STATE ADVOCACY

2024 Bills of Interest 

SB 388 (HB 340) →
Prescription Drug Affordability Board – Authority for Upper Payment Limits and Funding (The Lowering Prescription Drug Costs For All Marylanders Now Act)

Oppose

Requiring the Governor in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $1,000,000 for the Prescription Drug Affordability Fund which provides funding for the Board; and requiring the Board, under certain circumstances, to establish a process for setting upper payment limits for all purchases and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State that the Board determines have led or will lead to affordability challenges.

HB 676 →
Right to Try Act – Individualized Investigational Treatments

Monitor

Altering certain provisions of law authorizing certain activity by manufacturers of investigational drugs, biological products, or devices under the Right to Try Act to apply to manufacturers of certain individualized investigational treatments; altering the definition of “eligible patient” under the Right to Try Act to include individuals who have life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses, rather than only individuals who have terminal illnesses; etc.

HB 1056 →
State Board of Pharmacy – Prohibition on Discrimination Against 340B Drug Distribution

Oppose

Prohibiting a 340B manufacturer, wholesale drug distributor, or third-party logistics provider, or an agent or affiliate of a 340B manufacturer, wholesale drug distributor, or third-party logistics provider, from taking certain actions to limit or restrict the acquisition or delivery of a 340B drug; and making a violation of this Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act.

HB 1132 →
Drugs, Biological Products, and Devices – Off-Label Use – Promotion

Monitor

Authorizing pharmaceutical manufacturers and representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers to engage in the truthful promotion of off-label uses for drugs, biological products, and devices; and prohibiting certain persons from taking certain enforcement and disciplinary action against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, representative of a pharmaceutical manufacturer, or health care provider for engaging in a truthful promotion of an off-label use of a drug, biological product, or device.

HB 1270 →
Health Benefit Plans – Prescription Drugs – Rebates and Calculation of Cost Sharing Requirements

Support

Requiring that the calculation of an enrollee’s contribution to a cost sharing requirement for a prescription drug be based on the list price of the drug reduced by at least 85% of the total amount of rebates received or expected to be received by the carrier or pharmacy benefits manager for the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug; and prohibiting the disclosure of certain information concerning rebates.

HB 1421 →
Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics – Gene Structure- and Function-Modifying Products – Labeling

Monitor

Prohibiting a person from offering for sale in the State a gene structure- or function-modifying product unless the product is labeled in a prominent and conspicuous manner with the words “Gene structure- or function-modifying product” and all potential risks, side effects, adverse effects, and other reasonably possible effects that the product may have; and establishing penalties for a violation of the Act.

SB 911 →
Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics – Gene Structure- and Function-Modifying Products – Labeling

Monitor

Prohibiting a person from offering for sale in the State a gene structure- or function-modifying product unless the product is labeled in a prominent and conspicuous manner with the words “Gene structure- or function-modifying product” and all potential risks, side effects, adverse effects, and other reasonably possible effects that the product may have; and establishing penalties for a violation of the Act.

SB 986 →
State Board of Pharmacy – Prohibition on Discrimination Against 340B Drug Distribution

Oppose

Prohibiting a 340B manufacturer, wholesale drug distributor, or third-party logistics provider, or an agent or affiliate of a 340B manufacturer, wholesale drug distributor, or third-party logistics provider, from taking certain actions to limit or restrict the acquisition or delivery of a 340B drug; and making a violation of this Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act.

SB 1019 →
Health Benefit Plans – Prescription Drugs – Rebates and Calculation of Cost Sharing Requirements

Support

Requiring that the calculation of an enrollee’s contribution to a cost sharing requirement for a prescription drug be based on the list price of the drug reduced by at least 85% of the total amount of rebates received or expected to be received by the carrier or pharmacy benefits manager for the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug; and prohibiting the disclosure of certain information concerning rebates.

