LIFE SCIENCES
HB 155 (SB 212) →
Genetic Testing – Prohibitions on Disability, Life, and Long-Term Care Insurance and Educational Materials (Genetic Testing Protection Act of 2023)
Prohibiting carriers that offer life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance policies or contracts from taking certain action regarding coverage based on whether an applicant or policy or contract holder has requested or undergone genetic testing or the results of the genetic testing; and requiring the Maryland Department of Health to review and update certain materials relating to the benefits of genetic testing and the impact of testing on access to certain insurance policies and contracts by April 1, 2024.
HB 279 (SB 202) →
Prescription Drug Affordability Board – Upper Payment Limits
Reestablishing the requirement that the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, under certain circumstances, draft a plan of action for implementing a process to set upper payment limits for certain prescription drug products; reestablishing the authority of the Board to set upper payments limits, under certain circumstances, for prescription drug products that are purchased or paid for by or through certain State or local government entities, plans, or programs; etc.
HB 286 (SB 278) →
Perfusionists – Licensure Exemption – Employees and Agents of Federally Designated Organ Procurement Organizations
Exempting employees and agents of federally designated organ procurement organizations who preserve or perfuse organs from deceased human donors for certain purposes from licensure requirements for perfusionists.
HB 302 (SB 188) →
Public Health – Rare Disease Advisory Council
Establishing the Rare Disease Advisory Council to study and make recommendations on matters relating to individuals with rare diseases in the State; requiring the Council to convene public hearings, make inquiries, and solicit comments from the public on the needs of rare disease patients, caregivers, and health care providers; requiring the Council to report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 each year beginning in 2024 and provide recommendations on ways to address the needs of persons with rare diseases in the State; etc.
HB 357 →
Pharmacy Benefits Managers – Definitions of Carrier, ERISA, and Purchaser
Repealing the definitions of “carrier” and “ERISA” and altering the definition of “purchaser” for the purpose of applying certain provisions of State insurance law governing pharmacy benefits managers to certain persons that provide prescription drug coverage or benefits in the State through plans or programs subject to ERISA; and repealing a certain provision that restricts applicability of certain provisions of law to pharmacy benefits managers that provide pharmacy benefits management services on behalf of a carrier.
SB 188 (HB 302) →
Public Health – Rare Disease Advisory Council
Establishing the Rare Disease Advisory Council to study and make recommendations on matters relating to individuals with rare diseases in the State; requiring the Council to convene public hearings, make inquiries, and solicit comments from the public on the needs of rare disease patients, caregivers, and health care providers; requiring the Council to report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 each year beginning in 2024 and provide recommendations on ways to address the needs of persons with rare diseases in the State; etc.
SB 202 (HB 279) →
Prescription Drug Affordability Board – Upper Payment Limits
Reestablishing the requirement that the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, under certain circumstances, draft a plan of action for implementing a process to set upper payment limits for certain prescription drug products; reestablishing the authority of the Board to set upper payments limits, under certain circumstances, for prescription drug products that are purchased or paid for by or through certain State or local government entities, plans, or programs; etc.
SB 212 (HB 155) →
Genetic Testing – Prohibitions on Disability, Life, and Long-Term Care Insurance and Educational Materials (Genetic Testing Protection Act of 2023)
Prohibiting carriers that offer life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance policies or contracts from taking certain action regarding coverage based on whether an applicant or policy or contract holder has requested or undergone genetic testing or the results of the genetic testing; and requiring the Maryland Department of Health to review and update certain materials relating to genetic testing on or before April 1, 2024.
SB 278 (HB 286) →
Perfusionists – Licensure Exemption – Employees and Agents of Federally Designated Organ Procurement Organizations
Exempting employees and agents of federally designated organ procurement organizations who preserve or perfuse organs from deceased human donors for certain purposes from licensure requirements for perfusionists.
TECHNOLOGY
HB 33 (SB 169) →
Commercial Law – Consumer Protection – Biometric Data Privacy
Oppose
Regulating the use of biometric data by private entities, including by requiring certain private entities in possession of biometric data to develop a written policy, made available to the public, establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for permanent destruction of biometric data; prohibiting an entity that collects biometric data from selling, leasing, or trading an individual’s biometric data; authorizing an individual alleging a violation of the Act to bring a civil action against the offending private entity; etc.
HB 75 →
Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Digital Bay Business Diversity Program – Establishment
Monitor
Establishing the Digital Bay Business Diversity Program in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to provide grants to nonprofit organizations to establish diverse and effective business incubators; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030; prohibiting an organization from receiving from the Corporation a grant in excess of $250,000; etc.
