Bill Statuses / Voting Schedule

HoCoShooter · Mar 7, 2013

Can someone knowledgeable with the process explain where we are now with the voting schedule on the gun bills? As I see on the Md Legislative site, the process is as follows:

http://dls.state.md.us/data/libandinfser/libandinfser_docandpub/Legislative-Process.pdf

So now for instance, on SB281/HB294, is the upcoming March 1st action the third house reading and actual vote?

Thanks.

Boondock Saint · Mar 7, 2013

SB 281 has been passed. It's done. However, it's not law until HB 294 passes the House.

HB 294 awaits a committee vote. The chairman of each committee, in this case Joe Vallario, schedules a vote at his discretion. He can choose not to do so, but I think it's clear with this being O'Malley's bill that it will get a vote. Committee will amend as they see fit (or not) then take a vote on the bill as it exists at that point. If it passes, it then goes to the House floor for a full vote, where it can also be amended to hell, filibustered, etc.

If HB 294 is passed in some form that is in any way different from SB 281, it then goes to conference committee. An equal number of Delegates and Senators from both sides of the aisle, chosen by the Speaker and President respectively, will meet to discuss the differences in the bill and try to hammer out a consensus that will pass both houses. If they're successful, the governor will sign it shortly thereafter. If not, it dies. A bill that is substantially different from SB 281, even if passed, isn't the end of the world for us. More differences means more room for disagreement, more arms to twist, more opportunity for time to expire.

Time is very much our friend. The longer it goes without a committee vote, the more amendments offered, the more discussion on the bill, the better. There are less than five weeks left in the session. We're trying to run out the clock here. April 9 can't come soon enough.

HoCoShooter · Mar 7, 2013

Thanks Boondock -So now we just wait for Vallario to schedule the vote and I assume that would be in the next week or so...

Klunatic · Mar 7, 2013

I know this sounds counter-intuitive but I hope they don't water down SB281. If it is going to pass then let it go in its current form. The more onerous the bill is to the exercise of 2nd Amendment the easier it will be to defeat in the courts. I can promise you this bill should it become law will be challenged Oct 1 at 12:00:01 am , the day it goes into effect. There will also be an emergency injunction issued. This law will never see the light of day.

Half-cocked · Mar 7, 2013

Klunatic said:
I know this sounds counter-intuitive but I hope they don't water down SB281. If it is going to pass then let it go in its current form. The more onerous the bill is to the exercise of 2nd Amendment the easier it will be to defeat in the courts. I can promise you this bill should it become law will be challenged Oct 1 at 12:00:01 am , the day it goes into effect. There will also be an emergency injunction issued. This law will never see the light of day.

The trouble with this is, courts can strike down individual aspects of a law, without nullifying the whole thing.

Klunatic · Mar 7, 2013

Half-cocked said:
The trouble with this is, courts can strike down individual aspects of a law, without nullifying the whole thing.

Unless there is a separation clause in the law if they strike part of the law the entire law goes down if one part fails. I don't believe there is a separation clause in this bill.

TxAggie · Mar 7, 2013

Klunatic said:
I know this sounds counter-intuitive but I hope they don't water down SB281. If it is going to pass then let it go in its current form. The more onerous the bill is to the exercise of 2nd Amendment the easier it will be to defeat in the courts. I can promise you this bill should it become law will be challenged Oct 1 at 12:00:01 am , the day it goes into effect. There will also be an emergency injunction issued. This law will never see the light of day.

That's what we thought about Obamacare, remember? :sad:

Klunatic · Mar 7, 2013

TxAggie said:
That's what we thought about Obamacare, remember? :sad:

Yeah, but there is direct precedent for the 2A infringement argument in SOCTUS and Circuit Courts.

Weak_Hand_Only · Mar 7, 2013

Boondock Saint said:
SB 281 has been passed. It's done. However, it's not law until HB 294 passes the House.

HB 294 awaits a committee vote. The chairman of each committee, in this case Joe Vallario, schedules a vote at his discretion. He can choose not to do so, but I think it's clear with this being O'Malley's bill that it will get a vote. Committee will amend as they see fit (or not) then take a vote on the bill as it exists at that point. If it passes, it then goes to the House floor for a full vote, where it can also be amended to hell, filibustered, etc.

