Amendments are an essential part of the legislative process.

They can transform a deadlock into unanimous support.

“We are in opposition to this bill at this stage,” a witness told my committee this afternoon.

Two of my bills are benefiting from the addition of the right words.

House Bill 942 would require Baltimore City to send unpaid speeding tickets on the Jones Falls Expressway to the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) for enforcement if they exceed $250.

At last week’s City House Delegation meeting, Mayor Brandon Scott testified for his bill that would authorize the City to tow, remove, or impound a vehicle owned by a new resident of the State who fails to register the vehicle with the MVA and display valid registration plates.

My amendment would extend that authority to my bill, HB 942.

The Mayor now supports my bill.

The EPA has proposed stricter standards for lead dust.

There are properties regulated under Maryland law that would not be covered by that action.

My House Bill 1113 would require the State to adopt the federal standard 60 days after it is implemented.

After meetings and emails with officials of the Maryland Department of the Environment, we now have an amendment.

The Department will have six months to adopt the federal standard.

If more time is needed, it can be requested from the two legislative committees that held hearings on HB 1113.