Expect the 443rd legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly to be more wild and unpredictable than ever as lawmakers consider ways to spend billions of dollars in an election year.
In years past, there has usually been at least one major issue that impacts businesses at the forefront of the majority-Democrat General Assembly's agenda. Those issues have included the implementation of paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and the creation of a digital advertising tax.
While there are several proposals already being considered, and more sure to come to light amid the political shenanigans likely to ensue as lawmakers look to get reelected or move into higher office, there isn't one singular headliner. The big topic this year is money.
Maryland finds itself in a much better financial situation than many initially expected after closing the fiscal 2021 year with a $2.5 billion surplus. In mid-December, the state's Board of Revenue Estimates approved a write-up of the revenue projection for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 by $1 billion.
Add into the mix the federal money Maryland is receiving from the American Rescue Plan Act and a $1 trillion national infrastructure bill passed by Congress in November, and the state's lawmakers have an unprecedented amount of money at their disposal. How they put that money to use could have a huge impact on the state's business community as many employers continue to struggle almost two years into the Covid-19 pandemic....
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