[NFBMD] Update: Progress on Guide Dog Bill - Senate Passage of SB 535

[Maryland President]

Hi Everyone,
Things are looking good for our guide dog bills.  The relevant committee in
the House gave a favorable report to both our Senate and House versions of
the bills and conformed them.  The House of Delegates has heard the bills
for the first time and will vote on them Monday afternoon.  They'll cross
over to the Senate Tuesday.  Since the House amended the Senate bill, the
Senate will need to either accept or reject the amendments.  We've
negotiated with the Senate so they intend to accept the House amendments.
Once they do that, our bill will become law, conditional on Governor Moore
signing it.

Stay tuned, and watch the House and Senate proceedings early this week to
see how NFB collective action becomes real and meaningful change for us all!



Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
Pronouns: she, her, hers

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Subject: Update: Progress on Guide Dog Bill - Senate Passage of SB 535

Hi All,
Congratulations!  This morning, the Maryland Senate passed SB 535, Expanding
Protections in Housing for Service Animals and Guide Dogs.  This is Senator
Mary Dulaney James' first bill passed out of the Senate!  

It now moves to the House of Delegates.  We are very optimistic about its
chances in the House.

Stay tuned, but for now, we celebrate!


Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
Pronouns: she, her, hers

-----Original Message-----
From: president at nfbmd.org <president at nfbmd.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 7:28 PM
To: nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org; nfbmd at nfbnet.org; greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org;
nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org; central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org;
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mabm at nfbnet.org; mdabs at nfbnet.org; mdpobc at nfbnet.org; NFB of Maryland,
Baltimore County List <md-baltimore-county at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Progress on Guide Dog Bill

Hi everyone, we have some significant progress on our guide dog protection
in housing legislation. The Senate Judicial  Proceedings Committee has voted
the bill out of the committee with a favorable report. That means in the
next few days, the bill will be considered by the full Maryland senate. The
Senate will have two opportunities to consider the bill and debate it. If,
on the second review, they vote to adopt it, it will then move over to the
House of Delegates for their consideration. We will keep you posted as
things progress, and hopefully things will move quickly now 

Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
Sent from my iPhone