FINAL PRE-FILED BILL LIST FOR DELEGATE SMIGIEL

HB-60 “Alexis’s Law”  will authorize a victim, a pretrial services representative, or State’s Attorney to request an expedited hearing before and District or Circuit Court judge of the county in which the case is pending if the alleged victim alleges the defendant has violated a specific condition of pretrial or posttrial release; requiring a court to issue a bench warrant and schedule an expedited hearing under specified circumstances; requiring and expedited hearing to be held within 2 business days after the filing of a specified request etc.  

HB-63 This bill proposes an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to prohibit the condemnation of private property for economic development purposes if the property is intended to be transferred to a private person; requiring that the issue of a condemnor’s right to condemn in a condemnation proceeding be tried by a jury unless the partied elect otherwise; and submitting the amendment to the qualified voters of the State of Maryland for their adoption or rejection.

 Eminent domain powers should be limited to taking private property for a “public use” not a “public good”.  Property taken for a public use would be for a road or library etc.  Property taken for a public good allows the State to take private property to give to another private party simply because the subsequent use may generate more taxes for the State.  This is wrong and should not be a power given to government.

HJ-2  This House Joint Resolution demands that the federal government halt its practice of assuming powers and imposing mandates on the states of the United States for purposes not enumerated under the Constitution of the United States.