1532 Pointer Ridge Place, Suite G • Bowie, MD 20716
Phone 301-390-0900 or 800-492-0329 • Fax 301-390-3161
mgates@wmda.net

Legislative Issues

Association Legislative Efforts that Affect a Member’s Bottom Line


All Jurisdictions

  1. Introduced legislation to guarantee the First Right of Refusal on all lease transactions.
  2. Introduced legislation to prohibit maximum price setting.
  3. Introduced legislation to prohibit the transfer of legal fees.
  4. Introduced legislation for terminal pricing to eliminate zone pricing.
  5. Introduced legislation for oil company disclosure of price.
  6. Testified on Capitol Hill on rising gasoline prices.
  7. Testified before Congress in zone pricing.
  8. Opposing OSHA mandatory 2-clerk rule for stations open 24 hours.
  9. Delayed EPA proposal to lower NAAQS standards (bringing Delaware and Maryland into non-compliance; thus requiring RFG, Stage II, VEIP, etc.
  10. Passed small business expensing legislation (increasing the amount allowed under Code Section 179 from $17,500 to $25,000 by the year 2003).
  11. Passed work opportunity Tax Credit bill (available for business hiring from 6 targeted groups – the credit is equal to 35% of qualified wages).
  12. Supporting legislation to return 85% of Federal LUST funds.
  13. Supporting legislation to repeal the retroactive liability provisions of Superfund.
  14. Passed new c-store depreciation schedule (allowing for a 15 year depreciation instead of the longer 39 year line method).
  15. Passed legislation to prohibit motor fuel tax for deficit reduction.
  16. Passed legislation freezing the Federal Motor Fuel Tax rate through 2003.
  17. Support efforts to deregulate electric companies and to form a co-op for WMDA members.
  18. Supporting Right to Repair legislation for independent repair facilities.
  19. Supporting Association Health Plan legislation to bring better, affordable health insurance to members.
  20. Supporting Asbestos reform legislation to eliminate members’ risk.

     

Maryland 

  1. Passed model Anti-Predatory Pricing legislation.
  2. Extended the moratorium on service station conversions to 2009.
  3. Allows for TVAS for 4 years.
  4. Defeated proposal to require towers to accept credit and debit cards.
  5. Extended to January 1, 2007 the job creation tax credit.
  6. Defeated proposal for tow truck operators to provide specific information to owners of vehicles before a tow.
  7. Lowered proposed cigarette tax increase from $1.50 a pack to 38 cents a pack.
  8. Defeated proposal to remove the cap of $275 on the retail motor fuel dispenser meter fee.
  9. Repealed the inheritance tax rate.
  10. Ensured that all licensed agents of the State Lottery Agency receive regular commissions of 5%.
  11. Deregulated electricity industry.
  12. Defeated 2004 bill to raise motor fuel tax rate by 10 cents a gallon.
  13. Raised waiver fees for vehicles failing VEIP test.
  14. Defeated proposal to lower sulfur content in gasoline.
  15. Challenging below cost selling, zone pricing, disclosure, and rebates.
  16. Seeking a decentralized VEIP retest.
  17. Defeated proposals prohibiting cigarette counter displays.
  18. Defeated legislation to revoke business license for sale of cigarettes to minors.
  19. Defeated legislation for excessive fines for sale of cigarettes to minors.
  20. Defeated legislation to allow counties to police and fine for sale of cigarettes to minors.
  21. Defeated proposed MDE increased taxes and fees to fund additional employees and equipment.
  22. Defeated proposed sales tax on repair labor.
  23. Defeated proposal to allow counties to set motor fuel prices.
  24. Passed legislation for low interest loans for tank upgrades and replacements.
  25. Defeated legislation to increase the minimum wage to $7.70 per hour.
  26. Supported Worker’s Comp reform,
  27. Defeated proposal to repeal refiner prohibition of games and chance.
  28. Defeated proposal to allow stations to be operated by a producer or refiner with any entity in which the producer or refiner has a direct or indirect ownership of financial interest.
  29. Defeated a proposal to require repair facilities to disclose to a customer any commission that is paid in connection with repair.
  30. Defeated proposal that would have imposed a general service gross receipts tax of .4%.
  31. Passed proposal to allow retailers to charge up to $25 for the acceptance of bad checks.
  32. Supporting legislation to allow a 20% state tax credit for VEIP equipment,.
  33. Defeated a proposal to tie gasoline tax to the consumer price index.
  34. Raised small claims court limits to $5,000.00.
  35. Defeated proposal for a Community Right to Know Fund, with an annual fee of $10,000.00 for 1 location up to $20,000.00 for 2 or more locations.
  36. Defeated proposal for fees to establish a Solid Waste Management Fund.
  37. Defeated a bill to put a 2% premium tax on HMO’s.
  38. Defeated legislation to 12 workweeks of family leave per year.
  39. Defeated a bill that would have required fence protection around all sites that stored oil or motor fuel.
  40. Passed drive-off legislation.

