The (Very Busy) Week Ahead

As the Baltimore Sun so aptly put it, this week the Assembly shifts [its] attention from love to money.  In case you missed it, last week MBTPI testified in support of expanding property tax relief for renters.  This week we are submitting testimony on at least seven bills.


Monday, February 27^th

• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, Workforce Development (DLLR), the University System of Maryland Office, and the UM Center for Environmental Science. 1pm, in 3 West, Miller.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the State Board of Elections, the Office of Home Energy Programs (DHR), and the Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration (DHMH).  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority and Funding for Educational Organizations (MSDE).  3pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Judiciary, Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  3pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the State Highway Administration (MDOT) and the Maryland Transportation Authority.  3pm in room 145, House Office Building.

Tuesday, February 28^th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds budget hearings on the Department of Information Technology, the State Retirement Agency, Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans, and the Cigarette Restitution Fund.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds hearings on a number of proposed revenue measures beginning at 1pm in the House Office Building, including:
•  HB 784 (SB 249), which would reinstate the 6.25 percent income bracket for millionaires.  MBTPI supports this bill. [UPDATE: This hearing has been postponed to March 6th.] 
•  HB 836 (SB 523) would partially repeal the 1997 Tax Cut, by adding a quarter of a percent to each of the four existing tax brackets (over $3,000 of taxable income).  This bill is intended as an alternative to the Governor’s plan to reduce deductions for upper income taxpayers.  Unlike the governor’s plan this does not generate revenue for the counties.  MBTPI prefers the Governor’s proposal, but would support HB 836/SB 523 over the equivalent amount of damaging budget cuts. 
• HB 764 (SB 739) would require reviews of a wide range of tax credit programs every five years in order for the credits to be continued. MBTPI also supports this measure.   
• House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on the revenue outlook for counties.  This will be particularly interesting in light of the debate over splitting teacher pension costs between the state and the counties.  1pm in the House Office Building.
• House Economic Matters Committee holds a hearing on the Rental Purchase Agreements Best Practices Act (HB 997/SB 778).  MBTPI supports this bill, which would force rent-to-own businesses to be more transparent with their customers and promote fairer business practices. A fiscal note is available. 1pm in the House Office Building.

Wednesday, February 29^th

• Wednesday will be a long day in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The committee holds a hearing on the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (or BRFA, SB 152/HB 87).  The House Appropriations Committee will hold its hearing on the BRFA on Thursday.  MBTPI supports the Governor’s revenue proposals as responsible measures to support vital services.  However, revenue enhancements should be paired with an increase in the refundable state earned income tax credit (HB 331/SB 943). The committee will also hold hearings on:
• Reinstating the millionaire’s tax (SB 249/HB 784).  MBTPI supports this bill. 
• Partially repealing the 1997 tax cut (SB 523, see description for HB836 above).  MBTPI supports this bill.
• A constitutional amendment on the budget process.  SB 837 would allow the legislature to shift funds between budget items, so long as the total amount is not increased, and would give the Governor a ‘line item veto’ on items increased.   This amendment would make Maryland legislators full partners in the budget process. MBTPI supports this bill. 
• A bill to reduce the Board of Public Works (BPW) power to cut appropriations.  SB 838 would limit the BPW to cuts totaling 10 percent of the approved budget, down from 25 percent.  The bill would also require proposed cuts to be presented to the legislative budget committees a week prior to BPW consideration.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (DHMH), the Office of Preparedness and Response (DHMH), and the Department of Housing and Community Development.  1pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the State Treasurer, the Office of the Public Defender, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of State Police, and the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals. 1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds a budget hearing on the Department of the Environment.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.

Thursday, March 1^st

• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the University of Maryland-College Park, University of Maryland-Baltimore, and Coppin State University.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (DHMH), and the Office of Preparedness and Response (DHMH).  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of State Police, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.
• House Appropriations Committee holds its hearing on the BRFA (HB 87/SB 152), which MBTPI supports, along with an increase in the refundable state earned income tax.  See first item in Wednesday above.
• House Environmental Matters Committee holds a hearing on modifications to the Neighborhood and Community Assistance Program (HB 731).  This bill increases the amount of contributions eligible for a 50 percent state tax credit from $2 to $5 million (increasing state costs from $1 to $2.5 million) and allows preference to be given to projects in Neighborhood Conservation Districts designated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  This is a limited but valuable source of funds for community level service programs which MBTPI has traditionally supported. 1pm in the House Office Building.

Friday, March 2^nd

• House Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on the Department of Juvenile Services and the Governor's Office for Children & Interagency Fund.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals, the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, and MHEC Scholarship Programs. 1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Medical Care Programs Administration (DHMH). 1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.