Support
SB0229 Baltimore City – Summer Youth Employment – Funding and Incentives McCray Allocates at least $4.5m annually through 2023 for summer youth employment programs in Baltimore City and requires MTA to grant 10,000 free bus passes to those participating in the program. SB&T: H-2/6@1pm Support
SB0296 Property Tax – Exemptions – Nonprofit Charitable Museums King CF: HB432 – Exempts from property tax property owned by a nonprofit charitable museum that is open to the public and does not charge an admission fee. SB&T: H-2/13@1pm Support
HB0038 Labor and Employment – Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses Carr CF: SB328 – Makes noncompetes null and void for those earning less than or equal to $15/hr. or $31,200. HEM: H-1/24@1pm Oppose (Sign Up)
SB0328 Labor and Employment – Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses Smith CF: HB38 – Makes noncompetes null and void for those earning less than or equal to $15/hr. or $31,200. SFIN: H-2/21@1pm Oppose (Sign Up)
HB0166 Labor and Employment – Payment of Wages – Minimum Wage and Enforcement (Fight for Fifteen) Fennell CF: SB280 – Increases minimum wage by $1/year so that beginning 7/1/19 wage is $11/hr and increasing to $15/hr by 7/1/23.  For every 12 month period beginning 7/1/24 wage increases by the product of the current wage and the average growth in the CPI for the proceeding 12 months.  Applies to tip wages increasing same to $15/hr beginning 7/1/26 and then increasing same as regular minimum wage starting 7/1/27.  Creates complaint mechanism. HECMAT: H-2/8@12:30pm Oppose (Oral & Written Testimony)
HB0053 County Boards of Education – Length of School Year – Adjustments Chang CF: SB131 – Changes where the authorization to increase the school year for up to 5 days beyond June 15 without state board approval is placed in the section. HW&M: H-2/14@1pm Oppose
HB0437 County Boards of Education – School Year – Start and End Dates Ebersole Requires County Boards to set the start and end date of the school year. HW&M: H-2/14@1pm Oppose
SB0128 County Boards of Education – School Year – Start and End Dates Pinsky Requires each county board of education to set the start and end date of the school year. SEHEA: H-1/30@2pm; Special Order Oppose
SB0131 County Boards of Education – Length of School Year – Adjustments King CF: HB53 – Changes where the authorization to increase the school year for up to 5 days beyond June 15 without state board approval is placed in the section. SEHEA: H-1/30@2pm Oppose
SB0280 Labor and Employment – Payment of Wages – Minimum Wage and Enforcement (Fight for Fifteen) McCray CF: HB166 – Increases minimum wage by $1/year so that beginning 7/1/19 wage is $11/hr and increasing to $15/hr by 7/1/23.  For every 12 month period beginning 7/1/24 wage increases by the product of the current wage and the average growth in the CPI for the proceeding 12 months.  Applies to tip wages increasing same to $15/hr beginning 7/1/26 and then increasing same as regular minimum wage starting 7/1/27.  Creates complaint mechanism. SFIN: H-2/21@1pm Oppose
HB0008 Business Regulation – Amusement Attractions – Maryland Rider Safety Act Chang Puts onus for ride safety compliance on the rider or the rider’s guardian, requires posting of rider safety responsibilities at entrance and exit of ride. HEM: H-1/22@1pm Monitor
HB0058 Mandated Reports and Statutory Commissions, Councils, and Committees – Revisions Speaker CF: SB112 – Changes various reporting requirements.  Of particular note:  Requires Dept. of Economic and Business Development annual reporting of details of activities regarding private sector cooperative marketing projects that directly enhance promotion of the state and the tourism industry that are exempt from state procurement law. Requires Dept. Transportation to monitor federal regulations regarding unmanned aircraft and to assess if the state should address the issue – report to made in consultation with unidentified interested parties; HRULES:  NHS Monitor
HB0101 Creation of a State Debt – Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2019, and the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loans of 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Admin CF: SB126 – Approximately $10m to various convention centers from MD Stadium Authority; $2.7m to Museum Services & $1.6m for Historic Preservation from Planning; $75.8m for major information technology develop funds & $13m for infrastructure;  $2m for agricultural land preservation and $40m for various other agricultural and pest management activities; $39.6m for Tourism; $45m for Technology Development Corporation; and $400m for State Police; and, other various appropriations. HAPP: NHS Monitor
HB0109 Environment – Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Products – Prohibition Lierman CF: SB285 – Prohibits sale of food or drink in expanded polystyrene packaging after 12/31/2019.  Provides for 1 year compliance extension.  Does not apply to foods that arrive to vendors already packaged in the material. HE&T: H-2/6@1:30pm  – HECMAT:  NHS Monitor
