[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6635187,"mediaKeyId","2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e","parentId",2648382,"title","Economic Matters Committee advances a slate of bills, approves amendments and holds several measures","audioSeconds",525,"startMs",784000,"endMs",1309000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e&start=784&end=1309","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e/thumbnail_784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6635187/Maryland/Economic-Matters-Committee-advances-a-slate-of-bills-approves-amendments-and-holds-several-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635187-1604b3142775bba553380625f5f16c22/orig.mp4?Expires=1776510937&Signature=B9Qg9SSHkkzEk~VX3EKqigNDOaLS5SoGam4Z5FL2I61hW12YUJqhh327z2sFQ-44V0~UWqD9JB~IQXlAzGKwwqUvUr3k5U6oOVY5G6ew84KzHVCE4H2okjcP6mqr7fytEixiGYS1BSJWeMTLLfo01i6wemnBZGZPpx~ZfRFS5wb3wy9ao51u93rTv~kUOLdY9kpGUIBDMHvBEjDT5vgenWOabEZUfOyQ-nqwjtRQkrmFadlZyjrZVHB8KX~qy30UJsEy9QF8A8BDQ-9lzUztv745DvmwtTC37vbnqNHyMOtv42V6523nPnD-DIO5-KKS1eKUwf0~iOUlGIfTY8K1tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Economic Matters","date","2025-03-15T14:52:08.91Z","article","The Economic Matters Committee considered a broad set of bills and moved many forward during the session. Several measures were amended before advancement; a small number were held for additional information. The following summarizes those bills, the committee action recorded in the transcript, and brief context for each.

Votes at a glance (committee actions recorded in transcript):
- House Bill 267: Prohibits, except as authorized under federal law, a person not accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from receiving compensation for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting veterans‑benefits matters. The committee moved the bill favorable after discussion about licensing/training; the transcript records the motion carried on roll call.

- House Bill 505: Held (no action recorded in transcript).

- House Bill 693: Establishes a regulatory framework for businesses engaging in commercial financing transactions. The committee moved the bill favorable with no amendments recorded.

- House Bill 861 (TNC receipts): Requires transportation network companies to provide access to digital receipts; amendment struck some itemized reporting and added weekly fare/earnings summaries for drivers. The amendment and bill as amended were moved favorable; committee members noted companies (Uber/Lyft) worked with sponsors on drafting.

- House Bill 960 (energy company cost recovery): Prohibits investor‑owned utilities from recovering certain costs (later amended to focus on trade association costs and private planes). The committee approved the amendment and moved the bill as amended.

- House Bill 1021 (real estate appraisers): Prohibits the real estate appraiser commission from requiring a bachelor's degree for certain residential certifications; amendment clarifies residential certification; committee moved the bill as amended.

- House Bill 1148 (auto insurance lapse coverage): Prohibits denial of coverage based on lapses due to an applicant's choice for homeowners/renters insurance, with affidavit provisions for insurers; committee approved amendments and moved the bill.

- House Bill 1162 (HVACR sales licensing): Prohibits selling HVACR equipment to persons who must be licensed to provide HVACR services; amendment clarified exemptions; committee approved bill as amended.

- House Bill 1229 (Montgomery County alcohol license density): Requires Montgomery County board to consider retail density impacts on public health/safety before approving new off‑premises alcohol licenses; committee approved amendments and moved the bill.

- House Bill 1547 (barbers/cosmetologists domestic‑violence training): Requires one hour of domestic‑violence awareness training for licensure applicants and holders for barbers and cosmetologists; committee recorded no fee and moved the bill favorable.

Other notes: A number of bills were held for more information (e.g., a mattress stewardship bill mentioned), and several motions were handled by voice vote with roll calls to confirm. The transcript records clerk roll calls with many individual affirmative and negative responses; the clerk announced when motions \"move\" or bills \"pass\".

Detailed vote lists and roll‑call names are recorded in the committee transcript; this summary reflects committee actions as recorded there.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ECM Committee Session, 3/15/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Economic Matters Committee advanced multiple bills on topics from veterans‑benefits representation and transportation‑network company reporting to professional licensing and HVACR sales rules; several bills were amended and approved, while a few were held for more information.","taxTitle","Economic Matters Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15059,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635196,"Committee advances Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund changes, amid debate about possible large assessments",313,1391000,1704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e&start=1391&end=1704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e/thumbnail_1391000.jpg","/articles/6635196/Maryland/Committee-advances-Maryland-Automobile-Insurance-Fund-changes-amid-debate-about-possible-large-assessments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635196-5e685c729e77cdb1f6255d0d868fdeb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776510937&Signature=heeHlN1f1xtvvT7lrYTbzuEF~WFCGpdgRf4nCmygLrZqbZFq92Dc2cwDesUlfIArWJTXYUDy~hPmZ8gN0JpMSJcvD-2kls39ZsDfPGPL2IGVXr9poiZDKTItGSCjz28B0MKdLNPCQW2rSkB7HVBBJN2CTT5DT7YsHlVcWu9iPMMptCxDMPqkHXV0gspjeeGzB77Z4juEv8Hp2KGtbeuA~TowkSMNtF4gVzdMzDHTuHyvAzCdatxxkHfrHwIxo90RPdIsDY4qKUkHbwIOwcrqJ6w58UBLQqyqfetDCQ5SlB092y2Kg5d5gsRx~V1WG0Wk4iMEeNzAN1L79WStSqXxWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Economic Matters Committee approved House Bill 1098 as amended, directing the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund to calculate and report its risk‑based capital, maintain surplus reserves, and giving the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) a directive to study private passenger auto insurance affordability.

