Last year the General Assembly passed legislation that would require any newly constructed building or building with a failing system to use nitrogen removal technology if they needed a septic system.  It also charged the Department of Environment to assist homeowners in paying the cost difference between a conventional on-site sewage disposal system and a system that utilized nitrogen technology with money from the Bay Restoration Fund, if sufficient funds are available.

This week the House of Delegates passed HB62 – Payment of Cost Differential – Nitrogen Removal Technology which clarifies the intent of the General Assembly that the difference in costs would be paid.  In effect it removes the language “if sufficient funds are available.” The bill will now cross over to the Senate for review.  I will be watching this measure closely as these provisions will affect many Charles County residents.

The first of my bills HB796 Property Tax Credit for Homes Formerly Owned by Habitat for Humanity of Charles County was heard by the Ways and Means Committee today.  This bill would authorize the Charles County Commissioners to grant a phase in of property taxes to owners of Habitat properties.  The phase in period is four years and allows the new owner to pay no tax the first year, 25% the second year, 50% the third year, and 75% the fourth year.  At year five they would pay the entire property tax assigned to that property.

My thanks go to Joe Crawford who is the President of Habitat of Humanity of Charles County and Board Member Mike Philips who came to Annapolis to give oral testimony.  Additionally a letter of support was submitted by Beverly Deniston who both supports the Habitat cause and has purchased a home in the past.

The committees are starting to report bills to the House of Delegates for debate.  On Wednesday HB33 – Child Care Articles Containing Bisphenol-A – Prohibition came up for a final vote and passed 137-0.  This bill was heard in the Health and Government Operations Committee and the lead sponsor was Delegate Hubbard.  I did not get a chance to co-sponsor this bill, but do support its aims.

The bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of bottles or cups containing Bisphenol-A that are intended to be used by a child under the age of 4 years.  This issue has been widely reported in the news and linked to possible birth defects.  I heard from several parents concerned that these products were allowed on the market.

The Year 2010 may long be remembered for the record snowfall in the first ten days of February.  State, county and federal governments, schools and businesses were forced to close for much of the time.  Mail was suspended and flights cancelled at the major airports.  The Monday night session of the General Assembly was cancelled, marking the first missed session since 2003, when another major snowfall blanketed the State.

Because of the weather, both the Senate and the House extended their bill introduction deadlines.  The House deadline, originally February 12, was extended to February 18.

The Governor’s bill, Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit – HB92, was presented to the Ways and Means Committee today.   This emergency bill will offer Maryland businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every unemployed Marylander it hires.  The bill includes a one-year program: capped at $20 million, and $250,000 per employer.  The worker must be employed for at least one year, and must fill a position that is new and that has been vacant for the prior six months.  This tax credit applies to employees who are currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits or who were in the past year.

The object of this bill is to get Marylanders off the unemployment insurance and back to work so that they can provide for their families and have a more stable future.