Lawmakers debate ERA, housing bills
As session nears its final day, Saturday discussion reignites years-old disputes
As the clock ticked closer to the end of this year’s Maryland General Assembly session — and with scores of bills still to pass — the longest debate during a Saturday gathering of the House of Delegates was one that’s been ongoing for a half-century.
The Equal Rights Amendment, which proponents say would bolster protections for women in the U.S. Constitution, has always been the subject of fierce debates in state legislative chambers and in the halls of Congress.
But 52 years after Maryland became one of the first states to ratify it, the amendment has still never been adopted federally — and Democrats at the State House in Annapolis said it’s time to reaffirm the state’s support.
“This bill says that Maryland believes that the foundation — the foundation — of democracy is that every person is valued, every voice must be heard,” Del. Bonnie Cullison, a Montgomery County Democrat, said on the House floor before the resolution passed, mostly along party lines.
House Republicans led a 35-minute debate against the resolution amid a roughly 2 ½-hour bill-passing session. Both the House and Senate met to get as much done as possible ahead of Monday’s final day of the annual three-month session in Annapolis.
Hundreds of bills have already been sent to Democratic Gov. Wes Moore’s desk. Others that were sent to him or advanced in the process Saturday included measures to fund the state’s medical trauma systems, incentivize the development of affordable housing and authorize $1.8 billion in debt for capital projects.
A $63 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, meanwhile,
received final approval in both chambers Friday following weeks of divisions over whether to pass new taxes to resolve future deficits.
The compromise included higher taxes on tobacco products and new fees for vehicle owners.
On Saturday, the resolution affirming commitment to the ERA was among dozens that received final approval. While supporters say it would protect women’s health care — including abortion rights — and address other issues like employment discrimination, the amendment has faced resistance from Republicans who say it’s unnecessary and not legally enforceable because of time limits on Congress’ original 1972 directive to states to ratify it.
“This is nothing more than virtue signaling,” Del. Kathy Szeliga, a Baltimore County Republican, said during the House debate. “This before you is completely meaningless.”
Democrats said they were making a statement of their support at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court has rolled back federal protections around abortion.
“If it’s not in the Constitution, it can be taken away at any time,” said Del. Terri Hill, a doctor and Howard County Democrat.
House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, authored legislation last year to set up a ballot question that, if approved by voters in November, will enshrine reproductive rights in the Maryland constitution.
Though she typically does not comment during floor debates that she oversees, Jones at one point Saturday called out Calvert County Republican Del. Mark Fisher when he laughed as he stood up to introduce an amendment after Cullison’s passionate speech.
“Laughing? At what? What’s funny?” Jones asked him from the rostrum.
Fisher, smiling, responded, “What’s funny is I have an amendment at the desk,” to which Jones said, “I guess you couldn’t answer that one, huh?”
His amendment, which would have requested a convention of states instead of the ratifying of the amendment, along with other unrelated demands, failed.
Other work in the House on Saturday included advancing a bill to increase current funding sources for medical trauma centers by increasing vehicle registration surcharges — from $17 to $40 — and raising fines for impaired driving offenses. Senate leaders have agreed to the bill, but will need to pass it Monday.
That’s also the case for the multibillion-dollar capital budget, which funds projects like improvements to public parks and libraries across the state.
In the Senate, lawmakers gave final approval to two of the governor’s three housing-related bills. They will need House approval Monday to reach Moore’s desk.
Both the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act — which focuses on zoning changes to incentivize development — and the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act — which aims to protect renters — have been contentious.
The zoning bill would, in part, allow for development in higher-density areas and prevent local governments from setting “unreasonable” limits on or requirements for development.
Sen. Mike McKay, an Allegany County Republican, was the only member of his party to vote in favor of it Saturday. He referred to concerns about inhibiting local control while explaining his position.
“I do feel and understand local zoning control. However, we have a housing problem and we’ve got to do whatever we can do,” McKay said. “In Allegany County, I believe it will lower the rate of a home by $30,000 or $40,000. …
So I want to thank everyone’s support and thank the governor for this good bill.”
The renters’ bill would create a new state advocate for renters and increase the burden on landlords who want to evict tenants, among other provisions.
Sen. Chris West, a Baltimore County Republican, gave a lengthy speech criticizing the governor for a “disappointing lack of strategic vision” before ultimately voting in favor of it because of amendments that he worked on that make it less objectionable to him. He said he believes the bill will disincentivize landlords from wanting to rent to tenants or build new rental units.
“Maryland’s landlords are experiencing shellshock. They’re convinced that the state of Maryland regards them as the enemy, that Gov. Moore regards them as the enemy,” West said.
Moore testified on both housing bills in House and Senate committees earlier this year, signifying they are among his priorities for tackling what he described as a housing affordability crisis in the state. Adding to the housing supply and protecting renters vulnerable to eviction will help lower costs, he has said.
Lawmakers will return Monday to the State House, likely working until the midnight deadline, to settle the remaining business for the year.
Among the unfinished agenda items is passing the Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade, or PORT, Act — the bill introduced recently to provide economic relief to workers and businesses affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse March 26. Jones said in a statement Saturday passing that legislation on the final day, known as “sine die,” is a priority.
“Our members have important bills that still need to get across the finish line, so I’m looking forward to a productive last day,” Jones said.