 

District of Columbia 

  1. Supported elimination of Arena tax.
  2. Allow for a $3,000 employee wage credit if you are located in a D.C. Enterprise Zone and if you qualify you are eligible for a 20% wage credit for the first $15,000 of wages paid to a D.C. resident.
  3. No tax on capital gains from the sale of stock, partnership interests, or property of certain D.C. businesses in all wards.
  4. Some businesses located in D.C. Enterprise Zones also are eligible for an additional $20,000 of expensing under IRS Code Section 179 for qualified zone property; and certain tax exempt financing for certain zone facilities.
  5. Amended arena tax to exclude city and federal taxes.
  6. Defeated proposal for industry fee to finance Gasoline Station Advisory Board.
  7. Extended the moratorium on service station conversions.
  8. Supporting legislation to lower workers’ comp rates.
  9. Defeated proposal for a bottle deposit.
  10. Supported legislation to extend recycling program.
  11. Supported legislation to repeal the snack tax.
  12. Raised Baseball tax trigger from $3 million to $6 million in gross receipts.

 

Delaware 

  1. Supporting anti-drive off legislation.
  2. Seeking extension of divorcement to all new refinery acquired stations.
  3. Supported electric deregulation.
  4. Opposed legislation to prohibit auto repair shops from using non-OEM parts (except for limited use).
  5. Opposed legislation to prohibit the use of self-service displays for cigarettes and other tobacco products.
  6. Opposed motor fuel tax increase.
  7. Supported legislation to lower gross receipts tax.
  8. Passed a bill to suspend the prohibition of temporary voluntary allowances.
2004 Maryland Legislative Issues

 

HOUSE

 

 Bill#

Explanation 

 Position

H.B. 23

Would allow counties and municipalities to aggregate for utility purchasing purposes

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 48

Would raise certain cigarette license fees

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 117

Would penalize service providers for failing to show up at an appointment within a certain amount of time

Oppose (Withdrawn)

H.B. 128

Would make it mandatory to display Federal and State Motor Fuel Taxes

Neutral (Defeated)

H.B. 218

Would extend the termination date for a tax credit applied to employer established paid work-based learning programs

Support (Passed w/ Amendments)

H.B. 271

Would raise the sales tax by 1%

Neutral (Defeated)

H.B. 287

Would establish a certain limitation on non-economic damages for medical injuries for causes of action

Support (Defeated)

H.B. 327

Would establish an association health benefit plan to provide health insurance to certain entities

Support (Defeated)

H.B. 349

Would penalize a merchant for accepting a credit card, either electronically or in person, for payment without asking for a PIN code

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 395

Would exempt biodiesel fuel purchased for use in Queen Anne's County government vehicles and school buses from the State Motor Fuel Tax.

