Legislative Committee

Legislative Committee Calendar, Agendas & Materials

The Legislative Committee, including representatives from all 24 boards, holds monthly meetings to guide the association’s lobbying activities in Annapolis, and invites policy and legislative leaders as guest speakers to exchange ideas. During the legislative session, MABE’s bill testimony reflects the association’s resolutions and legislative positions as adopted by the membership.

For additional information, contact John Woolums, MABE’s Director of Governmental Relations.

2020 Legislative Committee Calendar

MABE’s Legislative Committee meetings are held in the MABE office on Monday mornings, 10:00 to 12:00, unless otherwise indicated. Meeting agendas and materials are posted in advance of the meetings, and updated regularly.

January 6, 2020
- (January 8, 2020 – Session convenes)
January 27, 202
- (Feb, 1-4, 2020 – NSBA Equity Symposium & Advocacy Inst. in DC)
February 10, 2020
February 13, 2020 – MABE Legislative Day Luncheon, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Miller Senate Building, Conference Center West, Annapolis
March 2, 2020
March 16, 2020 – cancelled
- (March 18 – Session adjourned “Sine Die”)
March 30, 2020 – Scheduled to be held via Zoom as a teleconferenced meeting. The email invitation will include instructions and links for video or phone conferencing.
April 27, 2020 – Originally scheduled as the Session Summary meeting. Remains on the schedule to allow us to continue meeting and networking remotely.

2020 Session COVID 19 Related Bills and Provisions

The following legislation, including the State Budget and BRFA, include provisions directly related to responding to the COVID 19 coronavirus pandemic:

Maryland	SB 1079 Allows the Governor to transfer by budget amendment up to $50,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization Account to fund costs associated with the coronavirus. Requires the Governor to provide the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days for review and comment before transferring funds from the Account. Makes the Act an emergency measure. Enacted.
Maryland	SB 1080/HB 1663 Authorizes the Governor to take certain actions in a state of emergency, including prohibiting cost-sharing by carriers for disease testing, immunization and any associated costs; retailers from increasing the sale or rental price of any good or service by more than 10%; and employers from terminating quarantined or isolated employees. Enacted.
Maryland	HB 732 Relates to annual gross revenues derived from digital advertising services; provides that the sales and use tobacco tax collected in fiscal year 2021 will be distributed, in part, to expenditure accounts of State government to fund costs associated with COVID-19. *Eligible for Governor.*
Maryland	HB 932 Relates to sales and use tax revenue; provides that the sales and use tax collected in fiscal year 2021 on the sale or use of a digital product or code will be distributed, in part, to expenditure accounts of State government to fund costs associated with COVID-19. Eligible for Governor.
Maryland	SB 190 Part of a larger budget bill for fiscal year 2021. Makes a $10 million supplemental appropriation to the Department of Health for the current fiscal year to address coronavirus preparedness expenses. Eligible for Governor.
Maryland	SB 192 Part of the Budget Reconciliation Act; authorizes a transfer up to $100,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization Account to fund costs associated with COVID-19. Eligible for Governor.

2020 Legislative Committee Meetings and Materials

April 27, 2020

(also planned as teleconference meeting)

March 30, 2020

Agenda & Materials (for the teleconference meeting)

NSBA Letter to Sec. Betsy DeVos – Requesting Flexibility for K-12 Public Schools in the Wake of Coronavirus National Emergency (March 19, 2020)
COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel
STUDENT PRIVACY POLICY OFFICE
FERPA & Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
March 2020
Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools
While Serving Children with Disabilities – Supplemental Fact Sheet (March 21, 2020)
Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak (March 12, 2020)
“USDA Makes it Easier to Feed Kids and Those Who Need Food During the COVID-19 National Emergency” (March 26, 2020)

Updated Materials:

Governor Hogan’s Revised “Stay at Home” Executive Order (March 30, 2020)
Guidance for Employers on Letters for Employees (March 30, 2020)

Annapolis Advocacy Center

Federal and State Advocacy

Legislative Committee