Amendments added a representative of private passenger automobile insurance producers to the study membership, asked MIA to examine current financial status of private passenger insurers and solicit input from stakeholders including the reinsurance industry, and removed a prior requirement that the fund prepare a formal RBC plan in certain circumstances.

During debate Delegate David Pippe said he was concerned that a provision could require a single, very large assessment applied broadly to insureds statewide to build reserves. Pippe said that could produce a media backlash and that spreading the cost across smaller assessments over multiple years might be preferable. Supporters replied that the bill’s study provisions are intended to diagnose why past assessments occurred and to recommend fixes, and that the amendment provides a buffer to allow study before broader policy changes.

The committee conducted a roll call after discussion and the bill was recorded as passing the committee.

A committee member asked that MIA and stakeholders examine why the fund had expended reserves and led to repeated assessments; proponents said the study is designed to provide that analysis and policy recommendations.","The Economic Matters Committee approved House Bill 1098 as amended, directing the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund to report risk‑based capital metrics and commissioning a study on auto‑insurance affordability.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635200,"Committee narrows climate payment bill into a study of greenhouse‑gas costs",161,678000,839000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e&start=678&end=839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e/thumbnail_678000.jpg","/articles/6635200/Maryland/Committee-narrows-climate-payment-bill-into-a-study-of-greenhousegas-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635200-afe073b63fdaa3c5f35c5fe6fd4f5eb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776510937&Signature=hYc4-rhYMWI6QGRdLhJr4RcgmfDf4SKQIKZit4Wd-ZgJF-qQ-Omk7E71L-E73YhYleWHPr2O7s8QJXYgoDVgHmzJQTb2kzwOIZWx2IF5iiyEdhxLqHhTSJXA6kX4kygafP9AHBz8GpKegJupaqNd1~JSmtGKd7tQzf7HmmAHZXuyB6XgGjJRuwkkJBRJ8~5iGmTNCAm2oNzPifugfBOpSHLAzHo7FNDAHyxNfdjviwY5iCBBAJwUychTOVn~Y0bKnKDt8m4ycamnu2RySgJTCgmUn9vr7gM8hr81tXG7cJjIyuz0195ht-or9GiGShWMNK9XS0uNkh~03KWC2xL5CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Economic Matters Committee advanced House Bill 128 after approving an amendment that stripped most programmatic provisions and replaced them with a required study.

As amended, the bill would require the comptroller, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and the Maryland Department of the Environment, to report to the General Assembly by Dec. 1, 2026, on the total assessed cost of greenhouse‑gas emissions. The study must summarize cost‑driving effects of covered emissions, calculate costs already incurred and projected for the state and its residents, calculate costs of related mitigation efforts, and include an economic analysis of whether certain costs would be passed to taxpayers.

Committee members described the amendment as turning the measure into a study bill and moved the amendment without debate. The amendment and the bill as amended were approved on voice vote and a subsequent roll call; the committee clerk recorded the vote and announced the bill moved.

The committee also discussed that the amendment altered the bill by striking the original program text and inserting study and reporting requirements. No fiscal appropriation or fund‑establishment details remained in the amended text recorded in the transcript.","Economic Matters members amended House Bill 128 to remove most program provisions and require a study, to be completed by Dec. 1, 2026, on the assessed costs of greenhouse‑gas emissions and related mitigation costs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635205,"Committee advances right-to-repair bill for powered wheelchairs with carve-out for highly specialized devices",924,359000,1283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e&start=359&end=1283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e/thumbnail_359000.jpg","/articles/6635205/Maryland/Committee-advances-right-to-repair-bill-for-powered-wheelchairs-with-carve-out-for-highly-specialized-devices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635205-7f7fc2aaac9fe3f3798f0453746bb577/orig.mp4?Expires=1776510937&Signature=R1hJs8sblkvIOoH5VCwdlS41igRZn8F6o9VGwfJ0i2QPjpdkl8LtJ1xHFV-ia8Pc-NAiO6BSne0GIEOOExulJBEK5y4LJRZccqMzUFdNREleNXKEnbepo2YuhB5mtWSzW8nDEstfM7d2v2IZxAcIjY9WYuLIzN-24PpHyGr-u4m~zih0-VCojf6~xI9Ah~SyIJDZl0~NS~1y41HnXAVZKOOdfb8McMbErXYh-5lOnUKRF~X0FiMKO79OBhujP6zQVye~0C~BofuE5GVTD0quFTptf-Na~z~YshhFzTw1gDVkJ-vRGhxooF18VY1awcKFz6-Yrq8Pf5bG14FpNf-kPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Economic Matters Committee moved House Bill 31, a right‑to‑repair measure for powered wheelchairs, as amended to exclude “highly specialized” wheelchairs and components.