HB0212 Anne Arundel County – Toll Roads, Highways, and Bridges and Chesapeake Bay Crossing – Consent Requirement Malone CF: SB107 – Adds Anne Arundel County to jurisdictions that must expressly consent to the development of any road/bridge, etc. that crosses the Chesapeake Bay. HE&T:NHS Monitor
HB0285 Hotel Rental Tax – Limitation of Municipal Authority to Tax Small Hotels – Repeal Palakovich CF: SB466 – Eliminates the prohibition on taxing hotels with 10 or fewer rooms. HW&M: H-2/12@1pm Monitor
HB0303 Interstate Compact on Washington Area Professional Football Team Franchise Facility Incentives Moon Prohibits any incentive to the team unless the incentive is likewise available to all development projects. HAPP: H-2/12@1pm Monitor
HB0341 Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment  (Time to Care Act of 2019) Kelly CF: SB500 – Creates a temporary assistance fund to offset lost income for taking medical leave e.  Funds come from a contribution from both employer and employee at a rate specified via regulation.  Does not diminish benefits from a collective bargaining agreement. HECMAT: H-2/12@1pm Monitor
HB0389 Charles County – Alcoholic Beverages – Resort Complex License Charles Co. Del. Creates a license for resort complexes in Charles County HECMAT: H-2/18@1pm Monitor
SB0014 Vehicle Laws – Personal Electric Transportation Devices – Definitions Lam Subjects self balancing boards, along with self balancing vehicles to traffic laws, etc. SJPR: H-1/23@2pm Monitor
SB0034 Tourist Area and Corridor Program and Task Force on Attraction Signs Young Creates a program administered by the Dept. of Transportation that identifies geographic tourist areas and corridors and then establishes policies for signage standards for individual attractions within the designated areas. SFIN:  H-2/13@1pm Monitor
SB0099 Anne Arundel County – Public Safety – Buildings Used for Agritourism Elfreth Adds Anne Arundel County to the list of jurisdictions where buildings used for agritourism do not have to comply with current building codes provided building is structurally sound. SEHEA: H-2/5@1pm Monitor
SB0107 Anne Arundel County – Toll Roads, Highways, and Bridges and Chesapeake Bay Crossing – Consent Requirement Reilly CF: HB212 – Adds Anne Arundel County to jurisdictions that must expressly consent to the development of any road/bridge, etc. that crosses the Chesapeake Bay. SFIN: H-2/13@1pm Monitor
SB0112 Mandated Reports and Statutory Commissions, Councils, and Committees – Revisions President CF: HB58 – Changes various reporting requirements.  Of particular note:  Requires Dept. of Economic and Business Development annual reporting of details of activities regarding private sector cooperative marketing projects that directly enhance promotion of the state and the tourism industry that are exempt from state procurement law. Requires Dept. Transportation to monitor federal regulations regarding unmanned aircraft and to assess if the state should address the issue – report to made in consultation with unidentified interested parties; SRULES: NHS Monitor
SB0126 Creation of a State Debt – Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2019, and the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loans of 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Admin. CF: HB101 – Approximately $10m to various convention centers from MD Stadium Authority; $2.7m to Museum Services & $1.6m for Historic Preservation from Planning; $75.8m for major information technology develop funds & $13m for infrastructure;  $2m for agricultural land preservation and $40m for various other agricultural and pest management activities; $39.6m for Tourism; $45m for Technology Development Corporation; and $400m for State Police; and, other various appropriations. SB&T:  NHS Monitor
SB0285 Environment – Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Products – Prohibition Lierman CF: HB109 – Prohibits sale of food or drink in expanded polystyrene packaging after 12/31/2019.  Provides for 1 year compliance extension.  Does not apply to foods that arrive to vendors already packaged in the material. SEHEA: H-2/12@1pm Monitor
HB0480 Alcoholic Beverages – Maryland Brewery Promotion Program – Establishment Luedtke CF: SB508 – Creates a Maryland Brewery Promotion Program to promote Maryland Breweries. HECMAT: H-2/18@1pm
HB0491 State Contractual Employees – Paid Leave Hettleman Requires paid leave for contractural employees whose unit is closed on a scheduled workday. HAPP: H-2/21@1pm
HB0518 Public Safety – Agritourism – Permit Exemption Szeliga CF: SB446 – Adds Baltimore County to the jurisdictions where buildings used for agritourism need not comply with building codes provided the building is structurally sound. HE&T: H-2/27@1pm
HB0524 Prevailing Wage Rates – Public Work Contracts – Suits by Employees Wilson CF: SB300 – Authorizes employees eligible for prevailing wages to sue employees for difference between that rate and what they are being paid. HECMAT: H-2/12@1pm