If HB 294 is passed in some form that is in any way different from SB 281, it then goes to conference committee. An equal number of Delegates and Senators from both sides of the aisle, chosen by the Speaker and President respectively, will meet to discuss the differences in the bill and try to hammer out a consensus that will pass both houses. If they're successful, the governor will sign it shortly thereafter. If not, it dies. A bill that is substantially different from SB 281, even if passed, isn't the end of the world for us. More differences means more room for disagreement, more arms to twist, more opportunity for time to expire.

Time is very much our friend. The longer it goes without a committee vote, the more amendments offered, the more discussion on the bill, the better. There are less than five weeks left in the session. We're trying to run out the clock here. April 9 can't come soon enough.

Ever have one of those moments where everything clicks into place and you then have a full understanding of a particular process. A full synapse firing where you just say "oh now I gots it"

That just happened.

Thanks

NY Transplant · Mar 7, 2013

Boondock Saint said:
SB 281 has been passed. It's done. However, it's not law until HB 294 passes the House.

HB 294 awaits a committee vote. The chairman of each committee, in this case Joe Vallario, schedules a vote at his discretion. He can choose not to do so, but I think it's clear with this being O'Malley's bill that it will get a vote. Committee will amend as they see fit (or not) then take a vote on the bill as it exists at that point. If it passes, it then goes to the House floor for a full vote, where it can also be amended to hell, filibustered, etc.

If HB 294 is passed in some form that is in any way different from SB 281, it then goes to conference committee. An equal number of Delegates and Senators from both sides of the aisle, chosen by the Speaker and President respectively, will meet to discuss the differences in the bill and try to hammer out a consensus that will pass both houses. If they're successful, the governor will sign it shortly thereafter. If not, it dies. A bill that is substantially different from SB 281, even if passed, isn't the end of the world for us. More differences means more room for disagreement, more arms to twist, more opportunity for time to expire.

Time is very much our friend. The longer it goes without a committee vote, the more amendments offered, the more discussion on the bill, the better. There are less than five weeks left in the session. We're trying to run out the clock here. April 9 can't come soon enough.

The sad part is we will keep going through this exercise year after year since they keep introducing the same bills over and over on the hope that it will eventually sneak through. :sad20:

Boondock Saint · Mar 7, 2013

Weak_Hand_Only said:
Ever have one of those moments where everything clicks into place and you then have a full understanding of a particular process. A full synapse firing where you just say "oh now I gots it"

That just happened.

Thanks

Glad I can be of assistance. Don't forget to leave a tip in the jar marked "Beer Fund" on the way out.

NY Transplant said:
The sad part is we will keep going through this exercise year after year since they keep introducing the same bills over and over on the hope that it will eventually sneak through.

An unfortunate reality. As has been said before by a grabber-type politician "You have to win every single time. We only have to win once."

However, we have a rather impressive streak of years without more anti gun legislation having been passed. As blue as Maryland is, one would expect the GA could pass anything it wanted in terms of grabby legislation, but they're rebuffed every year. Why? You folks. MSI leads the way, but it's not just us or the other organizations. It's the thousands of you folks that write emails, make phone calls, visit your representatives and testify for/against 2A-related bills.

That said, we always need more. More from everyone. It's the only way to defeat such heinous legislation like HB 294.

Clovis · Mar 7, 2013

Boondock Saint said:
SB 281 has been passed. It's done. However, it's not law until HB 294 passes the House.

HB 294 awaits a committee vote. The chairman of each committee, in this case Joe Vallario, schedules a vote at his discretion. He can choose not to do so, but I think it's clear with this being O'Malley's bill that it will get a vote. Committee will amend as they see fit (or not) then take a vote on the bill as it exists at that point. If it passes, it then goes to the House floor for a full vote, where it can also be amended to hell, filibustered, etc.

