Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Committee Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Appropriations Committee advances multiple bills in first voting session; several pass unanimously
Summary
In a short first voting session, the Appropriations Committee voted favorably on a package of departmental and policy bills — including tuition exemptions for dependents of fallen public safety workers, advertising rules for private career schools, sickle-cell accommodations in higher education, a $1 billion MDTA debt-cap increase, and housing-program oversight — and marked three bills withdrawn.
The Appropriations Committee held its first voting session and approved several bills by voice or roll-call votes, with members recording unanimous 'yay' votes on the items considered.
The session opened with the chair noting, “So this is our first voting session,” and a brief procedural reminder that votes are final. The committee then took up a sequence of bills that were moved and seconded with little discussion beyond sponsor summaries and brief procedural questions.
Delegate Smith introduced House Bill 3, “a bill that allows the dependent child of a state or local public safety employee who dies as a result of or in the course of performing duties to be exempt from paying out of state or out of county tuition at a public institution of higher education in the state,” and said the Maryland Higher Education Commission must adopt regulations to implement the measure. The committee completed a roll call and the chair announced that the bill passed in committee.
Delegate Smith also presented House Bill 28, proposing that the secretary of higher education may approve a private career school to advertise and collect contact information before the school receives a certificate of approval, provided the school discloses that approval is pending and does not collect fees or sign enrollment agreements. The committee voted and the chair announced the bill passed unanimously.
House Bill 60, also moved by Delegate Smith, would require higher-education institutions to provide reasonable accommodations to students with sickle cell disease and direct the Maryland Department of Health to develop an awareness campaign in consultation with specified organizations. The committee held a roll call and the chair announced the bill passed.
Delegate Watson summarized House Bill 29 as a departmental measure to increase the Maryland Transportation Authority’s debt capacity from $4,000,000,000 to $5,000,000,000 subject to existing bond insurance requirements; the committee voted in favor and the chair announced passage.
Delegate Sheddi introduced House Bill 226, a departmental bill placing oversight of affordable and accessible housing programs with the Maryland Department of Disabilities. The committee adopted a clarifying amendment to specify that the Office of the Attorney General (rather than an individual counsel) reviews the department’s policies, then approved the amended bill in roll call.
The chair also moved that three bills be marked "unfavorable withdrawn." A member seconded that motion; the chair confirmed the withdrawn designation and closed the session.
What happened next: The committee announced bill-level outcomes at the close of the session; the chair declared each voted item passed or withdrawn in committee. The committee did not record extended debate, amendments (beyond the single attorney-general review clarification for HB 226), or formal minority reports during this brief session.
Votes at a glance - House Bill 3: Moved favorable by Delegate Smith; roll-call vote recorded unanimous 'yay'; result: bill passes (in committee). - House Bill 28: Moved favorable by Delegate Smith; roll-call vote recorded unanimous 'yay'; result: bill passes (in committee). - House Bill 60: Moved favorable by Delegate Smith; roll-call vote recorded unanimous 'yay'; result: bill passes (in committee). - House Bill 29: Summarized by Delegate Watson; roll-call vote recorded unanimous 'yay'; result: bill passes (in committee). - House Bill 226: Introduced by Delegate Sheddi; one amendment clarifying Office of the Attorney General review was adopted by voice vote; roll-call vote recorded unanimous 'yay'; result: amended bill passes (in committee). - Withdrawn bills: Chair moved to mark three bills as "unfavorable withdrawn"; motion seconded and the chair confirmed withdrawal.
The session ended with the chair thanking members and adjourning after the roll calls. The transcript contains the committee’s roll-call text and sponsor summaries for each listed bill.
