I’ve introduced my first bill.

House Bill 79 would broaden participation in the Maryland Technology Internship Program.

UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski wrote about the Massachusetts program in a Baltimore Sun op-ed six years ago.

The state provides a grant to an intern with a technology-based business or the government.

We passed the bill the year we introduced it.

There was no funding, however, until Governor Hogan included it in the state’s Amazon HQ2 package in 2018.

Under HB 79, the minimum grade average for eligibility would be 2.5, instead of 3.0. (It’s known in some circles as the Belushi amendment.)

Students could also intern in a non-profit technology-based business.

The people at UMBC who administer the program requested both of these changes.

Last year, legislation with the grade change passed the House but too late for the Senate to act.

I may look for a Senate sponsor who serves on the committee that would hear the bill.