PROGRESSIVE CHEVERLY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES:
2018 MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
1. Raise the Minimum Wage to $15 (SB0543, HB0664)
Synopsis:
Specifying the State minimum wage rate that is in effect for certain time periods; increasing, except under certain circumstances, the State minimum wage rate based on the annual growth in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area; specifying the tip credit amount that is in effect for certain time periods; prohibiting an employer, beginning July 1, 2026, from including the tip credit amount as part of the wage of certain employees; etc.
Status/Hearings: Legislation failed.
2. Increase Maryland Renewable Energy Goal to 50% by 2030 (SB0732, HB1453)
Synopsis:
Establishing certain criteria for qualified offshore wind projects applied for on or after January 1, 2020; altering and extending the minimum required percentage of energy that must be derived from Tier 1 renewable sources in the State's renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years; altering and extending the minimum required percentage of Tier 1 renewable energy that must be derived from solar energy in the State's renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years; etc.
STATUS/HEARINGS: LEGISLATION FAILED.
3. Child Conceived Without Consent - Termination of Parental Rights (Rape Survivor Family Protection Act) (SB0002, HB0001)
Synopsis:
Authorizing a court, under certain circumstances, to terminate the parental rights of an individual convicted of or found to have committed an act of nonconsensual sexual conduct against the other parent that resulted in the conception of a child; specifying that a termination of parental rights terminates completely certain rights and the parent's responsibility to support the child, including payment of child support; requiring the court to refer an unrepresented parent to legal services or to appoint counsel; etc.
Status/Hearings: Enacted. Passed by both houses; signed by Governor Hogan on February 13.
Progressive Cheverly Advocate: Mary Shine
4. Gun Safety Legislation, Including a Ban on Bumpstocks and Surrender of Firearms During Protective Order (SB1062, HB0991; HB1562)
Synopses:
Prohibiting a person from possessing a certain detachable magazine that has a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition; prohibiting a person from possessing a regulated firearm if the person was previously convicted of a certain crime involving possessing, owning, carrying, or transporting a firearm after having been convicted of a certain other crime; and applying certain penalties.
Requiring a temporary peace order and a final peace order to order the respondent to surrender to law enforcement authorities any firearm in the respondent's possession within a certain time frame and to refrain from possession of any firearm for the duration of the temporary peace order or the final peace order; requiring, instead of authorizing, a temporary protective order to order a certain respondent to surrender to law enforcement authorities any firearm in the respondent's possession within a certain time frame; etc.
Status/Hearings:
Ban Bumpstocks - Legislation passed; vetoed by Governor
Surrender of firearms during protective order - Legislation failed.
Progressive Cheverly Advocate: Joani Horchler
5. Streamline Voter Registration (SB1048, HB0152)
Synopsis:
Redesignating electronic voter registration agencies as automatic voter registration agencies; requiring automatic voter registration agencies to inform an applicant for a certain transaction that the applicant shall be registered to vote or shall have a voter registration record updated unless the applicant declines these services or is determined not to be eligible to register to vote; requiring automatic voter registration agencies to implement automatic voter registration systems by July 1, 2019; etc.
Status/Hearings: Enacted. Passed by Both Houses. Became law without governor’s signature on April 5.