HB 410 →
Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Equitech Growth Fund – Alterations

Monitor

Specifying certain authorized uses, to make certain awards from the Fund and to pay the administrative costs, of the Equitech Growth Fund in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation.

HB 567 (SB 541) →
Maryland Online Data Privacy Act of 2024

Oppose

Establishing generally the manner in which a controller or a processor may process a consumer’s personal data; authorizing a consumer to exercise certain rights in regards to the consumer’s personal data; requiring a controller of personal data to establish a method for a consumer to exercise certain rights in regards to the consumer’s personal data; etc.

HB 582 (SB 473) →
Economic Development – Entrepreneurial Innovation Programs – Establishment (Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024)

Support

Establishing the Pava LaPere Innovation Acceleration Grant Program in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation; establishing the Baltimore Innovation Initiative Pilot Program within the Maryland Innovation Initiative of the Corporation; requiring certain appropriations for the programs to be included in the annual budget bill in certain fiscal years; and repealing a mandated appropriation for a certain telework assistance program.

HB 603 (SB 571) →
Consumer Protection – Online Products and Services – Data of Children (Maryland Kids Code)

Monitor

Requiring a certain entity that offers an online product reasonably likely to be accessed by children to complete a certain data protection impact assessment under certain circumstances; requiring certain privacy protections for certain online products; prohibiting certain data collection and sharing practices; etc.

HB 645 →
Social Media Platforms – Vloggers and Video Content Featuring Minors

Monitor

Requiring a vlogger who creates video content that is posted on a social media platform and features a certain minor child to compensate the child under certain circumstances; establishing requirements on social media platforms relating to deleting video content featuring minor children; applying certain requirements related to the labor of minors to children compensated by vloggers; etc.

HB 685 (SB 516) →
Economic Development – Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission

Support

Establishing the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission to promote innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace opportunities, including the integration of space, aeronautics, and aviation industries into the economy of the State; establishing the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Fund; requiring the Commission by October 1 each year to submit a certain report to the Governor, the Maryland Economic Development Commission, and the General Assembly; etc.

HB 722 (SB 780) →
Internet-Connected Devices and Internet Service Providers – Default Filtering of Obscene Content (Maryland Online Child Protection Act)

Monitor

Prohibiting a person from selling an Internet-connected device that is intended for minors unless the device is sold with a certain filter, certain privacy settings, and other features; making a violation of the prohibition an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to the enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; requiring that preference be given to certain grant applications that include the use of broadband providers that implement the use of certain filters; etc.

HB 883 →
Department of Information Technology – Evaluation of Emerging Technologies (Maryland Artificial Intelligence in Governmental Services Act)

Monitor

Altering certain requirements relating to an annual evaluation of the use of emerging technologies in providing public services by the Secretary of Information Technology; and requiring the evaluation to include an assessment of the use of emerging technologies to ensure public services remain efficient, effective, and responsive to Marylanders needs and the potential benefits and risks inherent in the deployment of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

HB 1174 (SB 955) →
State Government – Technology Advisory Commission – Established

Monitor

Establishing the Technology Advisory Commission to study and make recommendations on technology and science developments and use in the State; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $100,000 for the Commission; and requiring the Commission to submit a report on its activities and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31 each year.

HB 1188 (SB 982) →
Information Technology – Modernization of Information Technology Projects

Support with Amendment

Altering the duties of the Secretary of Information Technology related to modernization of information technology systems; altering the authority of the Board of Public Works over certain information technology projects; establishing the Information Technology Investment Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund and the Technology Investment Board within the Department of Information Technology; and altering the duties and membership of the Modernize Maryland Oversight Commission.

HB 1215 →
Transportation Financing – Retail Delivery Fee and Transportation Network Company Impact Fee (Transportation Funding Act of 2024)

Oppose

Pledging certain revenues from a retail delivery fee and a transportation network company impact fee to paying the principal of and interest on consolidated transportation bonds issued by the Department of Transportation; establishing a Retail Delivery Fee and Transportation Network Company Impact Fee Account in the Transportation Trust Fund; requiring the Department to allocate the funds in the Retail Delivery Fee and Transportation Network Company Impact Fee Account for certain transportation purposes; etc.