SB0370 Environment – Recycling – Commercial Properties West Requires commercial properties with one or more entities employing a total of at least 200 employees to provide recycling and removal thereof as of 10/1/21 or face $300/day fine. SEHEA:  H-2/19@1pm
SB0392 Legislation – Employee Organizations – Certification of Differential Impact Kelley Requires employee organizations to provide to the sponsor and committee of jurisdiction as statement whether the bill will have no differential impact or meaningful differential impact on various subgroups of the members of the organization when the organization publicly supports a bill introduced by a member of the General Assembly.  Differential impact means a difference in the effect of a bill on various members of the employee organization. SFIN: H-2/28@1pm
SB0443 Workers’ Compensation – Discharge of Employee – Prohibition Klausmeier Eliminates requirement that discharge “solely” as a result of the filing of a worker’s comp claim. SFIN: H-2/19@1pm
SB0446 Public Safety – Agritourism – Permit Exemption Jennings CF: HB518 – Adds Baltimore County to the jurisdictions where buildings used for agritourism need not comply with building codes provided the building is structurally sound. SHEA: H-2/19@1pm
SB0466 Hotel Rental Tax – Limitation of Municipal Authority to Tax Small Hotels – Repeal King CF: HB285 – Eliminates the prohibition on taxing hotels with 10 or fewer rooms. SB&T: H-3/6@1pm
SB0500 Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment  (Time to Care Act of 2019) Hayes CF: HB341 – Creates a temporary assistance fund to offset lost income for taking medical leave e.  Funds come from a contribution from both employer and employee at a rate specified via regulation.  Does not diminish benefits from a collective bargaining agreement. SFIN: NHS
SB0508 Alcoholic Beverages – Maryland Brewery Promotion Program – Establishment Eckardt CF: HB480 – Creates a Maryland Brewery Promotion Program to promote Maryland Breweries. SFIN: H-2/26@1pm – SB&T: NHS
SB0514 Commercial Law – Automatic Renewals Pinsky Requires those offering subscription renewal contracts on-line to also offer the ability to cancel same on-line and requires notification of pricing if a free trial is offered and the trial period expires. Violation is an unfair and deceptive trade practice. SFIN: H-2/27@1pm
SB0443 Workers’ Compensation – Discharge of Employee – Prohibition Klausmeier Eliminates requirement that discharge “solely” as a result of the filing of a worker’s comp claim. SFIN: H-2/19@1pm
SB0518 Discrimination in Employment – Pregnancy and Childbirth Feldman CF: YES – Requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for disabilities attributed to pregnancy or childbirth. SJPR: H-2/28@12pm
SB0534 Public Buildings and Places of Public Accommodation – Diaper–Changing Facilities in Restrooms Lam Requires installation of diaper-changing facilities in restrooms located in state-owned or leased buildings constructed, leased, or substantially renovated on or after 10/1/19. SJPR: H-2/14@12pm
SB0545 Sales and Use Tax – Rate Reduction Salling Lowers the sales tax from 6 cents to 5 cents. SB&T: H-3/6@1pm
SB0613 Online Consumer Protection Act Lee CF: YES – Requires disclosure of the kinds of personal information businesses with more than $20m in annual income collect from consumers; allows consumer to request collected information be deleted; allows consumers to prohibit sale of information to 3rd parties; prohibits discrimination against consumers who opt out; and, allows information to be collected as required by law or solely for non-commercial research purposes.  $2,500 fine for each violation with $7,500 for each willful violation.  Effective 1/1/21. SFIN: NHS
SB0628 Economic Development – Maryland Tourism Development Board – Grant Carter Authorizes Maryland Tourism Development Board to issue grants to nongovernmental tourism organizations. SFIN: H-2/26@1pm
SB0681 Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act – Seasonal Temporary Workers Carozza Changes thresholds for rehires to make it less likely the law will apply to seasonal temporary workers. SFIN: H-2/21@1pm
SB0709 Commercial Law – Consumer Protection – Ticket Website Domain Beidle CF: YES – Permits those owning, operating, or controlling websites while acting on behalf of a venue or entertainment event to use the work “official” and requires those who are not acting on behalf of a venue or entertainment event to use the word “reseller” in the lower-level domain name of the URL of the website. SFIN: NHS
SB0799 Maryland Stadium Authority – Baltimore Convention Facility – Renovation Req. City Admin. CF: YES – Increases total amount of bonds (new & outstanding) for new construction or renovation at the Baltimore Convention Center from $55m to $600m. SB&T: H-3/6@1pm
SB0839 Labor and Employment – Criminal Record Screening Practices (Ban the Box) Carter Eliminates requirement that discharge “solely” as a result of the filing of a worker’s comp claim. SFIN: H-2/19@1pm