TECHNOLOGY
HB0654 (SB0937) – Support
Wireless Facilities – Installation and Regulation
Establishing procedures and requirements for the deployment, installation, and regulation of certain wireless telecommunications facilities in the State; prohibiting an authority from entering into an exclusive agreement for the use of certain rights-of-way for certain purposes; authorizing an authority to impose certain rates and fees for use of certain rights-of-way in a certain manner and subject to certain limitations; authorizing a wireless provider to collocate certain facilities and use certain rights-of-way; etc.
HB0141 – Oppose
Commercial Law – Internet Privacy and Net Neutrality
Specifying the circumstances under which a broadband Internet access service provider may handle certain customer personal information in a certain manner; establishing a mechanism through which a broadband Internet access service provider may obtain customer consent to have certain personal information handled in a certain manner; declaring the intent of the General Assembly that if the State or a municipality provides broadband Internet services, it may not impose use restrictions that prohibit the exercise of free speech; etc.
HB0654 – Support
Wireless Facilities – Installation and Regulation
Establishing procedures and requirements for the deployment, installation, and regulation of certain wireless telecommunications facilities in the State; prohibiting an authority from entering into an exclusive agreement for the use of certain rights-of-way for certain purposes; authorizing an authority to impose certain rates and fees for use of certain rights-of-way in a certain manner and subject to certain limitations; authorizing a wireless provider to collocate certain facilities and use certain rights-of-way; etc.
HB1020 (SB0713) – Oppose
Wireless Facilities – Permitting and Siting
Establishing procedures and requirements for the permitting, installation, and regulation of certain wireless telecommunications facilities in the State; authorizing a wireless provider to install and maintain certain facilities in certain rights-of-way in accordance with certain provisions; prohibiting the use of a public right-of-way from obstructing or hindering certain other uses; prohibiting a certain local law from prohibiting the installation of certain facilities or discriminating among certain providers; etc.
OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST
HB0046 (SB0089) – Support
Small Business Relief Tax Credit – Expansion
Altering the definition of “qualified employee” to include certain individuals who are provided certain paid parental leave for purposes of a credit against the State income tax for certain small businesses that provide certain employer benefits to certain qualified employees; altering the calculation of the credit; increasing, from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, the total amount of tax credit certificates that may be issued by the Department of Commerce for each taxable year; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018; etc.
HB0152 (SB0167) – Support
Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Expansion Act of 2019
Repealing the limit on the number of Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Planning Grants that may be awarded to a local school system in each year; removing the prohibition against new P-TECH Planning Grants being awarded to establish a new P-TECH school until after the 2016-2017 cohort of P-TECH students completes the 6-year pathway sequence; and repealing certain intent language regarding a prohibition against additional P-TECH schools.
HB0173 – Support
Economic Development – Job Creation Tax Credit – Sunset Extension
Extending, from January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2027, the termination date applicable to the job creation tax credit program.
HB0235 (SB0175) – Support
Economic Development – Maryland Technology Infrastructure Program
Establishing the Maryland Technology Infrastructure Program in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation; establishing the purposes of the Program; establishing the Maryland Technology Infrastructure Authority in the Corporation; providing for the appointment of members, the selection of officers, and the purposes and procedures of the Authority; establishing the Maryland Technology Infrastructure Fund to cover the administrative costs of the program and any financial assistance awarded to recipients; etc.
HB0375 – Support
Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction
Decreasing over a certain period of years the State corporate income tax rate from 8.25% to 6.25%.
HB0440 – Support
Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Expansion Act of 2019
Repealing the limit on the number of Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Planning Grants that may be awarded to a local school system in each year; removing the prohibition against new P-TECH Planning Grants being awarded to establish a new P-TECH school until after the 2016-2017 cohort of P-TECH students completes the 6-year pathway sequence; and repealing certain intent language regarding a prohibition against additional P-TECH schools.
HB0543 (SB0340) – Oppose
Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Investments and Operations
Requiring the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to recover from a business enterprise certain investments made from the Enterprise Fund if during the 3-year period following the investment award the business enterprise fails to maintain its status as a business enterprise; including in the Fund certain recovered money; and requiring the Maryland Venture Fund Authority to meet at least quarterly.
SB0037 – Support
Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction
Decreasing the State corporate income tax rate from 8.25% to 8.0% for tax year 2019, 7.5% for tax year 2020, and 7.0% for tax year 2021 and beyond.
SB0089 (HB0046) – Support
Small Business Relief Tax Credit – Expansion
Altering the definition of “qualified employee” to include certain individuals who are provided certain paid parental leave for purposes of a credit against the State income tax for certain small businesses that provide certain employer benefits to certain qualified employees; altering the calculation of the credit; increasing, from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, the total amount of tax credit certificates that may be issued by the Department of Commerce for each taxable year; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018; etc.
SB0167 (HB0152) – Support
Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Expansion Act of 2019
Repealing the limit on the number of Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Planning Grants that may be awarded to a local school system in each year; removing the prohibition against new P-TECH Planning Grants being awarded to establish a new P-TECH school until after the 2016-2017 cohort of P-TECH students completes the 6-year pathway sequence; and repealing certain intent language regarding a prohibition against additional P-TECH schools.
SB0175 (HB0235) – Support
Economic Development – Maryland Technology Infrastructure Program
Establishing the Maryland Technology Infrastructure Program in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation; establishing the purposes of the Program; establishing the Maryland Technology Infrastructure Authority in the Corporation; providing for the appointment of members, the selection of officers, and the purposes and procedures of the Authority; establishing the Maryland Technology Infrastructure Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; specifying the purpose of the Fund; etc.
SB0190 – Support
Corporate Income Tax – Rate Reduction
Reducing, from 8.25% to 6.0%, the State corporate income tax rate by reducing the rate by 0.25% each year for 9 years.
HB0543 (SB0340) – Oppose
Maryland Technology Development Corporation – Investments and Operations
Requiring the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to recover from a business enterprise certain investments made from the Enterprise Fund if during the 3-year period following the investment award the business enterprise fails to maintain its status as a business enterprise; including in the Fund certain recovered money; and requiring the Maryland Venture Fund Authority to meet at least quarterly.
SB0507 – Support
Income Tax – Angel Investor Tax Credit Program
Allowing a credit against the State income tax for a certain percentage of an investment made in a qualified innovation business, not to exceed $50,000, or $100,000 for a qualified investor that is a pass-through entity or a married couple filing jointly; requiring a qualified investor to meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for the credit; requiring the Department of Commerce to administer the credit; applying the Act to certain taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018; etc.
SB0574 – Support
Maryland Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Incentive Program
Establishing the Maryland Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Incentive Program in the Department of Commerce; establishing the purposes of the Program; establishing qualifications for participation in the Program; authorizing the Program to provide matching grants to certain businesses on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to limitations; providing for the coordination of Program activities with comparable county programs; etc.