HB 1255 (SB 957) →
Labor and Employment – Automated Employment Decision Tools – Prohibition

Oppose

Prohibiting, subject to a certain exception, an employer from using an automated employment decision tool to make certain employment decisions; and requiring an employer, under certain circumstances, to notify an applicant for employment of the employer’s use of an automated employment decision tool within 30 days after the use; and providing certain penalties per violation for an employer that violates the notification requirement of the Act.

HB 1271 (SB 818) →
Information Technology – Artificial Intelligence – Policies and Procedures (Artificial Intelligence Governance Act of 2024)

Monitor

Requiring each unit of State government to conduct certain inventories and assessments; requiring the Department of Information Technology to conduct certain monitoring and adopt certain policies and procedures; prohibiting a unit of State government from implementing or using a system that employs artificial intelligence under certain circumstances; establishing the Governor’s Artificial Intelligence Subcabinet of the Governor’s Executive Council; allowing the Governor to appropriate up to $3,000,000 annually for the Subcabinet; etc.

HB 1294 →
Artificial Intelligence Tools – Income Tax Credit and Sales and Use Tax

Monitor

Prohibiting the Secretary of Commerce from issuing a tax credit certificate for the purchase of certain cybersecurity technologies or services for a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2023; altering the definition of “digital product” under the State sales and use tax to include certain artificial intelligence tools; allowing a credit against the State income tax for costs paid or incurred by a qualified buyer for certain artificial intelligence tools; etc.

SB 358 →
Economic Development – Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Application and Reporting Requirements

Monitor

Requiring an application for investment by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to include an option for an applicant to provide certain demographic information of the applicant and the geographic area of the applicant’s primary place of business; requiring the Corporation to submit a certain report to the Governor, the Maryland Economic Development Commission, and the General Assembly by October 1 each year concerning certain applicant and investment activities and certain demographic and geographic information; etc.

SB 816 →
Economic Development – Cyber Maryland Fund and Program – Alterations

Monitor

Requiring the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to administer the Cyber Maryland Fund; altering the uses of the Fund; and requiring the Corporation to adopt certain standards.

SB 981 →
Local Cybersecurity Preparedness and Local Cybersecurity Support Fund – Alterations

Support

Authorizing the Governor for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $10,000,000 for the Local Cybersecurity Support Fund; requiring the Department of Information Technology to provide sufficient information security officers to assist the Director of Local Cybersecurity; requiring that, by July 1, 2025, a local school system shall implement for all school employees multifactor authentication, endpoint detection and response on all system-owned devices, and network monitoring; etc.

SB 1087 →
Maryland Artificial Intelligence Advisory and Oversight Commission

Monitor

Establishing the Maryland Artificial Intelligence Advisory and Oversight Commission to guide the State in growing, developing, using, and diversifying artificial intelligence in the State; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2024, and each year thereafter.

SB 1089 →
Education – Student and School Employee Data Privacy – Protections

Monitor

Requiring certain operators of certain Internet sites, services, and applications to protect certain school employee information from unauthorized access, implement and maintain security procedures and practices, and delete school employee information under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain operators from knowingly engaging in certain activities with respect to certain websites, services, and applications related to targeted advertising, selling, and disclosing school employee information under certain circumstances; etc.

HB 33 →
Economic Development – Entrepreneurial Leave Tax Credit Program

Monitor

Establishing the Entrepreneurial Leave Tax Credit Program in the Department of Commerce to encourage employers to implement leave policies that provide unpaid leave for employees for the purpose of establishing or expanding an employee business in the State; requiring the Department to conduct research on the benefits of entrepreneurship, the creation of leave policies, and the utilization of entrepreneurial leave by employees; and allowing a credit against the State income tax for certain employers.

