2021 HOUSE COMMITTEE GUIDELINES

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  • PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    I'm reposting this (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/HOUSE COMMITTEE GUIDELINES.pdf) from the MGA website. Our critters are starting to stir.

    2021 HOUSE COMMITTEE GUIDELINES

    All House committee work will be conducted virtually for the 2021 legislative session. The following framework for House Standing Committees is based on what we know right now about COVID-19. These are all subject to change, based on changing public health trends.

    For planning purposes, during the first third of session (January 14th through at least February 12th), House committee work for standing committees will occur during the following time blocks (as needed):

    • Mondays 1:30pm –5:30pm
    • Tuesdays through Thursdays 11am –12:30pm; 1:30pm –5:30pm; 6:30pm –8:30pm
    • Fridays 11am –12:30pm; 1:30pm –5:30pm

    HEARINGS

    • Bill hearings will begin on January 14, 2021 on pre-filed bills. Pre-filed bills will be available online in mid-December and the hearing schedule will be available during the first full week of January 2021 on the Maryland General Assembly website. Witness sign-up for pre-filed bills that will be heard on January 14thwill be open via the MGA website beginning at 10am on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
    • Every on-time bill will receive a hearing. The standing committee chair continues to have full discretion over the length of the hearing.
    • The hearing schedule for each committee will be posted at the latest during the week before the hearing is scheduled.

    WITNESS SIGN-UP

    • Witness sign-up will be opened online through the Maryland General Assembly website 48 hours before the bill hearing beginning at 10am until 3pm. Witnesses can sign up on Thursdays for Monday hearings and Fridays for Tuesday hearings.
    • The specific bill order will be posted on the Maryland General Assembly website the day before the hearing. If a bill hearing is scheduled for a Monday, the hearing order will post on Friday.
    • The House standing committees will cap bill hearings at a maximum of 50 witnesses per bill. As a point of reference, less than three dozen on-time bills during the 2020 legislative session had more than 50 witnesses signed up.
    • The witness sign-up software will not allow witnesses to sign up as a panel. The sponsor may communicate with the committee about other witnesses that the sponsor wants to testify with them and the chairs will make every effort to accommodate those requests.

    SUBCOMMITTEES: While subcommittees are not subject to the Maryland Open Meetings Act, all subcommittee work will be livestreamed through the Maryland General Assembly website for the 2021 legislative session.

    VOTING SESSIONS: All standing committee voting sessions will be livestreamed through the Maryland General Assembly website for the 2021 legislative session. The vote lists will be available on the Maryland General Assembly website at least two days prior to the voting session.

    CO-SPONSORS: For the 2021 legislative session, co-sponsors will not be listed on the blue backs to avoid passing paper among a large number of members.

    BILL FILES: Electronic copies of the bill files will be available by request to any member of the public after the bill hearing by contacting the standing committee.
    • Bill files will be available through the MGA website when the bill is on the House floor for second reader. For bills that do not pass out of the standing committee, the bill file will be available on the website after the legislative session.
     

    Kicken Wing

    Snakes and Sparklers
    Apr 5, 2014
    868
    WASH-CO
    Thanks for the update, PowPow. The witness signup is interesting to say the least. We are really getting cut off at the knees this year. 50 witnesses per bill. Not 25 favorable 25 unfavorable... Just 50. In addition, the sponsor gets to pick witnesses (nothing new) but with a cap of 50... Does that mean that D sponsors can automatically sign up 50 red shirts without hearing opposition? I did 4 days during the 2020 session and thought I had things figured out to a degree. I know the Senate rules changed drastically this year. I follow that loud and clear. I am having a hard time deciphering what is the same From the 2020 session vs what is new in the 2021 session according to the above MGA House guidelines. I need to read this in the morning with a fresh mind.
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,689
    Thanks for the update, PowPow. The witness signup is interesting to say the least. We are really getting cut off at the knees this year. 50 witnesses per bill. Not 25 favorable 25 unfavorable... Just 50. In addition, the sponsor gets to pick witnesses (nothing new) but with a cap of 50... Does that mean that D sponsors can automatically sign up 50 red shirts without hearing opposition?

    This would be the time to file a lawsuit challenging the limitations on witnesses, and the probablility of unfair witness selection/limitation.

    I hope MSI is listening.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,879
    Covid hysteria is already being accepted to negate Free Assembly, Freedom of Movement , Freedom of Religion . Why should the Right to Petition Grievances or Political Speech be any different ?
     

