The Baltimore City Delegation refers to the delegates who are elected from districts in Baltimore to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States.[1] By 1983, the Baltimore City Delegation had 27 members, 3 each from 9 districts totally within Baltimore City. At the beginning of the 2023 legislative session that number had dropped to 14 members due to a loss in population in Baltimore City.
The chairman of the delegation is chosen via an open ballot by the members of the delegation and usually serves for four years. The delegation usually meets weekly during the regular session of the Maryland General Assembly in the Baltimore City Delegation Room of the Lowe House Office Building in Annapolis. During the legislative interim, May through December, the delegation meets on an as needed basis.
Authority and responsibilities
The Baltimore City Delegation is responsible for representing the interests, needs and concerns of the City of Baltimore in the Maryland General Assembly. The first priority has been to ensure that sufficient state funds are granted to the city to support the funding of education and the construction and operation of public school facilities. Additionally, the delegation monitors state transportation trust funds allocated to the city for its transportation infrastructure. Every year, the Mayor of Baltimore provides of list of special projects that need to be funded through state loans (bonds); the Baltimore City Senate Delegation is responsible for passage of those projects in the General Assembly.
Maryland General Assembly legislative session actions
2007 session: briefings/bill hearings
Briefing on violence in Baltimore City Schools from the Police Commissioner, Chief of school security and the CEO of the Baltimore City Public SchoolsDelegates Oaks, Conaway and Robinson at delegation meeting
During the 90-day session of the 2007 Maryland General Assembly, members of the delegation received briefings from:[2]
The delegation also conducted hearings on more than 30 bills and voted favorably on the following:
HB 165 – Del. Rosenberg – Baltimore City – Local Government Tort Claims Act – Baltimore Public Markets Corporation and Lexington Market, Inc.
HB 251 – Del. Anderson (By Request – Baltimore City Administration) – Baltimore City – Property Tax Credit for Newly Constructed Dwellings
HB 458 – Del. Tarrant – Ground Rents – Property Owned by Baltimore City – Reimbursement for Expenses – Notices
HB 762 – Del. Anderson – Baltimore City – Housing Authority – Continued Occupancy by Family Member on Death of Tenant
HB 813 – Del. Rosenberg – Baltimore City – Property Tax Credit – Inclusionary Housing (Favorable with Amendments)
HB 769 – Del. Anderson – Disease Prevention – Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Expedited Partner Therapy Pilot Program
HB 1403 – Del. Olszewski – Critical Area – Construction of a Facility – Prohibition (Favorable with Amendments)
HB 991 – Del. Anderson (By Request – Baltimore City Administration) – Baltimore City – Hotel Room Tax – Convention Center Promotion
HB 1167 – Del. Oaks – Baltimore City – Binding Arbitration – Police Officers (Favorable as Amended)
HB 1017 – Del. Walker – Baltimore City and Prince George's County – Parent-Teacher Association Matching Fund Pilot Program
SB 861 – Sen. Pugh – Task Force – Urban Senior Care Communities in Baltimore City
SB 571 – Sen. Della – Baltimore City – 46th Alcoholic Beverages District – Licenses
SB 16 – Sen. Della – Baltimore City – Local Government Tort Claims Act – Baltimore Public Markets Corporation and Lexington Market, Inc.
SB 755 – Sen. Gladden – Ground Rents – Property Owned by Baltimore City – Reimbursement for Expenses – Notices (Favorable as Amended)
2008 session: briefings/bill hearings
During the 2008 Legislative Session, the Baltimore City Delegation met for a total of 13 meetings, with the attendance of all Delegates between 90–95%.
Throughout the 90-day Session, the Baltimore City Delegation heard from various major City agencies, which briefed the Delegation on the agencies’ 2008 Legislative Priorities.[3]
The Baltimore City Delegation, with the assistance of Delegation Counsel, Karen Morgan, heard the following bills, sponsored by the Baltimore City Administration:
HB 964 – Criminal Procedure – No Good Time For Gun Crime (Recommitted to JUD Committee)
HB 1441 – Baltimore City – Tax Increment Financing and Special Tax Districts – MEDCO (Became Law)
Baltimore City related bills
The Baltimore City Delegation also heard the following bills which would have either direct or indirect impact on Baltimore City:
HB 524 – Del. Glenn – Baltimore City – Board of Education – Election of Members (UNF)
HB 690 – Del. Rosenberg – Baltimore City – Property Tax Credit for Newly Constructed Dwellings – Hillsdale Heights Neighborhood Association Dwellings (UNF)
HB 298 – Del. Conaway – Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners – System of Public School Buses Required (UNF)
HB 299 – Del. Conaway – Education – Baltimore City – Public and Private Schools – Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Courses (UNF)
HB 1069 – Del. Conaway & Glenn – Baltimore City Circuit Court – Jury Duty – Payment to Jurors (UNF)
HB 1258 – Del. Carter, et al. – Baltimore City Public Schools – High School Students – Voter Education (Became Law)
HB 1283 – Del. Haynes, et al. – Baltimore City – Public School Construction – State Funding (UNF)
HB 1507 – Del. Oaks – Baltimore City – Binding Arbitration – Police Officers (Recommitted to APP Committee)
The last Baltimore City Delegation meeting of the 2008 Legislative Session was held on Friday April 11, 2008 with the Delegation returning an Unfavorable vote for the House Bills which would change the composition of the Baltimore City School Board Commissioners.