HB 744 (SB 702) →
Income Tax – Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit Program – Pass-Through Entities

Support

Allowing a qualified investor that is a pass-through entity that pays a certain income tax on behalf of its members to receive and allocate in any manner a credit or refund of a credit under the Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit Program; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023; etc.

HB 1007 (SB 766) →
Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2024

Oppose

Altering a certain limit on the unified credit used for determining the estate tax for decedents dying on or after a certain date; altering a certain limitation on the amount of the estate tax for decedents dying on or after a certain date; requiring that certain sales of tangible personal property be included in the numerator of the sales factor used for apportioning a corporation’s income to the State under certain circumstances; altering the State income tax rate on Maryland taxable income of certain individuals; etc.

HB 1018 →
Manufacturing Business Personal Property Tax – Exemption

Support

Exempting all personal property in the possession of a person engaged in a manufacturing business that is a small or medium-sized enterprise from the personal property tax.

HB 1067 →
Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax – Assessments – Appeals and Corrections

Support

Establishing a certain appeal process for persons who are subject to the digital advertising gross revenues tax and receive a notice of assessment from the Comptroller; authorizing the Comptroller or the Comptroller’s designee to issue an order to correct an erroneous assessment of the digital advertising gross revenues tax, subject to certain conditions; and applying the Act to assessments of the digital advertising gross revenues tax made after June 30, 2024.

HB 1204 →
Economic Development Tax Credit Programs – Qualified Position and Qualified Employee – Definitions

Monitor

Altering the definition of “qualified position” for purposes of eligibility for and the calculation of benefits under the One Maryland and More Jobs for Marylanders economic development programs; altering the definition of “qualified employee” for purposes of eligibility for and calculation of the credit against the income tax for certain business entities located in an enterprise zone; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023; etc.

HB 1508 →
Department of Commerce – Employer Tax Credit Programs – Alterations and Establishment

Monitor

Altering the termination date of the Job Creation Tax Credit Program from 2027 to 2025; providing for the termination date for the One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit Program on January 1, 2025; establishing the Maryland Jobs Development Tax Credit Program in the Department of Commerce to allow certain qualified business entities to receive credits against the State income tax for creating a certain number of qualified positions or for carrying out a high impact economic development project in the State; etc.

SB 923 (HB 1282) →
Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction (Economic Competitiveness Act of 2024)

Support

Decreasing, over 5 taxable years, the State corporate income tax rate from 8.25% to 6.25%.

HB 53 →
Task Force to Study E-Commerce Monopolies in the State (E-Commerce Antimonopoly Study of 2024)

Monitor

Establishing the Task Force to Study E-Commerce Monopolies in the State to investigate the business practices and industry impacts of e-commerce businesses that individually have annual revenue exceeding $10,000,000,000, have a presence in the State, and are engaged in selling on their own online platforms first-and third-party products; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2024.

HB 136 (SB 233) →
Employment Standards, Prevailing Wage, and Living Wage – Employer Adverse Actions – Prohibition

Monitor

Prohibiting employers from taking or threatening to take adverse action against an employee because the employee takes certain actions regarding rights and responsibilities, complaints, investigations, proceedings, or hearings under certain provisions of law; and authorizing the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to investigate a violation of the Act on the Commissioner’s own initiative or on receipt of a written complaint.

HB 210 →
Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use and Electric-Ready Standards

Monitor

Requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt, on or before January 1, 2025, and as part of the Maryland Building Performance Standards, a requirement that new buildings meet all energy demands of the building without the use of fossil fuels and an electric-ready standard for certain buildings.

HB 306 →
Prince George’s County – Economic Development – Independent Innovation Agency of Prince George’s County – Establishment PG 402-24

No Position

Establishing the Independent Innovation Agency of Prince George’s County to promote innovation and technology in the county; authorizing the Agency to enter into certain contracts, accept grants, contributions, or other assistance from federal, State, or local governments or from a college or university; establishing the Innovation Places Program in the Agency to foster entrepreneurship in the county; establishing the Industry Sector Workgroup in the Agency to convene interested stakeholders in the county; etc.