    Kicken Wing

    Snakes and Sparklers
    Apr 5, 2014
    868
    WASH-CO
    Simple version - Nothing is same , everything is different .

    That was my take on this last night when I looked at it. Thanks for the verification.

    I sense that this coming session will be the largest lefty power grab we've ever seen.

    I sense that as well. I have a sliver of hope that the state is so far in debt due to covid that guns fall to the wayside this year? I know it is positive thinking and it will probably not go down this way. The MGA can and probably will seize this opportunity to make their dreams come true. There is nothing standing in their way this year at all. Even if they are light on gun bills I am sure they are going to make up for it in other places, like generating new taxes.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,678
    That was my take on this last night when I looked at it. Thanks for the verification.



    I sense that as well. I have a sliver of hope that the state is so far in debt due to covid that guns fall to the wayside this year? I know it is positive thinking and it will probably not go down this way. The MGA can and probably will seize this opportunity to make their dreams come true. There is nothing standing in their way this year at all. Even if they are light on gun bills I am sure they are going to make up for it in other places, like generating new taxes.

    That’s sort of my hope as well. I think between health and safety related to the pandemic, education and fiscal concerns along with MGA not able to conduct standard hearings and what not they are going to be so busy with everything else there will be no real push to do their regular 2A curb stomping.

    Does make me curious if MGA does away with religious exemptions for school vaccinations or not.
     

    MJD438

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 28, 2012
    5,849
    Somewhere in MD
    This would be the time to file a lawsuit challenging the limitations on witnesses, and the probablility of unfair witness selection/limitation.

    I hope MSI is listening.
    They already have an AG opinion protecting what they are doing. Per the AG, there is nothing requiring active public participation in the process nor requiring the legislature to accept testimony from the public in any manner.


    In a letter to Jones’ and Ferguson’s top aides, Brantley said that committee sessions are less problematic because they are subject to fewer legal requirements than floor sessions.


    “Nothing in State law requires the legislature to refer bills to committees or receive public testimony on pending legislation, orally or written,” she wrote.
    From https://www.marylandmatters.org/202...ers-from-meeting-online-or-outside-annapolis/


    With all of the discretion allowed to the committee chairs, I am expecting that MSRPA (the org I chair and represent as lobbyist in Annapolis) and the other 2A supporting organizations and citizens will be completely left out of the process regardless of who goes to bat for us.
     

    PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    That’s sort of my hope as well. I think between health and safety related to the pandemic, education and fiscal concerns along with MGA not able to conduct standard hearings and what not they are going to be so busy with everything else there will be no real push to do their regular 2A curb stomping.

    Victories of any kind only validate and embolden the left. The MGA is no exception. Expect the worst. I know Atterbeary and her fellow progressives will bring it!

    Does make me curious if MGA does away with religious exemptions for school vaccinations or not.

    Hey, don't remind them of ideas they have already expressed!
     

    Kicken Wing

    Snakes and Sparklers
    Apr 5, 2014
    868
    WASH-CO
    MJD438 - That's scary. I feel like I just took a cold shower.

    Lazarus - 2A curb stomping... I am stealing that line. It is fitting.

    PowPow - I could see it going either way. Fingers crossed, they lay off of the 2A this year.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,879
    While Kicken Wing is newer , he hit the ground running , and was very involved in 'naptown last year .
     

    PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    Progressives and socialists only care only about three things: themselves, their power over you, and your lack thereof. The 2A interferes with this. When emboldened, they seek even more of what they care about. Due to the perception (real or otherwise) that Biden won and what he brings with him, they will come with everything they can and will ram it through to see just how much Larry can resist his true Democrat nature. This is the reality that we face.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,678
    I wonder if it's a first-come-first-serve... Maybe we can get our guys in before the red shirts? Need to get a pre-compiled list together...

    Probably a bad assumption, but if they do anything other than that or something like even split for/against then someone would have a real great equal protection clause suit.
     

    Kicken Wing

    Snakes and Sparklers
    Apr 5, 2014
    868
    WASH-CO
    You must be new here.

    I just realized something. Correct me if I am wrong. I am pretty sure that I gave you a ride after one of the sessions this past year across the bridge to the Navy Stadium parking lot. It was late, we walked out of the House or the Senate building, pretty sure it was the House, with a few people, I asked you if you needed a ride across the bridge. You almost turned me down but then said, "yeah, I will take a ride". As soon as we got to my jeep it started raining like cats and dogs. There may have even been a deceased grandparent or 2 fall from the sky. It was raining HARD. I dropped you off at your vehicle on the other side. I would bet a hundred bucks that was you.
     

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