HB 223 (SB 192) →
Criminal Procedure – Facial Recognition Technology – Requirements, Procedures, and Prohibitions
Establishing requirements, procedures, and prohibitions relating to the use of facial recognition technology by a law enforcement agency under certain circumstances; requiring, by October 1 each year, a law enforcement agency that uses or contracts for the use of facial recognition technology to complete an audit to determine compliance with the Act as well as applicable local laws, regulations, and policies; etc.
SB 125 →
Business Diversity Incubator Program
Monitor
Establishing the Digital Bay Business Diversity Program in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to provide grants to certain nonprofit organizations to establish diverse and effective business incubators in the State; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $2,000,000 for the program in each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031; etc.
SB 169 (HB 33) →
Commercial Law – Consumer Protection – Biometric Data Privacy
Regulating the use of biometric data by private entities, including by requiring certain private entities in possession of biometric data to develop a written policy, made available to the public, establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for permanent destruction of biometric data; authorizing an individual alleging a violation of the Act to bring a civil action against the offending private entity; and making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice.
SB 192 (HB 223) →
Criminal Procedure – Facial Recognition Technology – Requirements, Procedures, and Prohibitions
Establishing requirements, procedures, and prohibitions relating to the use of facial recognition technology by a law enforcement agency under certain circumstances; requiring on October 1 each year, a law enforcement agency that uses or contracts for the use of facial recognition technology to complete an audit to determine compliance with the Act; etc.
TAXES
HB 39 →
Effective Corporate Tax Rate Transparency Act of 2023
Monitor
Allowing employers that claim the federal work opportunity credit to claim a credit against the State income tax for certain wages paid to individuals with barriers to employment; requiring the Department of Legislative Services to prepare a tax credit evaluation of the credit on or before December 31, 2028; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, but before January 1, 2029.
HB 46 →
Corporate Income Tax – Combined Reporting
Oppose
Requiring affiliated corporations to compute Maryland taxable income using a certain combined reporting method; authorizing certain corporations, subject to regulations adopted by the Comptroller, to determine certain income using the water’s edge method; providing a subtraction modification under the Maryland corporate income tax for certain changes to a certain combined group’s deferred tax assets or liabilities that are the result of certain provisions of the Act; etc.
HB 148 →
Economic Development – Enterprise Zone Program – Alterations
Monitor
Altering the circumstances under which the Secretary of Commerce may designate an area as an enterprise zone or a focus area; prohibiting the Secretary from designating a new enterprise zone or granting an expansion of an existing enterprise zone if the Secretary reasonably anticipates that the aggregate amount of property tax credits claimed for the immediately preceding fiscal year may exceed $60,000,000; and terminating the Program on January 1, 2031, except under certain circumstances.
HB 171 →
Corporations and Associations – Annual Reports – Filing Fees
Support
Eliminating the filing fees for certain annual reports paid by business entities to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation if the annual report is filed electronically or the business entity does not report any personal property for which property tax is owed; and applying the Act to annual reports due on or after April 15, 2024.
HB 181 (SB 197) →
Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program and Income Tax Credit – Established (Four-Day Workweek Act of 2023)
Monitor
Establishing the Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program in the Maryland Department of Labor for the purpose of promoting, incentivizing, and supporting the experimentation and study of the use of a 4-day workweek by private and public employers; allowing certain qualifying employers that participate in the Program to claim a credit against the State income tax in an amount to be determined by the Department; requiring the Department to report by December 1 each year on the status of the program to the Governor and the General Assembly; etc.
HB 191 →
Income Tax – Payments of Fines, Penalties, and Other Amounts – Addition Modification
Monitor
Providing an addition modification under the Maryland income tax for the amount of certain trade or business expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year that are deducted under the Internal Revenue Code for the payment of certain fines, penalties, or other amounts; and applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022.
HB 293 (SB 12) →
Corporations and Associations – Annual Report Filing Fees – Electronic Filing Exemption
Requiring the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to waive the filing fees for annual reports filed electronically by certain business entities.
SB 12 (HB 293) →
Corporations and Associations – Annual Report Filing Fees – Electronic Filing Exemption
Requiring the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to waive the filing fees for annual reports filed electronically by certain business entities.
