Advocacy Alert: House Bill 1051

On Tuesday March 6, the Maryland House of Delegates Ways & Means Committee will hold a hearing on HB1051 – which is a far-reaching and damaging bill that threatens local businesses. The proposed bill seeks to extend the sales tax to a wide range of services, including but not limited to:

auctioneering services automobile maintenance or repair service — including contract or extended warranty, washing/waxing services, road/towing services, painting, rustproofing, and undercoating barber or beauty services business brokerage services cable television services commercial photographic or art services dating or escort services dieting services direct mail advertising services docking or landing services drafting services exterminating services independent lecture bureau services interior decorating services management, management conulting, public relations, or any other business consulting services

notary public services parking facility or services personnel supply services — including employment agencies and temporary help services physical fitness facilities or services printing brokerage services public locker rentals or services real property management services sauna or steam bath facilities or services shoe repair services shop window decorating services sign painting services stenographic services tanning or massage services tax preparation services testing laboratory services weighing machine services

The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes this expansion of the sales tax.  It is absolutely imperative that you let your elected officials know of your opposition by calling or writing your elected official, or by testifying before the Ways and Means Committee. This bill directly impacts the businesses who provide these services and their consumers — threatening to increase costs by 6% overnight, if allowed to pass.

You can find your specific State Delegates and Senator and online at www.mdelect.net, or use the links below to contact the Officials that represent the greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase area.

State Delegates
District 15
Kathleen M. Dumais	[email protected]	(301) 858-3052
Brian J. Feldman	[email protected]	(301) 858-3186
Aruna Miller	[email protected]	(301) 858-3090
District 16
C. William Frick	[email protected]	(301) 858-3454
Ariana Kelly	[email protected]	(301) 858-3642
Susan C. Lee	[email protected]	(301) 858-3649
District 17
Kumar Barve	[email protected]	(301) 858-3464
**James W. Gilchrist (Bill Sponsor)	[email protected]	(301) 858-3744
Luiz Simmons	[email protected]	(301) 858-3037
District 18
Al Carr	[email protected]	(301) 858-3638
Ana Sol Gutierrez	[email protected]	(301) 858-3181
Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher	[email protected]	(301) 858-3130
District 20
**Sheila E. Hixon (Bill Sponsor)	[email protected]	(301) 858-3469

State Senators
District 15
Rob Garagiola	[email protected]	(301) 858-3169
District 16
Brian Frosh	[email protected]	(301) 858-3124
District 17
Jennie Forehand	[email protected]	(301) 858-3134
District 18
Richard Madaleno, Jr.	[email protected]	(301) 858-3137

If you wish to testify, the hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6. Anyone wishing to testify should arrive early and sign the witness register before the hearing begins. If you have written testimony, please submit 35 copies to the committee staff for distribution one hour prior to the hearing. The Ways and Means Committee meets in Room 130 of the House Office Building, 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401. There are a total of twelve bills that will be heard on March 6, and the order that they are listed on the schedule is not necessarily the order in which they will be considered.