By American Joe Miedusiewski
The 2021 session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned at midnight on April 12th. The usual showers of balloons and confetti from the chamber balconies were absent, replaced by emotions of quiet accomplishment and relief.
The leadership of both houses worked diligently throughout the interim anticipating the challenges of COVID-19 and imagining how to mitigate the interruptions it may pose. As a result of those efforts and, to the surprise of many, the session was conducted over the full 90 days without a major glitch. Covid testing facilities were erected, the house chamber was divided into two locations, half in the state house and half in the house office building and plexiglass cubicles were installed in the senate chamber.
There were other changes as well. Gone were the groups of lobbyists hoping to get a quick word with legislators walking to and from the State House along Lawyers Mall. Gone were the public advocates in government buildings in the legislative complex. Gone were the gatherings for lunch, dinner, and legislators’ day visits.
Not gone, were bills introduced by legislators. After all, that is what legislators do. Leadership guidelines for the 2021 session requesting legislators to consider limiting the number of bills introduced still resulted in over 2,300 bills being filed.
AIA Maryland tracked 106 bills this session. Here are some representative subject areas:
Safe Streets Procurement MBE Participation Goals
Solar Panel Construction Establishing Office on Climate Change
Passive House Pilot Program Innovation Investments and Initiatives
Emergency Management DGS Energy Conserving Standards
Adaptive Reuse of Commercial Vacant Spaces Baltimore City Complete Street Funding
Historic Revitalization Tax Credits Green Building Tax Credit for Multifamily Housing
Climate Solutions Public Buildings Changing Facilities Requirements
High Performance and Green Buildings Architects Scope of Licensure
Many more bills are defeated than enacted. It may take years for a concept to fully mature before the legislature acts favorably upon it. It took 17 years to pass a bill requiring covers on open truck loads to prevent debris from falling onto the roadway and into other vehicles. It took 20 years to pass legislation to permit optometrists to use certain diagnostic drops during an eye examination. Certainly, there were many challenges involved in these two examples. Patience and tenacity are required to be successful in the legislative arena.
I point this out as Chris Parts and others have worked with Senator Pinsky and Delegate Dana Stein over the past two years on a Climate Solutions Bill SB414/HB583. After much work and deliberation SB414 passed the senate 34-11. The House Environment and Transportation Committee then worked the bill and reported it in a substantially amended version passing the house 95-42. The senate refused to concur and asked the house to recede. The house refused and a conference committee of the senate and house was formed. Regrettably, no resolution could be reached prior the 2021 legislative session being adjourned.
The bill would have made broad changes to the State’s approach to reducing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressed climate change. The bill would have increased the statewide GHG emissions reduction requirement (from 40% from 2006 levels by 2030 to 60% from 2006 levels by 2030) and require the State to achieve net-zero statewide GHG emissions by 2045; established new commissions and working groups; required the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt new energy conservation requirements for buildings and expanded and altered the applicability of “high-performance building” standards; established State tree-planting goals; increased and extended energy efficiency and conservation program requirements administered by the Public Service Commission; and established requirements for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles in the State fleet. The bill establishes related funding provisions. The bill would have taken effect June 1, 2021, with specified provisions terminating at the end of fiscal 2023, 2025, and 2031.
So, I would like to acknowledge a few of your colleagues who make the effort for AIA Maryland to be a major player in our state government. I know I will probably overlook some, but it is by no means intentional.
Many thanks to Chris Parts who conducts AIA Maryland’s Monday-at noon meetings during the legislative session in which he details the impact of select legislation on the practice of architecture. A shout-out to Dan Bailey and Chris for sharing their expertise testifying before legislative committees. A special thank you to Jennifer Verbeke for her language drafting and communication skills with amendments. The collective professional wisdom of Joel Fidler, Elizabeth Weiss Nook, Larry Frank and Matthew Ormsby is invaluable in guiding the legislative decision-making process. A special thank you to AIA Maryland Executive Director, Sandi Worthman who pulls this all together to provide senators and delegates with reliable, accurate information to support AIA Maryland’s legislative efforts. As the lobbyist for AIA Maryland, I am constantly impressed by the talent and effort put forth by its legislative committee.
We look forward with optimism to reengage legislators face to face, host the annual AIA Maryland legislative luncheon at the Chapter House and support legislators at their fundraisers. Much has been accomplished and there is much more to do.
Image credits