2009 session: briefings/bill hearings
Mayor Sheila Dixon addressing the Delegation on Baltimore City safety related bills.Delegation members (l-r): Hammen, Branch, Glenn and Carter at the delegation briefing by Mayor Dixon
For the 2009 Legislative Session, the Baltimore City Delegation met for a total of 10 meetings, with the attendance of all Delegates between 90–95%. Throughout the 90-day Session, the Baltimore City Delegation heard from various major City agencies, which briefed the Delegation on the agencies’ 2009 Legislative Priorities.[4]
Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO – Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)
Baltimore City Mayor's Office
Dept of Planning – Red Line Initiative
Dept. Of Public Works – One+One Recycling
Michael Busch, Speaker of the House
Governor Martin O’Malley
Frederick Bealefeld III, Police Commissioner of Baltimore City
Peter Franchot, Comptroller of Maryland
Paula Carmody, People's Counsel – Office of People's Counsel
Senator Ben Cardin
Baltimore City administration bills
The Baltimore City Delegation, with the assistance of Delegation Counsel, Sue McNamee, heard the following bills, sponsored by the Baltimore City Administration:
HB 87 – Crimes – Violation of Restriction Against Possession of Regulated Firearms – Penalties (UNF)
HB 92- Baltimore City – Authority of Mayor to Remove Police Commissioner (Became Law)
HB 94 – Foreign Trade Zones – Application and Process (Became Law)
HB 99 – Commercial Real Property – Action to Abate Drug Nuisance – Prior Notice Requirement (Became Law)
HB 143- Baltimore City – Newly Constructed Dwelling Property Tax Credit – Modification and Reauthorization (Became Law)
HB 396 – Baltimore City- Vehicle Laws – Speed Monitoring Systems (Became Law – Statewide Impact)
SB 348 – Tax Sales – Fees (Became Law)
SB 901 – Baltimore City Land Bank Authority – Recodification (Became Law)
Baltimore City related bills
The Baltimore City Delegation also heard the following bills which would have either direct or indirect impact on Baltimore City:
HB 500 – Del. Tarrant, et al. – Baltimore City – Medical Assistance Programs – Eligibility and Enrollment Information Mailings to Students (Became Law)
HB 1156 – Del. Rosenberg, et al. – Baltimore City Lead Poisoning Recovery Act of 2009 (UNF)
HB 1008 – Del. Conaway – Education – Baltimore City – Public and Private Schools – Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Courses (UNF)
HB 1013 – Del. Conaway – Baltimore City – Rifles and Shotguns – Possession by a Minor Prohibited (UNF)
HB 1031 – Del. Conaway – Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners – System of Public School Buses Required (UNF)
HB 1091/ SB 16 – Del. Glenn/ Sen. Conway – Baltimore City and Prince George's County- Organization of Parents and Teachers – Matching Fund (Became Law)
HB 1374 – Del. Oaks, et al. – Baltimore City School Police Officers – Baltimore City School Police Lodge Five – Employee Organization (Became Law)
SB 983 – Sen. Conway, et al. – Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – Beer, Wine and Liquor Tasting License (Became Law)
The last Baltimore City Delegation meeting of the 2009 Legislative Session was held on Friday March 27, 2009, in which the Delegation was briefed on the City Administration's initiatives on decreasing weekly trash pickup and increasing weekly recycling pickup throughout the City.
History
Chairs of the Baltimore City Delegation (last 70 years)
During the first Baltimore City Delegation meeting of the 2007 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session, the Delegation was divided into 3 Sub-Committees, to provide closer insight on issues which would directly or indirectly affect Baltimore City:
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