Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Business Issue Update
With less than two week’s remaining in the 2011 General Assembly session, here is a brief roundup of a few important business bills the Maryland Chamber has been working:
Combined Reporting SB 305/HB 371: There has been no action on legislation to impose a system of mandatory unitary combined reporting for corporations. The Chamber opposes these bills.
Health Benefit Exchange SB 182/HB 166: The House of Delegates has passed legislation to establish a health benefit exchange, and similar legislation is nearing passage in the Senate. The bills have been amended to address a number of concerns raised by the Chamber. The Maryland Chamber supports the legislation as amended.
Nonoperational Income & Throwback Modifications SB 800: The state Chamber worked to defeat legislation that would have adopted changes in Maryland’s corporate income tax laws regarding nonoperational income and throwback modifications. The legislation was voted down by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Alternative Minimum Assessment/Gross Receipts Tax SB 979: There has been no action on legislation that would impose a new tax on certain corporations doing business in Maryland based on a percentage of their gross profits or gross receipts. The Maryland Chamber opposes the bill.
Millionaires Tax SB 798/HB 1070: There has been no action on legislation to extend the temporary 6.25 percent individual income tax bracket through 2014. We also opposed these bills.
Semiannual Property Tax Payments HB 463: The House of Delegates passed legislation that would allow all commercial real property owners to pay their property taxes in two installments. The legislation was heard by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee earlier this week. The Maryland Chamber supports the bill.
Credit History SB 132/HB 87: Both houses of the Maryland General Assembly have passed legislation that would prohibit employers from using an applicant’s credit report or credit history in determining whether to deny employment, discharge the employee, or determine compensation. While the Chamber still opposes the legislation, it has been amended to make it less onerous.
Criminal Background Checks HB 907: Legislation that would have prohibited employers from using an individual’s criminal history when making personnel decisions was withdrawn by the sponsor. The Maryland Chamber opposed the bill.
Wind Energy SB 861/HB 1054: Lawmakers continue to work on legislation that would require electric companies to enter into long-term power purchase agreements with offshore wind generators, but there has been no action so far. The Chamber opposes this legislation. Mandating utilities to enter into long-term contracts for a particular type of energy generation will be costly to all customers.
Natural Gas Drilling in Western Maryland HB 852: The House of Delegates passed legislation that would create a temporary moratorium on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland’s Marcellus Shale. There has been no action in the Senate. The Maryland Chamber opposes this bill. By proceeding responsibly, Maryland has the opportunity to play a pivotal role in expanding America’s next generation of domestic clean energy, while boosting Western Maryland’s economy.
Septic Systems SB 846/HB 1107: There has been no action on legislation to limit development relying on septic systems. The Maryland Chamber opposes the bill, as it would harm economic development opportunities in rural jurisdictions. House Environmental Matters Committee Chair Maggie McIntosh (D-Dist. 43) has recommended that a task force study the idea and report back later this year.
Arbitration/Class Action HB 729: Legislation that would jeopardize arbitration has passed the House of Delegates and could move to the Senate floor soon. The bill would prohibit a written agreement made between two parties before a dispute arises from having the effect of waiving the rights of a party to participate as a member of a class action. The bill would apply retroactively, so it would apply to all agreements in effect at the time the bill is enacted. The Maryland Chamber opposes the bill because it would damage Maryland business climate and harm the interests of consumers and businesses in our state
If you have any questions about the bills above, or any other bills the Maryland Chamber is working, contact Will Burns at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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