Beer At Theaters, Sports Gambling: Businesses React To New Laws – Patch.com

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD Maryland finished its legislative session on April 12, bringing new laws to the state. These laws affect everything from alcohol sales to unemployment insurance and sports gambling. Some legislation also let Anne Arundel County raise taxes based on income.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from the Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. Here's what President and CEO Mark Kleinschmidt wrote about the new laws:

"The Chamber's Legislative Committee meets every month to discuss public policy issues and monitor legislation that is being considered by the Annapolis City Council, Anne Arundel County Council, and the General Assembly. Sometimes the Committee will look at a piece of legislation that is being considered by the US Congress.

The role of the Committee is to identify legislative issues that can help or hurt the operation of business in Anne Arundel County and formulate a position of opposition or support.

The Committee keeps a close eye on the legislative process and once an issue of interest is identified, they will complete additional research and meet with elected and government officials to gather even more information and gain a better understanding of the politics behind the issue.

The Chamber seeks to maintain a cooperative relationship with elected officials so we can provide our input and comments about a particular piece of legislation or policy and explain how it might impact local businesses. Occasionally the Committee will develop a policy recommendation for the Chamber's Board of Directors about proposed legislation and ask the Chamber to take a formal position.

Each year, once the dust settles from the legislative session[,] the Chamber holds a wrap up meeting for the membership to provide a high level overview about recently passed legislation and how it might impact the operation of their business and [affect] future economic conditions. This year's Legislative [Wrap] Up meeting was held virtually and had about 35 attendees. Here are a few highlights from the meeting.

Last March when the uncertainty of COVID-19 took hold, the General Assembly was faced with predictions of large budget shortfalls. This did not happen due to several rounds of stimulus funding from the federal government.

With $3.9 billion in federal pandemic relief, lawmakers approved a $52 billion Maryland budget. The governor and the Maryland General Assembly worked together on the RELIEF Act, which provided more than $1 Billion in targeted tax relief and economic stimulus for families and small businesses.

The influx of federal dollars helped stabilize the State's budget and provide much needed financial support to citizens and businesses throughout the State.

Business owners throughout the State are concerned about a potentially large increase in the amount of unemployment insurance they will have to pay due to the large spike in unemployment caused by [the] pandemic.

To address this concern, the RELIEF Act indicated that unemployment insurance rates for 2021 would be calculated based upon business' experiences from 2017, 2018, 2019, and would exclude 2020.

This provision, along with over a billion dollars of federal money that the state was able to backfill into the unemployment insurance fund, was meant to stabilize unemployment insurance rates. There is still concern about rates increasing even after the [legislation] was passed.

The Legislative Committee is continuing to monitor this situation.

Very soon you will be able to place a legal bet on your favorite sports team or event.

The General Assembly approved sports wagering at Maryland's six casinos, thoroughbred racetracks, the three major professional sports venues, existing off-track betting facilities, and commercial bingo licensees. The bill also allows for up to 30 additional on-premises wagering sites, and up to 60 mobile wagering licenses.

The casinos and racetracks will likely be the first to actually offer wagering, followed by licensing and a competitive process for the additional on-premises and mobile licenses.

The goal is to have at least some wagering available by the 2021 NFL season, and the full licensing process is expected to take 12-24 months.

Legislation was passed that will allow the sale of beer and wine in movie theaters.

Another bill hoping to stimulate business for bars, restaurants and taverns authorized local liquor boards to adopt ordinances that allow the sale of carry out beverages through July, 2023[.]

While this legislative session has come to an end, the Chamber is still concerned about a number of issues and legislative proposals that will most likely return ... in 2022. During the Legislative Wrap Up, the [following] concerns were outlined:

The Time to Care Act of 2021 would have established a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program similar to the way that the unemployment system is set up. Employers and employees would split payments into the fund and employees would be entitled to receive benefits under that fund.

Though this bill did not receive a vote in either chamber, it will most likely resurface in 2022.

The General Assembly authorized [the] Anne Arundel County Council to enact two new tax increases. The County Progressive Income Tax and the Transfer Tax Surcharge are of great concern to the Chamber. Over the next few months, the Legislative Committee will be reaching out to the County Council to express our concerns.

This session was the first in years that we have not seen a bill introduced that would require employers (with certain exceptions) to provide employees with their schedules a certain number of days in advance. This would be a burden on small and large employers and the Chamber will continue to monitor any movement of this bill.

Mark Kleinschmidt is the President/CEO of the Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce located in Annapolis, MD. "

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Beer At Theaters, Sports Gambling: Businesses React To New Laws - Patch.com