The Week Ahead

Monday, February 13th

• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds a budget hearing on the DPSCS Division of Correction.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.
• House Education and Economic Development and Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittees hold a joint budget hearing on college completion.  1:30 pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Mental Hygiene Administration and the MD Institute Emergency Medical Services Systems.  3pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Department of Transportation, including debt service requirements and the Maryland Port Administration.  3pm in room 120, House Office Building.

Tuesday, February 14^th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds budget hearings on the State Reserve Fund, payments to civil divisions, and the Interagency Fund for Children and Youth.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• House Environmental Matters Committee holds a hearing on HB 292, which would reduce the waiting period to apply for a driver’s license for adult drivers over the age of 25 who already have a learner’s permit.  1pm in the House Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on HB 331, which would increase the refundable portion of the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 25 percent to 30 percent of the federal EITC.  EITC is an important support for many low and moderate income families.  It is also important because it makes the tax code more equitable.  With so many important and needed tax increases on the table this session, increasing the refundable portion of the state EITC would ensure that those Marylanders least able to pay are not unduly burdened.  MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman will testify in support of this bill.  1pm in the House Office Building.

Wednesday, February 15^th

• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on aid to community colleges and Baltimore City Community College.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Aging, the Laboratories Administration (DHMH), and the Office of Health Care Quality (DHMH). 1pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Motor Vehicle Administration and the Department of Planning.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on HB 457, which would require MDOT to use the maximum amount of federal dollars available for training programs (the feds allow states to use up to a certain percentage of some grants for training).  MBTPI supports this job-creating bill.  1pm in the House Office Building.
• Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee holds a hearing on the HOME Act (SB 277/HB 168, fiscal note).  The Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act would prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income. MBTPI, Maryland Nonprofits, and many of our partners will submit testimony in support of this bill.  MBTPI’s testimony in support of the House version is available here.  1pm in the Senate Office Building.

Thursday, February 16^th

• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the UM Center for Environmental Science, Maryland Economic Development Corporation, the Maryland Technology Development Corp (TEDCO), and DLLR Business Regulation.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Comptroller, the Department of General Services, DPSCS Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, DPSCS Patuxent Institution.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds Budget Hearings on St Mary's College of Maryland, the Historic St Mary's City Commission, and MSDE Headquarters.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Aging, the Laboratories Administration (DHMH), and the Office of Health Care Quality (DHMH).  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration, and the Public Service Commission.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.

Friday, February 17^th

• House Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on the State Reserve Fund, payments to civil divisions, and the Interagency Fund for Children and Youth.  1pm in room 120, House Office Buidling.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on MSDE Aid to Education and the Maryland Stadium Authority.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of the Environment and the DPSCS Patuxent Institution.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.

The Week Ahead

We got some good news about the national economy last Friday—the unemployment rate fell for the fifth straight month to 8.3 percent in January.  And in case you missed it, MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman appeared on WYPR’s Midday Politics and WJZ’s On Time with Kai Jackson, and had an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun calling for a sensible diet when it comes to the budget.

Monday, February 6^th

• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Family Health Administration, Chronic Disease Services, and Health Regulatory Commissions.  1pm in 3 Miller, Senate Office Building.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on a variety of Department of Human Resources programs, including social services and child support.  3pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on parole, probation, and the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.  3pm in room 120, House Office Building.

Tuesday, February 7^th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds budget hearings on the Department of Transportation, and publicdebt.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee holds budget hearings on PAYGO across multiple agencies.  4pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.

Wednesday, February 8^th

• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the University of Baltimore, and Morgan State University.  1:30pm in room 145, House Office Building.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on various DHMH programs.  1:30 pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Agriculture and the State Lottery Agency.  1:30pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Capital Budget Subcommittee holds budget hearings on PAYGO across multiple agencies.  4pm in room 120, House Office Building.

Thursday, February 9^th

• House Environmental Matters Committee will hold a 1pm hearing on the Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act (HB 168), which would prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income. MBTPI, Maryland Nonprofits, and many of our partners will submit testimony in support of this bill.
• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds a budget hearing on the State Department of Education Headquarters and the Maryland Stadium Authority.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on corrections, assessments, and the Secretary of State. 1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the University of Baltimore, and Morgan State University.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration and the Health Occupation Boards.  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Transportation and the Maryland Institute Emergency Medical Services Systems.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.

Friday, February 10^th

• House Appropriations Committee holds a budget hearing on the Department of Budget and Management.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on aid to community colleges, Baltimore City Community College, and business regulation.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Mental Hygiene Administration and tax assessments.  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Planning and the Division of Pretrial Detention and Services.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.