Quarterly: Summer 2004 - GWCAR - Greater Washington Commercial Association of REALTORS

CBQ >> Summer 2004 Issue

Maryland Legislative Session Bill Tracker

Here is a quick update on some bills that GWCAR tracked during the 2004 session and what happened during the bill signing sessions in April and May:

Transportation Issues: During the first official bill signing on April 13, Governor Ehrlich signed HB 1467, making it law to increase transportation investment by about $300 million a year for the next six years.

Corporate Income Tax Increase: A 10 percent corporate income tax increase passed both the House and Senate that would have been applied for taxable years 2004 through 2006. The governor vetoed the bill.

Maryland Spam Deterrence Act: According to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services the law provides for penalties ranging from a misdemeanor with maximum penalties ranging from one year's imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine to five years' imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine. Further, violation of provisions other than the harvesting provisions in furtherance of a felony or by a person who has previously been convicted of an offense involving the transmission of multiple commercial e-mail messages is a felony subject to maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $25,000 fine. The governor signed the bill, which will go into effect on October 1.

Advertising Legislation: Governor Ehrlich signed HB 701 into law on May 26, which makes two changes to Maryland's real estate advertising law. First, it permits brokers to also use a nickname or designated name in their advertising, as long as they apply to the Real Estate Commission. Second, the legislation clarifies that a broker's name must be "meaningful and conspicuous" in all advertising. This law overrides the prior law that would have required a broker's name to be as large as an agent's name. The bill goes into effect October 1.

Continuing Education Legislation: Governor Ehrlich signed HB 1249 into law on May 26. This legislation makes several changes to continuing education course requirements. First, it broadens the subject matter eligible for CE courses. Second, it clarifies CE reciprocity for agents seeking credit for courses taken outside of Maryland. Third, it mandates an ethics requirement. And fourth, it phases in more hours of education for licensees who have held a license for 10 years or more. Under the bill, those licensees will be required to take nine hours of education in 2006, and 15 hours of education in 2008. GWCAR will be working with MAR on the exact details of how this needs to be implemented. The bill will go into effect on October 1.