LEGISLATION OF INTEREST
With Maryland's General Assembly being conducted virtually MGPA members have the ability to submit testimony without having to travel to Annapolis. If you are interested in submitting written or verbal testimony, be sure to create a MyMGA account
here. The 2021 session will end on April 12th.
HB84 - Consumer Protection - Right to Repair
Delegate Feldmark
*Hearing held 1/27 - no further action
This bill requires an original equipment manufacturer, on fair and reasonable terms, to make available to an independent repair provider or owner of digital electronic equipment any documentation, parts, tools, or updates to information or embedded software. It also requires, as it applies to equipment that contains a security-related function, any documentation, tools, parts, or updates needed to reset the lock or function when disabled.
MGPA SUPPORTS House Bill 84
SB119/HB507
- Clean Water Commerce Act of 2021
*Hearings on 1/28 and 2/10 - Passed committees w/ amendments
This bill addresses the sunset of the pilot program and establishes the Clean Water Commerce Fund as a special, non-lapsing fund. It requires the Department of the Environment to transfer $20,000,000 from the Bay Restoration Fund to the Clean Water Commerce Fund beginning in the fiscal year 2022. 35% of this funding would be dedicated to agricultural practices.
MGPA has been involved in the workgroup to craft this legislation. We will be supporting the sponsor amendments based on this workgroup's recommendations.
MGPA SUPPORTS Senate Bill 119 & House Bill 84
HB581/SB486 - Labor and Employment - Employment Standards During an Emergency (Maryland Essential Workers' Protection Act)
*The subcommittees have heavily amended the bills to remove most of our concerns.
This legislation would create a number of new essential employer mandates and costs including: 1) hazard pay; 2) financial assistance for healthcare costs; and 3) universal health and bereavement leave, among many other problematic and challenging provisions for Maryland’s job creators; 4) Employee right to refuse to report.
MGPA worked with a coalition of agricultural stakeholders to craft language for an agricultural exemption.
MGPA OPPOSES House Bill 581 & Senate Bill 486