Report from the 2017 Maryland General Assembly

Outcome of Bills AHA Supported

Priority Bills

  • SB113/HB703 – Tobacco Control Funding: Hearings held but no vote and no additional funds places in supplemental budget
  • HB1509 – Maryland Healthy Vending Choices Act: Hearing, unfavorable report
  • SB669 – Tobacco Products-Minimum Age and Civil Fines (Tobacco21) Would raise legal age for purchase of tobacco products to 21: Hearing, unfavorable report

Other Bills

  • SB427/HB522 – AEDs in Restaurants – Was amended to a study to determine most effective locations for AEDs, cost for owning and for training and liability issues: Passed as amended
  • SB925/HB997 – Vehicle Laws-Bicycles, Play Vehicles and Unicycles – Specifies rights of those on any of these machines on sidewalk or crosswalk subject to specified traffic control signals: Passed as amended
  • HB1492 – Housing and Community Development-Food Deserts-Small Loans – Makes provisions for loans up to $50,000 under specified circumstances to improve access to healthy foods: Passed as amended
  • SB775/HB1445 and SB326/HB396 – Frederick County/Harford County to provide for special licenses to allow cigar shops to serve beer, wine and liquor: We opposed these bills and they all failed

SB278/HB586 – Maryland Farm and Families Act-Provides capability of food-insecure Maryland residents to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets using SNAP benefits; also benefits farmers: Passed with amendment noting that, each year, funding is subject to the limitations of the state budget.

Leave a Comment