Policy Positions

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce advocates to ensure that your business has the best chance to grow, and that policies have a positive effect on our community. ​
Government policy has the ability to impact your business drastically. New laws can either put up barriers for growth, or open new roads to success.

​With our voice, we are continuously advocating on behalf of the Metro Maryland business community at the federal, state, and local levels.

To learn more about our advocacy priorities, click here. 

COVID-19

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) understands the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic on the business community. MCCC is engaged with policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels of government as they determine ways to assist the business community in navigating this evolving situation. View our Resources for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
  • On July 15, 2020, MCCC joined the Montgomery Moving Forward Early Care and Education Workforce Advocacy Coalition Members in seeking Senator Chris Van Hollen's commitment to the HEROES Act and the "Child Care is Essential Act." Read the letter. 
  • On May 6, 2020, MCCC joined chambers of commerce across the country to highlight gaps in the CARES Act, particularly pertaining to cultural institutions such as aquariums, zooms, and performing arts centers. 
  • On March 20, 2020, MCCC sent a letter to the Senate Small Business Committee regarding the impact of the coronavirus on government contractors. We received over 200 signatories in under 24 hours.
  • ​MCCC joined 22 business organizations in sending a letter to DC Area Congressional Delegations regarding economic relief legislation.

116th Congress

FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Read MCCC's letter to Senator Ben Cardin supporting amendments to the NDAA that provide relief for small business government contractors. 
Reauthorizing SBA's Contracting Programs
Click here to read Senator Romney's comments during the Senate Small Business Committee hearing on this topic. 
H.R. 953: To prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information in certain consumer reports, and from making adverse determinations relating to security clearances, with respect to certain individuals affected by the Government shutdown, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Representative Dwight Evans (PA)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Rep. Evans in support of this legislation.


S.162: A bill to provide back pay to low-wage contractor employees, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Tina Smith (MN)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Ben Cardin regarding this legislation.

S.771: A bill to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Marco Rubio in support of this legislation.

S.772: A bill to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Marco Rubio in support of this legislation.
Section 809 Panel Recommendations

Small Business Runway Extension Act Information

  •  Read MCCC's comments in response to the SBA solicitation for comments on Small Business Size Standards: Calculation of Annual Receipts. 
  • Read our April 2019 Recess Alert on the Runway Extension Act!
Click here to read MCCC's statement on WMATA (Metro) funding.

2020 State Legislative Session

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General Statewide Policy Positions
  • Purple Line: Read MCCC's letter to Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Greg Slater regarding a potential delay to the Purple Line project. (May 21, 2020)
2020 Legislative Session
The 2020 Maryland General Assembly's Legislative Session began on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. For the first time since the Civil War, the Legislative Session adjourned early (March 18, 2020). Read MCCC's summary of legislative victories during the 2020 Legislative Session.

Watch this Chamber Chat for a debrief on the 2020 Legislative Session.

Learn more about MCCC's priorities for the 2020 State Legislative Session:
  • Read testimony from Barbara Ashe, National Director, Veteran Institute for Procurement
  • Read testimony from Tricia Swanson, MCCC's Vice President of Government Relations
  • February 13, 2020: MCCC, the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, Maryland Tech Council, Apartment & Office Building Association of Metropolitan Maryland (AOBA), Maryland Building Industry Association, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, Rockville Chamber of Commerce, and Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce sent a joint letter to Maryland Senator Guy Guzzone (Chair, Budget and Taxation Committee) and Delegate Anne Kaiser (Chair, Ways and Means Committee) expressing concern about the number of tax increases proposed for addition and tax incentives proposed for reduction/removal. MCCC is closely tracking this issue as we move into the final 45 days of the Maryland Legislative Session in the General Assembly.
Alcoholic Beverages/Breweries
MC 27-20: Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Catering Extension
Lead Sponsor: Delegate Charkoudian
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Budget
Maryland Department of Commerce Budget
MCCC Position: Support the inclusion of ongoing support for VIP funding. 
Read MCCC's testimony in the House and Senate.
Data Centers
House Bill 1339: Sales and Use Tax and Personal Property Tax - Exemptions - Data Centers
Lead Sponsor: Delegate Jacobs
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Education
House Bill 1205: Universities at Shady Grove Regional Higher Education Center
Lead Sponsors: Delegates Solomon and Qi
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Green Business Certification
House Bill 896: Statewide Green Business Certification Program - Establishment
Lead Sponsor: Delegate Shetty
MCCC Position: Support
MCCC solicited written support from a number of MCCC member companies. Read them below: Read MCCC's testimony.
Family and Medical Leave 
Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program - Establishment
Lead Sponsor: Delegates Valderrama and Kelly
MCCC Position: Oppose
Read MCCC's testimony in the House (HB 839) and Senate (SB 539).
Financial Institutions
House Bill 274: Financial Institutions - Security Questions and Measures
Lead Sponsor: Delegate C. Watson
MCCC Position: Support with Amendment
Read MCCC's testimony, including information about a proposed amendment.
Income Tax - Subtraction Modification
Senate Bill 146: Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Expenses of Medical Cannabis Grower, Processor, Dispensary, or Independent Testing Laboratory
Lead Sponsor: Senators Young and Dumais
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.