Committee members said the amendment narrows the bill to remove devices that require therapist calibration or other advanced technical expertise. The bill’s sponsor and supporters said the change was intended to preserve access to repairs for typical powered wheelchairs while protecting devices that require specialized training.

Members who raised concerns compared the debate to other right‑to‑repair conversations involving complex machinery. One committee member said allowing unrestricted access to repair interfaces could create public safety risks because powered wheelchairs operate in public spaces and must function reliably. The member asked whether manufacturers would remain liable for defective repairs; the bill’s supporters said the amendment was not intended to make manufacturers responsible for third‑party repairs and that liability language had been narrowed at subcommittee.

Committee member Seth asked who would bear repair costs. A staff presenter replied that manufacturers, not consumers or independent repair shops, would be on the line under the current amendment because the measure does not change prior‑authorization rules in the bill packet.

The amendment defines the excluded devices by example, pointing to positioning components and items that “require adjustment by therapists or assistive technology professionals.” A committee speaker used the example of an extremely customized wheelchair that requires specialized servicing, saying those devices are the ones the amendment seeks to protect from a broad right‑to‑repair provision.

After discussion the committee conducted a roll call and the bill (as amended) was advanced from the committee record.

Votes at committee: recorded roll call led to the clerk stating the bill \"moves.\" The transcript records multiple “aye” and several “no” responses by roll call; the committee clerk announced the motion carried.","The Economic Matters Committee moved House Bill 31 as amended, creating a limited right-to-repair for powered wheelchairs while excluding highly customized, therapist‑adjusted devices after members raised public-safety and liability concerns.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635191,"Committee advances mortgage‑assignment bill amid \"zombie mortgage\" concerns",0,1706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e&start=1706&end=1706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2648382-1f5abb4092a5143446c5241e89ea879e/thumbnail_1706000.jpg","/articles/6635191/Maryland/Committee-advances-mortgageassignment-bill-amid-zombie-mortgage-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635191-ee90b01104b0725db5b886c17d52edf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776510937&Signature=MZvVQV9XCGh24Rzr3uwkXobaUSZN2ZEOOI1E1-g20PRtHrXNQf~QKV9wI59M~dkCObMcA3Ylbss5ebO1dVrBwBiSI8AZclmT1r7vtnFzuPIzpG7adpMgpUO~YFa~FtxHD0on-Rf80l6Q9K8Krz3F81xzdMa11TmfzHQNoPhBX0To7CCpXBR1qKmRXQ-v2bJCMuVkUDIPp1bvm09Q7hecM~giXIkppxBb26Vvrth8Uk7VsM9wgpBxpDLSy-zHVtgcTiyxdY~bzML156OJyDx4pzQJh0SNfYEPdVS7Kgu~kpqn1knbT3gG6qvs~u~aWMv-Zb4p5Hn1FisviWKzaOmmJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Economic Matters Committee approved House Bill 1516, which clarifies that certain consumer credit provisions in the Financial Institutions Article generally do not apply to a person who acquires or is assigned a mortgage in whole or in part if that person does not otherwise make mortgage loans or engage in the mortgage lending business.

Members heard testimony and discussion about so‑called \"zombie mortgages\" — assigned or defaulted mortgage claims that can create confusion for borrowers and real‑estate transfers. A committee speaker said opponents were concerned about a small sector of the secondary mortgage market and the bill is intended to maintain the secondary market’s operation while addressing problem cases flagged by court rulings.

The sponsor said the House and Senate versions differ slightly; the committee sought to advance its bill without amendments while participants in both chambers work toward alignment. The motion to move the bill in favor carried on roll call and the bill was advanced from committee.

Committee members requested further follow‑up in subsequent negotiations between chambers to ensure the narrow concerns about defaulted or improperly assigned mortgages are resolved prior to final passage.","House Bill 1516 was advanced after members discussed concerns about \"zombie\" mortgages and the secondary mortgage market; sponsors said the bill intends to preserve established secondary market practices while addressing a small subset of problematic post‑foreclosure assignments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Economic Matters Committee advances a slate of bills, approves amendments and holds several measures

Committee advances Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund changes, amid debate about possible large assessments

Committee narrows climate payment bill into a study of greenhouse‑gas costs

Committee advances right-to-repair bill for powered wheelchairs with carve-out for highly specialized devices

Committee advances mortgage‑assignment bill amid "zombie mortgage" concerns