HB 338 →
Criminal Procedure – Facial Recognition Technology – Requirements, Procedures, and Prohibitions

No Position

Establishing requirements, procedures, and prohibitions relating to the use of facial recognition technology by a law enforcement agency under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to develop and administer a training program regarding the use of facial recognition technology in the course of criminal investigations by June 30, 2026; requiring a law enforcement agency using or contracting to use facial recognition technology to prepare and publish a certain annual report by February 1; etc.

HB 559 (SB 569) →
State Employees – Four-Day Workweek – Implementation

Monitor

Requiring, on or before October 1, 2025, the Department of Budget and Management to identify units of State government or functions of State government for which a transition to a 4-day workweek is feasible for 60% of State employees; requiring the Department to implement a 4-day workweek for certain State employees by October 1, 2027; and prohibiting State employees who transition to a 4-day workweek from, as a direct result of the transition, having work hours reduced to less than 36 hours per week or having a reduction in pay or benefits.

HB 579 (SB 474) →
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and Related Approvals – Definition of Generating Station (Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act of 2024)

Support

Altering and establishing the definition of “generating station” for the purpose of exempting the construction of certain generating facilities used to produce electricity for the purpose of onsite emergency backup and certain test and maintenance operations from the requirement to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity or certain other related approvals under certain circumstances.

HB 581 (SB 472) →
State Government – Permits, Licenses, and Certificates – Processing (Transparent Government Act of 2024)

Support

Requiring certain departments and independent units to create a certain catalog of information relating to permits, licenses, and certificates issued by the department or independent unit and submit the catalog to the Governor on or before September 1, 2024; requiring certain departments and independent units to post certain information relating to permits, licenses, and certificates on the website of the department or independent unit on or before December 1, 2024; establishing the Government Efficiency Commission; etc.

HB 617 →
State Information Technology – Prohibited Applications and Websites

Monitor

Prohibiting certain employees, agents, or entities on any information technology owned or leased by a unit of State government from downloading or using any application, including TikTok or WeChat, or access any website developed by ByteDance Ltd. or Tencent Holdings Ltd.; requiring by December 31, 2024, the Department of Budget and Management, in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, to prepare certain guidance for units of State government regarding access to certain applications and websites; etc.

HB 650 (SB 511) →
Labor and Employment – Apprenticeship Standards – Ratio of Apprentices to Journeypersons

Support

Requiring the Secretary of Labor to adopt regulations establishing a ratio of three apprentices to one journeyperson for each nontraditional trade occupation and newly registered occupation.

HB 776 (SB 634) →
Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Authority

Monitor

Authorizing the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, subject to a written agreement, to provide certain outside entities administrative services or support and to receive compensation for providing the services or support.

HB 879 (SB 595) →
Health Benefit Plans – Calculation of Cost Sharing Contribution – Requirements and Prohibitions

Monitor

Requiring administrators, carriers, and pharmacy benefits managers to include certain cost sharing amounts paid by or on behalf of an enrollee or a beneficiary when calculating the enrollee’s or beneficiary’s contribution to a cost sharing requirement; requiring administrators, carriers, and pharmacy benefits managers to include certain cost sharing amounts for certain high deductible health plans after an enrollee or a beneficiary satisfies a certain requirement; etc.

HB 905 →
Sales and Use Tax Exemption – Qualified Data Center Personal Property – Eligibility

Oppose

Altering, for purposes of eligibility for an exemption from the sales and use tax for qualified data center personal property, the definition of “qualified data center” so as to require the payment of certain prevailing wages, employment of certain apprentices, installation of certain battery storage, incorporation of on-site solar energy generation to the extent practicable, and purchase of a certain percentage of energy demanded by the data center from certain wind-based generators or solar renewable energy credits.

