Legislative Session 2019
A summary by Bob Spanburgh, Executive Director, ABATE of MD, Inc.
Well, another legislative Session has come and gone. On April 8th @ 11:30 pm the final gavel fell on the 2019 Session. A year that started with the swearing-in of so many new faces ended with the departure of some long-time familiar faces.
Abate of Md. forged some new relationships while hopefully making some inroads in the all-important Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. JPC member Sen. Michael Hough introduced our Helmet Modification Bill (SB 981). His staff members Brendan, Steve and Bob were of immeasurable help throughout the Session. We had enough co-sponsors within the Committee to pass the bill out of the JPC to the full Senate. We were unfortunately unable to secure a Committee vote. We will be pre-filing this legislation for 2020.
House Speaker Michael Busch passed away the day before the session closed. This guarantees there will be new faces in the Legislature and its committees. I predict more changes will transpire next year. Thank You to all our Abate Members who came down and helped us lobby this year. I would also like to offer a hearty Thanks to the COC for its support. The lobbying support on Monday nights from Tribes MC, Hells Angels MC, Kings of Mayhem MC, Chosen Sons MC, Boozefighters MC and all whom I might have left out was a huge help. We will continue to pursue our agenda in Annapolis.
Cross Filed: No
Requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to adopt certain guidelines for the operation of a motorcycle on a roadway that is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic; and repealing certain provisions of law that prohibit an operator of a motorcycle on certain roadways from overtaking and passing in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken and from operating a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lanes or rows of vehicles.
Sponsor: Delegate Szeliga
Co Sponsors: Delegates, Arentz, Bromwell, and Jacobs
Committee: Environment and TransportationAdditional 2019 Items
2019 Legislation – Motorcycle Related
SB 804 – Vehicle Laws – Injury or Death of Vulnerable Individual – Penalties
(Cross Filed HB 0112)
Prohibiting a person from causing the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual as a result of the person operating a vehicle in a careless or distracted manner or in violation of any other rules of the road provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law; establishing that a person convicted of a violation of the Act may be fined up to $2,000 and must appear in court and may not prepay the fine; establishing additional penalties of participation in a motor vehicle safety course and up to 150 hours of community service; etc.
Sponsor: Senator Lee
Co-Sponsors: Senator Smith
Committee: Judicial Proceedings
ABATE Position: Supporting this bill & has testified in the hearings
The HB0112 has passed the House floor vote and SB804 is proceeding thru the Senate. This is one more step is our previous legislation regarding right-of-way violation. It provides a penalty section.
Suggested Email/Phone Script: I am contacting (Senator/Committee Chair) to urge a vote and favorable report for SB 804, relating to Injury or Death of Vulnerable Individual.
(Name)
(ABATE MEMBER)
(MD Resident and Registered Voter)
HB917 – Motor Vehicles – Motorcycles – Overtaking and Passing Vehicles