The Minority Report 2018 Week 7

The only thing the General Assembly is constitutionally required to do during the 90-day session is pass Maryland’s budget. But, with over 1,700 bills introduced in the House and nearly 1,200 introduced in the Senate a great deal of work lies ahead.

There are important pieces of legislation that have not yet moved. Governor Hogan’s package to combat violent crime, legislation to provide small businesses with tax credits to ease the impact of Paid Sick Leave, and many other important pieces of legislation, remain in Committee.

As we move into March, we approach the “Cross Over” Deadline, where bills must be passed by the House and Senate and move to the opposite chamber to avoid additional legislative hurdles. The next few weeks will see a lot of voting sessions in Committees and more frequent and longer floor sessions.

The only thing the General Assembly is constitutionally required to do during the 90-day session is pass Maryland’s budget. But, with over 1,700 bills introduced in the House and nearly 1,200 introduced in the Senate a great deal of work lies ahead.

There are important pieces of legislation that have not yet moved. Governor Hogan’s package to combat violent crime, legislation to provide small businesses with tax credits to ease the impact of Paid Sick Leave, and many other important pieces of legislation, remain in Committee.

As we move into March, we approach the “Cross Over” Deadline, where bills must be passed by the House and Senate and move to the opposite chamber to avoid additional legislative hurdles. The next few weeks will see a lot of voting sessions in Committees and more frequent and longer floor sessions.

As drafted the bill only allowed for an individual to take the tax credit once. Delegate Rey offered an amendment on the floor that eliminated this limitation. The bill unanimously passed the House and is expected to pass in the Senate.

To learn more about organ donation, or to register as an organ donor, click here.

Delegate Bill Folden’s effort to make a bad bill better ultimately led to the bill being sent back to committee. House Bill 122 – Criminal Procedure – Sentencing Guidelines – Previously Adjudicated Delinquent, would have softened the sentencing guidelines for young adults who commit crimes. Under the bill, criminals between the ages of 18 and 21 who had a history of juvenile offenses could not have their juvenile crimes considered at the time of their sentencing. This is very concerning because in the interest of public safety, prior criminal history should be considered during sentencing.

Last week, Delegate Bill Folden successfully amended the legislation, requiring juvenile criminal history be considered if the offender was imprisoned as a juvenile. The debate sparked by Delegate Folden’s amendment led to more questions and further debate on the bill and slowed the bill’s progression as opposition to the bill grew. On Thursday, the bill was sent back to Committee – an action that is rarely taken – and is in all likelihood dead for the year.

As drafted the bill only allowed for an individual to take the tax credit once. Delegate Rey offered an amendment on the floor that eliminated this limitation. The bill unanimously passed the House and is expected to pass in the Senate.

To learn more about organ donation, or to register as an organ donor, click here.

Delegate Bill Folden’s effort to make a bad bill better ultimately led to the bill being sent back to committee. House Bill 122 – Criminal Procedure – Sentencing Guidelines – Previously Adjudicated Delinquent, would have softened the sentencing guidelines for young adults who commit crimes. Under the bill, criminals between the ages of 18 and 21 who had a history of juvenile offenses could not have their juvenile crimes considered at the time of their sentencing. This is very concerning because in the interest of public safety, prior criminal history should be considered during sentencing.

Last week, Delegate Bill Folden successfully amended the legislation, requiring juvenile criminal history be considered if the offender was imprisoned as a juvenile. The debate sparked by Delegate Folden’s amendment led to more questions and further debate on the bill and slowed the bill’s progression as opposition to the bill grew. On Thursday, the bill was sent back to Committee – an action that is rarely taken – and is in all likelihood dead for the year.