I believe in responsive, transparent government. While I’ll make every effort to keep you up to date on the bills I’ll be hearing and voting on, I thought you might be interested in going a bit deeper.

I’m changing things up a bit this week. Instead of highlighting bills coming up in my committee, I’m going to be focusing on bills that are important to note and might have a more pointed impact on our district.

Of course you can always see what’s coming up in my committee by checking out the hearing schedule.

Key Bills of Interest:

SB248: Allowing wine to be shipped into the state of Maryland directly from distributors. (will most likely be voted out of committee this week and go to the floor for a vote

SB132: The Job Applicant Fairness Act passed in the Senate with amendments. The bill prohibits an employer from using an individual’s credit report or credit history to deny employment, terminate or determine compensation. It will now head to the House.

HB743: Would have prohibited employers from requiring an employee to belong to a union. The bill never made it out of committee. A companion bill still remains in committee on the Senate side (SB 660)

SB 763: Allows any person who is serving in the armed forces and has a service-connected disability to hunt on public property without a hunting license. This bill passed the Senate and is now moving onto the House.

SB 8, Sb 243 (constitutional amendment): Would allow locations that already hold a slots license to now offer table games as well.

SB 4: Authorizes certain war veteran’s organizations that have resided in the state for at least 5 years to license up to 5 slot machines.

HB 1288: Would prohibit drivers from engaging in a preoccupying activity, such as reading, writing, personal grooming, using wireless communications, adjusting cargo, eating, drinking, or attending to another passenger.