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 458

Would increase the civil penalty from $25 to $100 for any merchant printing a credit card receipt that displays more than eight digits

Oppose (Withdrawn)

H.B. 479

Would extend the termination date of the Unemployment Insurance Task Force

Support (Passed)

H.B. 499

Would prohibit a person engaged in the business of selling or distributing cigarettes within or from another state from selling or shipping cigarettes directly, or causing cigarettes from being shipped directly to a consumer or other unlicensed recipient in Maryland, including the internet

Support (Defeated)

H.B. 500

Would authorize the state comptroller to suspend or revoke cigarette license if licensee is held liable for, or convicted of, selling tobacco to minors

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 700

Would raise the Motor Fuel Tax 10 cents a gallon

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 829

Would make the moratorium on service station conversions without dealer permission and the temporary suspension of the prohibition on Temporary Voluntary Allowances permanent

Support (Passed w/ Amendments)

H.B. 1226

Would raise the cigarette tax 50 cents per pack

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 1364

Would add sales tax to shop labor

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 1440

Would eliminate scrap tire fee on sale of new tire and alter scrap tire recycling fee regulation in general

Neutral (Defeated)

H.B. 1467

Would become the funding mechanism for new revenue earmarked for the Transportation Trust Fund

Support (Passed)

H.B. 1519

Would establish a State Used Tire Cleanup and Recycling Fund to be administered by MDE and create certain conditions in the administration of the Fund

Neutral (Defeated)

 

SENATE

 

 Bill#

Explanation 

 Position

H.B. 23

Would allow counties and municipalities to aggregate for utility purchasing purposes

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 48

Would raise certain cigarette license fees

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 117

Would penalize service providers for failing to show up at an appointment within a certain amount of time

Oppose (Withdrawn)

H.B. 128

Would make it mandatory to display Federal and State Motor Fuel Taxes

Neutral (Defeated)

H.B. 218

Would extend the termination date for a tax credit applied to employer established paid work-based learning programs

Support (Passed w/ Amendments)

H.B. 271

Would raise the sales tax by 1%

Neutral (Defeated)

H.B. 287

Would establish a certain limitation on non-economic damages for medical injuries for causes of action

Support (Defeated)

H.B. 327

Would establish an association health benefit plan to provide health insurance to certain entities

Support (Defeated)

H.B. 349

Would penalize a merchant for accepting a credit card, either electronically or in person, for payment without asking for a PIN code

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 395

Would exempt biodiesel fuel purchased for use in Queen Anne's County government vehicles and school buses from the State Motor Fuel Tax.

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 458

Would increase the civil penalty from $25 to $100 for any merchant printing a credit card receipt that displays more than eight digits

Oppose (Withdrawn)

H.B. 479

Would extend the termination date of the Unemployment Insurance Task Force

Support (Passed)

H.B. 499

Would prohibit a person engaged in the business of selling or distributing cigarettes within or from another state from selling or shipping cigarettes directly, or causing cigarettes from being shipped directly to a consumer or other unlicensed recipient in Maryland, including the internet

Support (Defeated)

H.B. 500

Would authorize the state comptroller to suspend or revoke cigarette license if licensee is held liable for, or convicted of, selling tobacco to minors

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 700

Would raise the Motor Fuel Tax 10 cents a gallon

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 829

Would make the moratorium on service station conversions without dealer permission and the temporary suspension of the prohibition on Temporary Voluntary Allowances permanent

Support (Passed w/ Amendments)

H.B. 1226

Would raise the cigarette tax 50 cents per pack

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 1364

Would add sales tax to shop labor

Oppose (Defeated)

H.B. 1440

Would eliminate scrap tire fee on sale of new tire and alter scrap tire recycling fee regulation in general

Neutral (Defeated)

H.B. 1467

Would become the funding mechanism for new revenue earmarked for the Transportation Trust Fund

Support (Passed)

H.B. 1519

Would establish a State Used Tire Cleanup and Recycling Fund to be administered by MDE and create certain conditions in the administration of the Fund

Neutral (Defeated)

For further information contact

Paul Fiore
Director of Government Affairs

301-390-0900 or 1-800-492-0329 ext. 102
email: pfiore@wmda.net