Legislature will conduct its business almost entirely virtually

The Maryland General Assembly will convene for its 442^nd Regular Session on Wednesday, January 13 at 12 noon. This year’s session will be the third of four during this current term of office for Maryland’s 188 Delegates and Senators.

The presiding officers, due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, have created guidelines to conduct as much of the legislature’s business as possible in a virtual format. Bill hearings in the standing committees will be held virtually along with committee voting sessions as well as other legislative business. Reopening guidelines including committee procedures can be found on the General Assembly’s website.

The General Assembly will have a full plate before it. Legislators will have to find ways to address budget shortfalls, decreased revenues because of the economic downturn, and thousands of bills covering an array of policies. NFIB will also have a full plate this session. Issuing impacting small business include:

• Tax proposals meant to pay for new government programs
• Family leave insurance program paid for, in part, by employers
• Unemployment insurance legislation meant to mitigate drastic hikes to employer premiums
• Liability protection for small businesses threatened by frivolous lawsuits that exploit the already damaging effects of COVID-19

Other issues will likely arise as the state continues wrestling with the economic fallout of the pandemic. NFIB will continue to press its legislative priorities that allow small businesses the ability to reopen their doors, hire workers, and continue Maryland’s economic rebound.

If you have any questions about NFIB’s priorities and legislation before the General Assembly that will impact your business, please contact NFIB in Maryland’s State Director Mike O’Halloran at Mike.OHalloran@nfib.org.