MGA "Bill Making" 101 class

[Slackdaddy]

I can never remember, probably because the whole "MYMGA" website is a convoluted piece of crap, But where can I find when a bill will be in committee and we can testify.
Example - SB0983 (lead hunting ban)
The timeline is on "Referral to CMTE"
Down under history, the last entry is "hearing 2/27 1:00pm"

So when do we testify?
And I have the same questions on the number of filed "Blame the gun owner" bills.

I did read the MSI page,, but it was sparse on details for those not "in the Loop"

 

[dblas]

Go here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite

Put the bill in question in the search field. (in this case SB935)

It will take you to the bill summary page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0935

Click on the arrow beside "History"
It will list the dates of actions or pending actions. In this case, the hearing is scheduled for 3/1 at 1:00 PM. This is when we get to testify on this bill.

For any other bills, rinse and repeat.

 

[Slackdaddy]

Go here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite

Put the bill in question in the search field. (in this case SB935)

It will take you to the bill summary page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0935

Click on the arrow beside "History"
It will list the dates of actions or pending actions. In this case, the hearing is scheduled for 3/1 at 1:00 PM. This is when we get to testify on this bill.

For any other bills, rinse and repeat.

OK, thanks, so the "Hearing" is when we testify.
We have to sign up 1 day before for senate,, and 2 days for House ?

 

[Clovis]

Go here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite

Put the bill in question in the search field. (in this case SB935)

It will take you to the bill summary page: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0935

Click on the arrow beside "History"
It will list the dates of actions or pending actions. In this case, the hearing is scheduled for 3/1 at 1:00 PM. This is when we get to testify on this bill.

For any other bills, rinse and repeat.

I am not sure I understand, the above bill is about natural gas not hunting with lead. Are you using this as an example or did the wrong bill number get used? sb983 looks like a hearing date of 2/27 at 1:00pm.

 

[dblas]

I am not sure I understand, the above bill is about natural gas not hunting with lead. Are you using this as an example or did the wrong bill number get used? sb983 looks like a hearing date of 2/27 at 1:00pm.

Used it as an example.

 

[dblas]

OK, thanks, so the "Hearing" is when we testify.
We have to sign up 1 day before for senate,, and 2 days for House ?

Go here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite

Mouse over "Committees" and then click on Senate: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Index/senate

Click on "Judicial Proceedings Committee": https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Details?cmte=jpr

Click on "Witness Guidelines and Committee FAQs": https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-jpr-faqs.pdf

You now have all of the information you need to testify in the Senate.

For the house, follow the same procedures, just click on House after you mouse over "Committees" in the second step.

 

[Slackdaddy]

Go here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite

Mouse over "Committees" and then click on Senate: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Index/senate

Click on "Judicial Proceedings Committee": https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Details?cmte=jpr

Click on "Witness Guidelines and Committee FAQs": https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-jpr-faqs.pdf

You now have all of the information you need to testify in the Senate.

For the house, follow the same procedures, just click on House after you mouse over "Committees" in the second step.

Many Thanks

 

[dblas]

Many Thanks

We, as a community, probably need to update this thread: https://www.mdshooters.com/threads/how-to-testify-for-the-md-general-assembly.264003/

 

[Slackdaddy]

When/how are you notified if you made the exclusive club of in person testimony, after signing up of course.

 

[dblas]

If in person, they will call your name, if remotely, the morning before I believe.

 

[Slackdaddy]

If in person, they will call your name, if remotely, the morning before I believe.

I signed up for in person,, but read that they will only select a few, not all who apply for oral testimony.
So I did not want to take a day off and sit in the bowels of Annapolis if I do not make the cut

 

[Slackdaddy]

Another question,
Do they release a "Schedule" when the committee votes on proposed bills after testimony day?

 

[BurkeM]

Another question,
Do they release a "Schedule" when the committee votes on proposed bills after testimony day?

NO.

 

[MJD438]

Another question,
Do they release a "Schedule" when the committee votes on proposed bills after testimony day?

Bills receive committee votes at the whom of each respective committee chair. If they don't like the bill, it can be "desk drawered". They schedule, typically, at a moments notice or late the night before a voting session, to keep the peons in line and in darkness.

ETA - one has to constantly monitor the committee calendar page to hope to gain insight. There is no automated alert capability (goes against the MGA ethos of treating the public like mushrooms - kept in the dark, fed shit, ordered to pay taxes).

 

[Slackdaddy]

Bills receive committee votes at the whom of each respective committee chair. If they don't like the bill, it can be "desk drawered". They schedule, typically, at a moments notice or late the night before a voting session, to keep the peons in line and in darkness.

ETA - one has to constantly monitor the committee calendar page to hope to gain insight. There is no automated alert capability (goes against the MGA ethos of treating the public like mushrooms - kept in the dark, fed shit, ordered to pay taxes).

Thats what I was thinking,, but was not sure.
So what is the "$hit or get off the pot" date for each committee ?

 

[dblas]

Another question,
Do they release a "Schedule" when the committee votes on proposed bills after testimony day?

No, because some bills never get voted on. The only way to know is to pay attention to the chamber announcements each day.

 

[dblas]

Thats what I was thinking,, but was not sure.
So what is the "$hit or get off the pot" date for each committee ?

Cross over day. (March 18th this year)

The rest of the important dates are in this thread: https://www.mdshooters.com/threads/2024-mga-important-dates-for-the-rest-of-the-session.282134/

 

[Slackdaddy]

No, because some bills never get voted on. The only way to know is to pay attention to the chamber announcements each day.

Thanks again.
Looked on the MGA site and "MyMGA",, can not find an announcement page.

Again,
Thanks

 

[dblas]

Thanks again.
Looked on the MGA site and "MyMGA",, can not find an announcement page.

Again,
Thanks

You have to watch/listen to the actual chamber floor sessions. The announcements are at the end of each floor session on what the various committees will be doing that day.
The other way is to scan the committee calendar on a daily basis for updates/changes.

 

[Slackdaddy]

You have to watch/listen to the actual chamber floor sessions. The announcements are at the end of each floor session on what the various committees will be doing that day.
The other way is to scan the committee calendar on a daily basis for updates/changes.

Again, thanks.
"They" really do not want us involved or knowing what they are doing.