If HB 294 is passed in some form that is in any way different from SB 281, it then goes to conference committee. An equal number of Delegates and Senators from both sides of the aisle, chosen by the Speaker and President respectively, will meet to discuss the differences in the bill and try to hammer out a consensus that will pass both houses. If they're successful, the governor will sign it shortly thereafter. If not, it dies. A bill that is substantially different from SB 281, even if passed, isn't the end of the world for us. More differences means more room for disagreement, more arms to twist, more opportunity for time to expire.

Time is very much our friend. The longer it goes without a committee vote, the more amendments offered, the more discussion on the bill, the better. There are less than five weeks left in the session. We're trying to run out the clock here. April 9 can't come soon enough.

You are correct. However, do not forget HB294 is/was before a joint committee and Chairman Hammen (spelled right I think) and his committee can also offer admendments and vote on the bill. I am not sure they are limited to the mental health issues or will vote on the entire bill as well. They may even meet as a joint committee to debate and vote on the entire bill. If you have not contacted them all, you need to.

Sthomas229 · Mar 7, 2013

NY Transplant said:
The sad part is we will keep going through this exercise year after year since they keep introducing the same bills over and over on the hope that it will eventually sneak through.

The real work will start after this session is over. They have awakened a great many folks that we now need to mobilize to turn the tide of gun grabbers in office. When a couple of people lose their jobs, the rest will take notice.

highfructosecornsyrup · Mar 7, 2013

If it doesnt go through now, then theyll keep trying and youll never find ammo. I feel like the best we can hope for is that it gets watered down to soup and passes. Hopefully we wont end up where some of these other states have gone and once they get it off their belts maybe thats the last well hear about it. Theyll focus on selling the harbor to the chinese or something hahaha. Whether we like it or not, theyre going to push SOMETHING through that house to put on MOMs desk, lets just hope that something isnt so bad...

Brooklyn · Mar 7, 2013

NY Transplant said:
The sad part is we will keep going through this exercise year after year since they keep introducing the same bills over and over on the hope that it will eventually sneak through.

Don't forget the court battles. Fund them. NY law is going to be challenged... join SAF as well as MSI AND NRA.... KEEP THEM IN THE GAME.

Brooklyn · Mar 7, 2013

Sthomas229 said:
The real work will start after this session is over. They have awakened a great many folks that we now need to mobilize to turn the tide of gun grabbers in office. When a couple of people lose their jobs, the rest will take notice.

Win lose or draw. Year round fight. That is all.

Bolts Rock · Mar 7, 2013

Boondock Saint said:
If they're successful, the governor, with Obama in attendance making a national level media scene, will sign it shortly thereafter.

FIFY and you can bank on that.

jonnyl · Mar 7, 2013

Boondock Saint said:
...An unfortunate reality. As has been said before by a grabber-type politician "You have to win every single time. We only have to win once."...

Interesting, isn't that what terrorists say?

Texas2012 · Mar 7, 2013

Boondock Saint said:
SB 281 has been passed. It's done. However, it's not law until HB 294 passes the House.

HB 294 awaits a committee vote. The chairman of each committee, in this case Joe Vallario, schedules a vote at his discretion. He can choose not to do so, but I think it's clear with this being O'Malley's bill that it will get a vote. Committee will amend as they see fit (or not) then take a vote on the bill as it exists at that point. If it passes, it then goes to the House floor for a full vote, where it can also be amended to hell, filibustered, etc.

If HB 294 is passed in some form that is in any way different from SB 281, it then goes to conference committee. An equal number of Delegates and Senators from both sides of the aisle, chosen by the Speaker and President respectively, will meet to discuss the differences in the bill and try to hammer out a consensus that will pass both houses. If they're successful, the governor will sign it shortly thereafter. If not, it dies. A bill that is substantially different from SB 281, even if passed, isn't the end of the world for us. More differences means more room for disagreement, more arms to twist, more opportunity for time to expire.

Time is very much our friend. The longer it goes without a committee vote, the more amendments offered, the more discussion on the bill, the better. There are less than five weeks left in the session. We're trying to run out the clock here. April 9 can't come soon enough.

Assuming when you say "both sides of the aisle," you mean D and R, this part of the process may be a very powerful tool. Obviously, they'll hand pick 'em, but still

Bill Statuses / Voting Schedule

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