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Gov. Wes Moore鈥檚 initial legislative package is picking up some support from House Republicans.
The General Assembly鈥檚 presiding officers this week introduced nine bills on Moore鈥檚 behalf, reflecting many of the broad priorities the new governor聽聽and for months before on the campaign trail.
鈥淓ach of these bills are important first steps in moving Maryland forward in an equitable way,鈥� Moore鈥檚 chief legislative officer, Eric Luedtke, wrote in a memo to lawmakers this week seeking support for the Democratic governor鈥檚 legislative package.
The Moore administration hasn鈥檛 revealed extensive details about the individual bills, but they are starting to emerge based on the language in each piece of legislation and a written synopsis of the measures that Luedtke, who until recently was House majority leader, provided to his former colleagues. The legislature has yet to release its standard fiscal and policy notes on Moore鈥檚 measures.
Each bill has picked up dozens of co-sponsors in the House; notably, six of the nine measures have Republican co-sponsors.
Moore鈥檚 bills were introduced in the Senate on Friday but the bill texts and lists of co-sponsors had not been posted on the General Assembly鈥檚 website as of Saturday.
One of the most intriguing bills,聽, known as the Access to Banking Act,聽would compel Maryland鈥檚 commissioner of Financial Regulation to create a Maryland Community Venture Investment Fund. The fund聽would provide an incentive for banks and credit unions to locate physical branches in low- and moderate-income communities, and would provide capital to financial technology companies to develop tech solutions designed to assist financial institutions in providing necessary lines of credit to small businesses in lower-income communities.
The bill, Luedtke鈥檚 memo says, 鈥渟ets out to improve access to banking in low and moderate income communities鈥� and 鈥渟eeks to empower entrepreneurs to develop work and wealth in communities across the state.鈥�
Carter Elliott IV, a Moore spokesperson, said in an email that the聽bill was not directly modeled after any other state or municipal program. The governor鈥檚 Legislative Office worked with the commissioner of Financial Regulation鈥檚 office, which is within the state Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, to design the legislation.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said she expects the measure to gain widespread support within the caucus and among Democrats in the Assembly.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a huge issue, especially when we鈥檙e talking about income inequality, predatory lending and other barriers to prosperity,鈥� she said.
The Maryland Bankers Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The measure has 62 co-sponsors in the House, including one Republican, Washington County Del. William Wivell. It has been assigned to the House Economic Matters Committee.
Here鈥檚 a look at the governor鈥檚 other eight bills, with their House bill numbers:
聽The SERVE Act (Serving Every Region through Vocational Exploration)
This is the bill that would set up Moore鈥檚 proposed system to provide a service year option for high school graduates to work for community organizations and nonprofit groups. The bill, according to Luedtke鈥檚 analysis, 鈥渋ncorporates a flexible design to allow for programs that appeal to a broad spectrum of young people with a wide range of career interests. This program will serve as a springboard for participants to enter into post-service year employment, higher education, or apprenticeships while creating a culture of service in communities across the state.鈥�
The bill has 72 co-sponsors in the House, including three Republicans, and is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 21 in the Appropriations Committee.
It鈥檚 anticipated that the administration will introduce another measure to create an agency to oversee the service program.
聽The Family Prosperity Act
The legislation would permanently extend the state鈥檚 Earned Income Tax Credit and would remove the $530 cap for adults without qualifying children. The bill would also expand the state鈥檚 Child Tax Credit to cover taxpayers with children 5 and under who have a federally adjusted gross income of $15,000 or less. The bill retains the existing credit for children older than 6, which only applies to children with disabilities.
鈥淭his proposal will ensure that Maryland families can focus on their futures instead of where the next meal or pack of diapers might come from,鈥� Luedtke wrote.
The bill, which has 73 co-sponsors 鈥� all Democrats 鈥� and is scheduled for a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 16.
聽The Fair Wage Act
This legislation would fulfill Moore鈥檚 promise to accelerate the state鈥檚 $15-an-hour minimum wage, fully implementing that wage for all covered employers as of Oct. 1 (it currently isn鈥檛 supposed to take full effect until 2026). The bill would also index the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index beginning on July 1, 2025, capped at 5% per year.
The measure has 63 co-sponsors, all Democrats. It has been assigned to Economic Matters.
聽The Clean Energy and Transportation Act
The bill would bolster incentives for people and businesses that purchase electric medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and charging stations. The bill would allow businesses that switch from fossil fuel-consuming trucks to electric trucks to receive grants that cover 100% of the cost differential. The measure would also enhance incentives to install EV charging stations and would enable the Maryland Energy Administration to cover more of their administrative costs.
The legislation has 69 Democratic co-sponsors and is ticketed for consideration in the House Environment and Transportation Committee.
The Broadband Expansion Incentive Act
The measure would create a five-year moratorium on sales and use taxes for broadband infrastructure equipment and would end state taxation of federal broadband grants.
鈥淭hese proposals ensure that Maryland most effectively deploys these once-in-a-generation federal dollars to close the digital divide and ensure that all Marylanders have access to affordable, high-speed internet,鈥� Luedtke鈥檚 memo says.
The bill has 74 co-sponsors, including a dozen House Republicans. It is scheduled for a hearing in Ways and Means on Feb. 16.
聽The Innovation Economy Infrastructure Act
The legislation would establish a pilot program within the state Department of Commerce, the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. It envisions leveraging state dollars for grants to businesses, local governments, non-profits, and academic institutions for infrastructure and technology programs.
鈥淭he bill pairs with the existing Innovation Investment Tax Credit (IITC) and Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit (BIITC) to expand access to capital and bring about significant tech-driven investment in Maryland,鈥� Luedtke wrote.
The measure, which has 64 co-sponsors, including a handful of Republicans, will be heard in Ways and Means on Feb. 16.
聽The Healthcare for Heroes Act
The bill would establish a program within the Maryland Military Department to reimburse members of the Maryland National Guard for health care and dental premiums that they pay for themselves and their families. It has 71 co-sponsors, including nine Republicans, and will have a hearing in the Appropriations panel on Feb. 21.
聽The Keep Our Heroes Home Act
The bill would expand the state鈥檚 existing tax exemption for military retirement income. Maryland currently allows retirees under age 55 to exempt up to $5,000 of military retirement income and retirees over age 55 to exempt up to $15,000. The legislation would eliminate the age distinction and allow for the exemption of up to $25,000 in tax year 2024 and up to $40,000 beginning in tax year 2025.
鈥淕iven the significant workforce challenges in Maryland鈥檚 high tech industries, we cannot afford to lose workers with specialized and in-demand skills,鈥� Luedtke wrote.
With 66 co-sponsors, including 13 Republicans, the bill will be heard in Ways and Means on Feb. 16.
William F. Zorzi contributed to this report.