SB 197 (HB 181) →
Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program and Income Tax Credit – Established (Four-Day Workweek Act of 2023)
Monitor
Establishing the Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program in the Maryland Department of Labor for the purpose of promoting, incentivizing, and supporting the experimentation and study of the use of a 4-day workweek by private and public employers; allowing certain qualifying employers that participate in the Program to claim a credit against the State income tax in an amount to be determined by the Department; requiring the Department to report by December 1 each year on the status of the program to the Governor and the General Assembly; etc.
SB 240 →
Income Tax – Out-of-State Taxes Paid by Pass-Through Entities – Addition Modification
Providing, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, an addition modification under the Maryland income tax for the amount of a certain tax credit claimed for certain taxes paid to another state by a member of a pass-through entity under certain circumstances.
OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST
HB 31 →
Environment – Products and Packaging – Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising for Recycling
Monitor
Altering certain plastic resin labeling requirements for rigid plastic containers and plastic bottles to require the “chasing arrows” symbol; altering the capacity of the plastic bottles to which the plastic resin labeling requirements apply; establishing plastic resin labeling requirements for plastic bags; prohibiting the display of a certain symbol on plastic bags, plastic bottles, and rigid plastic containers if the bags, bottles, and containers do not meet certain requirements; prohibiting certain environmental marketing claims; etc.
HB 84 (SB 53) →
Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program – Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan (NIMBL) Account – Funding
Monitor
Altering, beginning in fiscal year 2024, the percentage to be paid by the Comptroller from the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account to the Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan (NIMBL) Account within the Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program Fund; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the Fund to be used for certain loans under the NIMBL Account.
HB 143 →
Career and Technical Education Committee – Alterations
Monitor
Altering the composition of the Career and Technical Education Committee; altering the Committee’s duties and authorized actions to include the perspective of career colleges and skilled trade organizations; and requiring the Committee to develop and provide to guidance counselors and public schools in the State a list of all skilled trade organization programs and career school programs in the State.
HB 209 (SB 58) →
Corporations and Associations – Revisions
Monitor
Altering certain provisions governing the issuance of stock, convertible securities, and scrip; clarifying the authority of corporations to hold annual meetings by remote communication; clarifying the application of certain provisions of law to the conversion of a corporation; requiring a real estate investment trust that voluntarily dissolves to file a notice of termination with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; etc.
SB 38 →
Minority Business Enterprise Procurement Contract Financing
Establishing a Minority Business Enterprise Procurement Contract Financing Program in the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority to provide working capital to qualified minority business enterprises in order to facilitate their ability to enter into and complete performance under State procurement contracts; authorizing certain loans and grants under certain circumstances; etc.
HB 327 →
Maryland Employment Advancement Right Now Program – Strategic Industry Partnerships – Definition
Expanding the Maryland Employment Advancement Right Now Program by altering the definition of “strategic industry partnership” to include a collaboration between a single employer and other partners in which the employer offers to its employees workforce development and training to address certain workforce needs and shortages.
SB 53 (HB 84) →
Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program – Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan (NIMBL) Account – Funding
Monitor
Altering, beginning in fiscal year 2024, the percentage to be paid by the Comptroller from the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account to the Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan (NIMBL) Account within the Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program Fund; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the Fund to be used for certain loans under the NIMBL Account.
SB 58 (HB 209) →
Corporations and Associations – Revisions
Altering certain provisions governing the issuance of stock, convertible securities, and scrip; clarifying the authority of corporations to hold annual meetings by remote communication; clarifying the application of certain provisions of law to the conversion of a corporation; requiring a real estate investment trust that voluntarily dissolves to file a notice of termination with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; etc.
SB 104 →
Labor and Employment – Apprenticeships and Representation on the Apprenticeship and Training Council
Requiring that the Apprenticeship and Training Council and consultants to the Council include representation by individuals who are Black and Latino; establishing the Apprenticeship 2030 Commission to examine and make recommendations to expand access to apprenticeships to reduce skill shortages in high-demand occupations and provide affordable training for career pathways for young people in the public and private sectors; etc.
SB 121 →
More Opportunities for Career-Focused Students Act of 2023
Support
Requiring certain county boards of education to consider the pursuit of certain certificates, certifications, or apprenticeships as the equivalent of pursuing postsecondary education and provide a method for certain individuals to authorize the release of certain student information to certain apprenticeship sponsors and employers; requiring each public high school to inform students of certain employment and skills training opportunities in a certain manner; etc.
SB 128 →
Economic Development – Emergency Relief Program – Established
Establishing an Emergency Relief Program in the Department of Commerce to assist certain small businesses in the State to recover from economic hardships sustained from multiple emergencies.