HB 990 →
Environment – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions – Manufacturers

Monitor

Altering the definition of “manufacturing” for purposes of certain greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements to exclude the production of cement; altering the application of certain provisions of law regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing sector to apply only to persons that engaged in manufacturing in 2023; and altering certain prohibitions that apply to a State agency’s implementation of a final plan to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions.

HB 999 →
Workgroup on Establishing a Science and Technology Best Practices and Innovation Network

Monitor

Establishing the Workgroup on Establishing a Science and Technology Best Practices and Innovation Network to identify and analyze options for establishing and maintaining a network of experts in science, technology, and industry for certain purposes; and requiring the Workgroup to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2024.

HB 1119 (SB 739) →
Algorithmic Addiction Fund – Establishment

Monitor

Establishing the Algorithmic Addiction Fund; providing that the Fund includes all revenue received by the State from a judgment against, or settlement with, technology conglomerates, technology companies, social media conglomerates, or social media companies relating to claims made by the State; requiring the Secretary of Health to develop certain goals, objectives and indicators relating to algorithmic addiction treatment and prevention efforts; requiring the Secretary to establish a certain grant program; etc.

HB 1128 →
Labor and Employment – Workforce Development – Talent Innovation Program and Fund

Monitor

Establishing the Talent Innovation Program in the Maryland Department of Labor to increase access to high-quality job training by using innovative and sustainable talent financing mechanisms to help meet skill needs in the State’s prominent and emerging industry sectors; and requiring the Department, beginning on January 1, 2025 and each January 1 thereafter, to report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House on Program activities and use of the Fund.

HB 1220 (SB 960) →
Maryland Clean Energy Center – Climate Technology Founder’s Fund

Support

Establishing the Climate Technology Founder’s Fund in the Maryland Clean Energy Center to provide early-stage funding for certain start-up companies; requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to use the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide at least $1,200,000 in fiscal year 2025 through 2028 to the Climate Technology Founder’s Fund; authorizing the Governor to transfer by June 30, 2024 up to $2,200,000 from the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account to the Climate Technology Founder’s Fund; etc.

HB 1279 (SB 1023) →
Maryland Building Performance Standards – Fossil Fuel Use, Energy Conservation, and Electric- and Solar-Ready Standards (Better Buildings Act of 2024)

Monitor

Requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt, on or before certain dates and as part of the Maryland Building Performance Standards, a requirement that new buildings and significant improvements of buildings and structures meet all water and space heating demands of the building or structure without the use of fossil fuels, meet energy conservation requirements, and meet an electric- and solar-ready standard for certain buildings; etc.

HB 1372 →
Health and Taxation – Digital Social Media Services and the Mental Health Care Fund for Children and Youth

Establishing the Mental Health Care Fund for Children and Youth as to support improved access to mental health care services to children and youth in the State; imposing a tax on certain annual revenues derived from certain digital social media services in the State; providing for the calculation and collection of the tax; requiring the Comptroller to distribute revenue from the tax in a certain manner; etc.

HJ 4 →
Aligning With the Blueprint for an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights (Maryland Safe Artificial Intelligence Act)

Monitor

Affirming the General Assembly of Maryland’s commitment to aligning with President Joseph R. Biden’s vision for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence, as delineated in the Blueprint for an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights.

SB 30 →
Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund – High Impact Development Project Program

No Position

Establishing the High Impact Development Project Program within the Department of Commerce to provide financial assistance to industrial development agencies or enterprises undertaking high impact, placemaking projects that will support manufacturing activities; requiring the Department to award financial assistance to entities carrying out high impact development projects under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations; etc.

SB 209 →
Economic Development – Maryland Economic Development Commission – Alterations

Support

Altering certain requirements relating to industry representation on the Maryland Economic Development Commission and the purpose of the Commission; repealing a requirement that the Office of International Trade make a certain report to the Commission; and repealing a requirement that the Maryland Tourism Development Board submit certain plans to the Commission.