House Bill 1284: Income Tax - State Tax Credits, Exemptions, and Deductions - Alterations and Repeal
Lead Sponsors: Delegates Moon and Palakovich Carr
MCCC Position: Oppose
Read MCCC's testimony.
Kirwan Commission
Senate Bill 1000 / House Bill 1300: Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Implementation
Lead Sponsor: The Senate President/The Speaker (By Request: Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education)
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Property Taxes
House Bill 1276: County Property Tax - Classifications of Real Property and Authority to Set Special Rates
Lead Sponsor: Delegate Palakovich Carr
MCCC Position: Oppose
Read MCCC's testimony.
Purple Line
Senate Bill 645: State Income and Property Tax Credits - Purple Line Construction Zone
Lead Sponsor: Senator Smith
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Sales and Use Tax
Senate Bill 848: Sales and Use Tax - Licensed Statewide Caterers - Exemption
Lead Sponsor: Senator Peters 
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
School Construction
House Bill 1: Built to Learn Act of 2020
Lead Sponsor: The Speaker of the House
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Technology
House Bill 343: Economic Development - Maryland Technology Infrastructure Program
Lead Sponsor: The Speaker of the House
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.

House Bill 1239: Economic Development - Maryland Technology Partnership Program
Lead Sponsor: Delegate Qi
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Tax Reform
Senate Bill 223: Commission on Tax Policy, Reform, and Fairness
Lead Sponsor: Senator Feldman
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Transit
HB 1236: Transit - Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train - Expansion of Service
Lead Sponsors: Delegates Solomon and Lopez
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Veterans/Service Members
Senate Bill 532: Task Force to Study the Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise Program
Lead Sponsor: Senator Smith
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.


House Bill 1515: Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matchin Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans - Establishment
Lead Sponsor: Delegate Pat Young
MCCC Position: Support
Read MCCC's testimony.
Visit our 2019 State Legislation page for information regarding bills from the 2019 Legislative Session.

19th Montgomery County Council

​The 19th Montgomery County Council was sworn in on Monday, December 8, 2018.
2019-2020 County Council Legislation
Bill 16-20E: Economic Development Fund - Public Health Emergency Grant Program - Established
Lead Sponsor: County Council
MCCC Position: Support
Bill 9-20: Economic Development Fund - Local Business Child Care Grant Program - Established
Lead Sponsor: Councilmembers Albornoz and Navarro
MCCC Position: Support
  • View an infographic with more detailed information regarding this legislation. 
  • Watch the joint press conference hosted at MCCC, including statements from Councilmembers Albornoz, Navarro, and Friedson, as well as Kathy Stevens from Montgomery Moving Forward. 
Bill 39-19: Contracts and Procurement - Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP) - Amendments
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Jawando
MCCC Position: Support
  • Read the joint MCCC testimony with the Greater Bethesda, Gaithersburg-Germantown, and Greater Silver Spring Chambers of Commerce.
  • Watch MCCC's testimony during the public hearing. 
ZTA 19-07: Telecommunications Towers - Limited Use
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Riemer
MCCC Position: Support
Bill 34-19: Taxation - Development Impact Taxes - Affordable Housing - Housing Impact Fairness Act
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Glass
MCCC Position: Oppose
  • Click here to read MCCC testimony.
  • Watch the public hearing video.

Bill 25-19E: Contracts and Procurement - Local Business Preference Program - Established
Lead Sponsor: County Executive
MCCC Position: Support
Read the joint letter by MCCC, the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce urging the Council to discuss this legislation before the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. This legislation has been deferred for over a month.

Bill 12-19: Human Rights and Civil Liberties - Building Maintenance Worker - Minimum Work Week
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Riemer
MCCC Position: Oppose
Click here to read MCCC testimony.

Bill 10-19: Legislative Branch - Economic Impact Statements - Amendments
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Friedson
MCCC Position: Support
Click here to read MCCC testimony.

Bill 7-19: Environmental Sustainability - Commercial Propoerty Assessed Clean Energy Program - New Construction
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Hucker
MCCC Position: Support
Click here to read MCCC testimony.
2018 County Council Legislation
Bill 36-18: Transportation Management - Transportation Demand Management Plan - Amendments
Lead Sponsor: County Executive
MCCC Position: Letter of Concern
Click here to read MCCC testimony.
​
Bill 40-18: Secondhand Personal Property - Dealers - License 
Lead Sponsor: Councilmember Friedson
MCCC Position: Support
Click here to read MCCC testimony.

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