Appropriations committee passes broad slate of bills, including bond authorizations and economic development changes
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Summary
The committee approved a large set of bills—including local bond authorizations, compensation adjustments for constitutional and judicial officers, and HB 15‑81, an economic development omnibus that increases lottery and debt caps for certain projects—mostly by unanimous voice votes; some motions used roll calls.
The Appropriations Committee completed a full voting session, advancing dozens of bills by voice vote and recorded roll calls that moved higher‑profile measures forward for floor consideration.
Among the measures approved, HB 15‑81 (presented by Delegate McCaskill) was the most expansive: it broadens eligible economic development projects to include the Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor, expands definitions of eligible project types, increases annual lottery fund distributions to the Blue Line Corridor special fund from $27,000,000 to $31,000,000, raises the ceiling on debt for Blue Line Corridor facilities from $400,000,000 to $450,000,000, and requires the governor to include $5,000,000 in the FY28 budget for backstretch housing at Laurel Park. "It increases the amount of lottery funds distributed to the blue line corridor special fund each year from 27,000,000 to 31,000,000 and increases the total amount of debt that may be issued ... from 400,000,000 to 450,000,000," McCaskill said when outlining the sponsor amendments.
The committee also passed a mix of local bond authorizations and budget‑adjacent bills by voice vote: HB 9‑27 authorizes Carroll County to issue up to $27,000,000 in general obligation bonds for public projects; HB 15‑13 authorizes Calvert County to issue up to $81,000,000 in general obligation bonds; and other local bills relating to community college and county board structures were approved without recorded opposition.
On compensation matters, HB 6‑07 (governor's salary commission adjustments for constitutional officers) was carried after an initially attempted roll call; a later roll call recorded individual votes (see committee roll‑call record). HB 6‑08 (Judicial Compensation Commission adjustments) also passed after committee recorded votes. Several pension and retirement bills, including HB 11‑39 on eligible governmental unit retirement reporting and opt‑out clarifications, passed with amendments.
Votes at a glance (committee actions and outcomes): • HB 11‑81: advanced (committee voice vote) • HB 15‑59: advanced (committee voice vote) • HB 3‑27: advanced (local trustees restructuring, voice vote) • HB 8‑45: advanced (scholarship eligibility expansion, voice vote) • HB 6‑07: advanced (recorded roll call; passed) • HB 6‑08: advanced (recorded roll call; passed) • HB 9‑27: advanced (Carroll County bonds, voice vote) • HB 14‑30: advanced (charter school maintenance funding changes, voice vote) • HB 15‑81: advanced (economic development omnibus, voice vote/committee action)
The chair reminded floor leaders the bills would appear on the floor the following day and adjourned the committee.