SB 247 →
Information Technology – Modernize Maryland Oversight Commission – Membership, Responsibilities, and Staffing

Support

Altering the membership and responsibilities of the Modernize Maryland Oversight Commission; and requiring the Department of Information Technology to provide staff for the Commission

SB 595 →
Health Benefit Plans – Calculation of Cost Sharing Contribution – Requirements and Prohibitions

Monitor

Requiring administrators, carriers, and pharmacy benefits managers to include certain cost sharing amounts paid by or on behalf of an enrollee or a beneficiary when calculating the enrollee’s or beneficiary’s contribution to a cost sharing requirement; requiring administrators, carriers, and pharmacy benefits managers to include certain cost sharing amounts for certain high deductible health plans after an enrollee or a beneficiary satisfies a certain requirement; etc.

SB 634 (HB 776) →
Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Authority

Monitor

Authorizing the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, subject to a written agreement, to provide certain outside entities administrative services or support and to receive compensation for providing the services or support.

SB 692 →
Cybersecurity – Workgroup to Study Data Security – Establishment

Support with Amendment

Establishing the Workgroup to Study Data Security to study certain data protection standards, identify existing standards that would best be assimilated by State agencies, and develop recommendations on and assess certain fiscal impacts; and requiring the Workgroup to submit an interim report by December 1, 2024 and a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by June 30, 2025.

SB 733 →
Task Force to Study Transparency in Tax Incentives

Monitor

Establishing the Task Force to Study Transparency in Tax Incentives to study and recommend a uniform process for evaluating tax increment financing, payments in lieu of taxes, the Enterprise Zone property tax credit, and the Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Program; and requiring the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations on or before July 1, 2025, to the Governor, the General Assembly, and certain local governments.

SB 761 →
Testing Facilities That Use Animals – Licensing and Regulation

Monitor

Requiring each testing facility in the State to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture to use animals in research, education, or testing; establishing requirements for the use and treatment of dogs or cats by a testing facility; prohibiting a testing facility from using certain dogs and cats for research or testing purposes and performing certain procedures on dogs or cats; prohibiting a testing facility from using traditional animal test methods under certain circumstances; etc.

SB 765 →
Economic Development – Business Diversity Incubator Program and Fund – Established

Support

Establishing the Business Diversity Incubator Program and Fund in the Department of Commerce to provide grants to certain business entities to establish diverse and effective business incubators in the State; authorizing the Governor in each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $5,000,000 to the Business Diversity Incubator Fund; etc.

SB 781 →
Economic Development – Regional Additive Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland – Alterations

Monitor

Renaming the Regional Additive Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland to be the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland; altering the purposes and duties of the Partnership and composition of the Executive Board of the Partnership; and renaming the Regional Additive Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland Fund to be the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland Fund.

SB 861 →
Public Utilities – High-Energy-Use Facilities – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions

Oppose

Requiring a person that owns, operates, or controls a high energy use facility to ensure greenhouse gas emissions associated with the electricity used by the facility are reduced by certain amounts by certain years; prohibiting a person from using certain methods to meet the emissions reduction targets established under the Act; and requiring the Public Service Commission to review and verify a certain report submitted by each person that owns, operates, or controls a high energy use facility and make a certain determination.

SB 954 →
Corporations and Associations – Transparency – Beneficial Ownership

Hold

Requiring certain business entities to file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation a report including certain information regarding beneficial owners of the entities; and prohibiting the inspection of the reports in certain circumstances.

SB 979 →
Education – Artificial Intelligence – Guidelines and Pilot Program

Hold

Requiring the State Department of Education, in consultation with the AI Subcabinet of the Governor’s Executive Council, to develop and update guidelines on artificial intelligence for county boards of education and to develop a pilot program to support the AI Subcabinet of the Governor’s Executive Council; requiring the Department to develop certain strategies to coordinate and assist county boards to provide certain recommendations for integrating artificial intelligence into certain college and career readiness standards; etc.