2021 Legislative Wrap-Up
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2021 Legislative Wrap-Up April 15, 2021 To Our Valued Clients, Friends, and Colleagues: The 441st Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned on April 12, 2021, marking the end of one of the most unusual sessions in Maryland history. In deference to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland General Assembly implemented strict protections for the 2021 Legislative Session, including virtual hearings and voting sessions, masks and plexiglass barriers on the House and Senate Floors, and limited access to state buildings and legislators by lobbyists, advocates, and other members of the interested public. However, despite the “COVID protocols,” the Maryland General Assembly, under the guidance of the presiding officers, fulfilled its constitutional duty of passing a balanced budget which included the allocation of billions of additional federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. In addition, meaningful legislation passed to (1) provide relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic; (2) address systemic racial inequities; and (3) reform the State’s law enforcement system. At this time each year, we like to take a moment to share the highlights of the Legislative Session. Despite the physical and procedural changes, the 2021 session was still extremely busy as members of the Maryland General Assembly introduced 2,344 bills, excluding local bond initiatives and 13 Joint Resolutions. The following synopsis is not an exhaustive report of the legislative activities this session, but an overview of particular topics of interest. If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact us. Please note that the table of contents in this document is interactive. If you would like to jump to a specific topic or issue, just click that issue in the table of contents. Thank you for entrusting your legal, lobbying, and government relations needs in the State of Maryland with Harris Jones & Malone, LLC. Very truly yours, Lisa Harris Jones Sean Malone Caitlin McDonough Table of Contents Veto Overrides ...................................................................................................................... 6 Blueprint for Maryland’s Future .....................................................................................................6 Digital Advertising Tax ...................................................................................................................6 Digital Sales Tax ............................................................................................................................6 Tobacco Tax ...................................................................................................................................6 Prescription Drug Affordability Board - Funding ..............................................................................7 Budget Overview ................................................................................................................... 7 Business Regulation ............................................................................................................... 7 Board Diversity ..............................................................................................................................7 Home Improvement Contracts – Deposits .......................................................................................8 Freight Trains - Required Crew........................................................................................................8 Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing ................................................................................................................9 Plastic Bag Ban ..............................................................................................................................9 Cash Transactions Preservation Act .............................................................................................. 10 Merchant Cash Advance – Regulation ........................................................................................... 10 Extended Producer Responsibility ................................................................................................. 11 Labor & Employment ........................................................................................................... 11 Maryland Essential Workers Protection Act .................................................................................. 11 Bereavement Leave...................................................................................................................... 12 Prevailing Wage Applicability ....................................................................................................... 12 Investor–Owned Utilities Prevailing Wage Applicability ................................................................ 13 Secure Wage Act .......................................................................................................................... 13 Family Leave ................................................................................................................................ 13 Taxes................................................................................................................................... 13 Combined Reporting .................................................................................................................... 13 Throwback Rule ........................................................................................................................... 14 Carried Interested ........................................................................................................................ 14 Tax Transparency ......................................................................................................................... 15 Workers’ Compensation ...................................................................................................... 15 Uninsured Employers’ Fund .......................................................................................................... 15 Medical Cannabis ......................................................................................................................... 15 Legal Fees .................................................................................................................................... 15 1 COVID-19 Presumption ................................................................................................................. 16 Unemployment Insurance .................................................................................................... 16 Procurement ....................................................................................................................... 17 Emergency Procurement .............................................................................................................. 17 Police Reform ...................................................................................................................... 17 Repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights ................................................................... 17 Body Cameras .............................................................................................................................. 18 Police Disciplinary Records & Search Warrants.............................................................................. 18 Juvenile Justice Reform ........................................................................................................ 18 Juvenile Restoration Act ............................................................................................................... 18 Juvenile Justice Reform ................................................................................................................ 19 Juvenile Interrogation .................................................................................................................. 19 Public Safety ........................................................................................................................ 20 Forensic Analysis of DNA .............................................................................................................. 20 Child Sexual Abuse – Statute of Limitations ................................................................................... 20 Hate Crimes ................................................................................................................................. 21 Education ............................................................................................................................ 21 Blueprint for Maryland’s Future – Revisions .................................................................................. 21 Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Funding ................................................................... 22 Alternative Student Transportation .............................................................................................. 22 Childcare/Early Care and Education .............................................................................................. 23 Gaming ............................................................................................................................... 23 Sports Gaming ............................................................................................................................. 23 Video Lottery Terminals - Proceed Distribution