2025 Session - Legislative Report 03

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Website: www.2AMaryland.org Email: 2A@2AMaryland.org

Legislative Report #03 - January 27, 2025

2025 Session

Dear John,

We are now tracking 18 gun bills with more expected in the coming weeks. Hearings are underway and your particpation is urgently needed. See the links below for bill listings, hearing dates, and position information. Remember, you must create an account and register to testify in person, submit written testimony, or simply record your position.

Click here for the MLIS tutorial page containing instructions on how to create an account, submit written testimony, and sign-up to testify in person.

Links to Senate and House witness guidelines can be found on 2A Maryland's home page or the Maryland General Assembly home page.

Links to latest information on gun bills and hearing schedules are included below.

2A Maryland's Lobbying in Annapolis is now updated for 2025 and available for download.

Please keep in mind that the Session is a dynamic environment and updates to our documents are frequently needed, so check often for updates.

In this report:

Gun Bill Hearings this Week
Senate JPR delayed notice to witnesses
Ban on lead ammo bill expected
Update on SB 180
Maryland State Police & Maryland Gun Center presentation to House Judiciary Committee
General Assembly membership update
New & updated links to contact information for Maryland General Assembly and Committees
Five elements of self-defense

We need your active participation to preserve our 2nd Amendment Rights.

John H. Josselyn

2A Maryland

Click here to send your comments and/or suggestions.

Click here to join our email list!

Gun Bill Hearings this Week:

Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (JPR)

Hearing: Thursday 1/30 Sign-up: Tuesday 1/28, 8am - 6pm

SB 0336 Gun Theft Felony Act

Existing law treats gun theft as a simple misdemeanor property crime with penalties based upon the value of the stolen property. This bill will elevate the offense to felony. Unlike SB 0300, this bill will apply to all firearms, not just handguns. Establishing a penalty for theft of a firearm of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 for a first offense, and imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $2,500 for a second or subsequent offense. Sentence imposed shall be consecutive and in addition to sentence(s) for any other offense. SUPPORT

House Judiciary Committee (JUD)

Hearing: Thursday 1/29 Sign-up: Tuesday 1/27, 8am - 6pm

HB 0171 Public Safety – Handgun Permits – Expiration and Renewal Periods for Retired Law Enforcement Officer (Cross-filed with SB 0180)

Increasing the time period a permit to wear and carry a handgun is valid from 3 years to 5 years for retired law enforcement officers ONLY. This bill is a “carve out” which, as a matter of principle, we cannot support as written. The bill must be amended so the 5-year renewal will apply to all citizens. SUPPORT ONLY WITH AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE ALL CITIZENS

House Ways & Means Committee (W&M)

Hearing: Thursday 1/30 Sign-up: Tuesday 1/28, 8am - 6pm

HB 0250 Income Tax - Credit for Firearm Safety Devices

A variation on previous legislation intended to encourage the purchase of firearm safety devices by offering a tax credit of the lesser of 100% of the purchase price or $200. The total credits statewide are first come first served and limited to $250,000 per tax year. Unfortunately, this bill is more limited in scope and unnecessarily complex. It requires a yet to be determined process to obtain the credit. Once the available credits for any given year have been used, the Comptroller may (permissive but not a requirement) issue a carry-over credit for the following year. Carry-over credits will apply to the available credits for the following year. Thus, there may be no credits available the following year. Flawed thought it is, it is better than nothing. Amendments are needed to remove the $250,000 yearly limit, and simply the process. SUPPORT

Delayed Witness Notice from Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee (JPR)

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (JPR) policy regarding testimony on bills heard in a previous session is having a chilling effect on citizen participation in, and the legitimacy of, the legislative process. Specifically, if a bill has been heard in a previous session, only 2 witnesses on each side of the issue (favorable and unfavorable) are permitted to testify either in person or remotely. This policy ignores the fact that Committee members change and in some cases, the new Committee members have not been given the benefit of hearing full testimony on a bill. This is disrespectful to the new Committee members and not in the public interest.

Under the current JPR Committee rules, witnesses must sign up two days before the hearing between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm. In the case of SB 0180, witnesses were not notified until 4:43 pm the day before the hearing. For those who took the day off work only to be notified they would not be permitted to testify, this is a wasted vacation day. Worse yet, if the witness lives a distance away and drives to Annapolis the day before.

Do not let this ill-considered policy discourage you. Create your account and submit written testimony!

New Gun / Hunting Non-lead Ammunition Bill Expected

Last week, Senator Jack Bailey (R-29) indicated that a Departmental bill limiting or banning the use of lead ammunition is expected. Depending on the language of the bill, this could have an impact on hunting and the shooting sports as a a whole. Stay tuned for updates.

SB 0180 UPDATE

5 Year Carry Permit Renewal Proposed for Retired Law Enforcement ONLY

Senator West (R-42) is sponsoring SB 0180 Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration & Renewal Periods Law Enforcement. Delegate Valentine (R-2A) is sponsoring HB 0171, the House cross-filed bill.

Both bills would provide law enforcement with a 5-year renewal period for wear and carry permits. We can only support them if the bills are amended to apply the 5-year renewals to all citizens. Equal protection under the law must apply to all.

SB 0180 received a favorable report in the Senate JPR Committee without the amendments needed to make the bill fair to all gun owners. It is now on 2nd Reader in the Senate.

Maryland State Police Licensing Division & Maryland Gun Center

On January 9th, representatives of the Maryland State Police Licensing Division and Maryland Gun Center gave an extensive presentation to the House Judiciary Committee Committee. The entire 54 minute presentation can be viewed online by clicking the following: MSP Presentation Link

UPDATE #2:

Maryland General Assembly - Changes Coming

Delegate Dalya Attar has been appointed to the District 41 Senate seat replacing former Senator Jill Carter. As of this writing, Senator Attar does not have a Committee assignment.

Kathy Klausmeier (D-08) resigned her Senate seat to become the new Baltimore County Executive. Her seat has yet to be filled. Both Delegate Bhandari and Delegate Jackson are vying for her seat. It seems likely that Delegate Jackson will be the successful candidate. This means that the only pro-2A Senate Democrat will be replaced by a Delegate with an "F" rated voting record.