Senate adopts favorable committee reports and orders multiple bills printed for third reading

On Feb. 20 the Maryland Senate adopted a series of favorable committee reports and ordered multiple bills printed for third reading. Floor leaders moved the adoption of committee reports on a range of measures; in nearly all cases the reports were adopted without recorded objections and the bills were ordered printed for third reading.

Highlights of the slate include: Senate Bill 218, which would allow the state superintendent of schools to declare a prolonged state of emergency to permit virtual instruction after at least 14 consecutive school closure days; Senate Bill 225, which designates interjurisdictional hazard watersheds (as amended); Senate Bill 257, which requires annual reporting to the legislature on proceeds to the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund; Senate Bill 280, which updates park references under the Great Maryland Outdoors Act; Senate Bill 306, which adjusts membership of the Baltimore County Board of Community College Trustees; Senate Bill 77, a departmental contract-exemption measure for the Office of International Trade; Senate Bill 109, a local Anne Arundel County tax-deferral eligibility expansion; Senate Bill 194, clarifying incentives for Space Force members and veterans; Senate Bill 403, extending sales-and-use tax exemptions to certain school book fairs; and Senate Bill 450, giving Carroll County permit authority to deny permits for unpaid personal property taxes under limited conditions.

The floor also agreed to refer Senate Bill 895 (a State Police school-mapping data program) to the appropriate committees under Senate Rule 33 for additional review. Committee chairs gave scheduling announcements for upcoming hearings, including a finance committee day with a large set of alcohol-related bills.

Most measures on the day's calendar were advanced procedurally and will return to the Senate calendar for third-reading consideration.