The Board of Trade believes it is vital to keep our members and the larger Greater Washington community informed on how policy and legislation can impact regional business. Some new laws in the DMV (Mostly in Maryland) take effect on October 1, with some having direct impact on how businesses interact financially with employees.

Below is a look at a variety of laws that take effect on October 1 that our policy team at the Board of Trade has collected:

Maryland

H.B. 602 – The bill amends the Maryland Equal Pay for Equal Work Act to expressly incorporate the prohibition of sexual orientation discrimination. 2024 Regular Session – House Bill 602 Third Reader (maryland.gov) 

SB 413 – Employers cannot discriminate or engage in harassment, based on military status. Discrimination includes a failure or refusal to hire, discharge, or otherwise discriminate in compensation or terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. 2024 Regular Session – Senate Bill 413 Enrolled (maryland.gov) 

SB 38 – Employers will be required to include additional information on employee’s pay stubs and pay statements. Employers will be required to include: 

• Employers name (as registered with the State), address, and telephone number; 
• Date of payment; 
• Pay period start and end dates; 
• Number of hours worked during pay period (unless employee is exempt from overtime pay); 
• Rate of pay; 
• Bases of pay (including bonuses, commissions on sales, etc.); 
• Piece rates of pay and the number of pieces completed at each rate (for each employee paid at a piece rate); 
• Gross and net pay earned during pay period; 
• Amount and name of all wage deductions. 
• Employers that fail to comply with the requirements of the law are subject to an administrative penalty of up to $500 per affected employee. 

HB 0649 – In public and internal position postings, employers must provide a good faith wage range and general description of benefits, and any other compensation offered. A wage range is defined as “[t]he minimum and maximum hourly rate or minimum and maximum salary of an individual holding a comparable position at the time of the posting; or the budgeted amount for the position.” 

• If the position was not made available to an applicant, the information must be disclosed before a discussion of compensation is held or upon request of the applicant. Employers may not refuse to interview, hire, or employ an individual because they inquired about information in accordance with this law. 

Washington D.C. 

Clean Hands Certification Economic Expansion and Revitalization Amendment Act of 2024:

• As of October 1, 2024, the amount of delinquent taxes, including penalties and interest, that will disqualify an applicant from receiving a certificate of cleans hands will increase from $100 to $1,000.

Real Property Tax Amendment Act of 2024:

• As of October 1, 2024, residential real property previously classified as Class 1 will now be classified as either Class 1A or Class 1B. Class 1A property is any non-transient, residential property that is not included in the definition of Class 1B property. Class 1B property is non-transient residential property with no more than two dwelling units. It includes mostly single-family homes, properties receiving the senior/disabled tax relief, and up to two contiguous condominium units with common ownership. (Short-term, licensed rentals of such properties do not affect their Class 1A or Class 1B status.)

Recordation Tax: The purchase price for a residential property eligible for the reduced rate of recordation tax for first-time homebuyers for tax year 2025 (beginning October 1, 2024) shall not exceed $753,000.00. The income ceilings for households of such properties are also adjusted for the change in the consumer price index. These changes will be reflected in the application form for tax year 2025.

Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Tax:

• Cigarettes: There is no change to the cigarette tax, which remains at $5.03.
• Other Tobacco: The tax rate on other tobacco products will decrease from 79 percent of wholesale sales of other tobacco products to 71 percent of wholesale sales of other tobacco products. Additionally, the rate for little cigars remains at $0.2515 per little cigar.

Motor Fuel Tax:

• The motor fuel surcharge will increase from $.114 to $.118 per gallon on the sale of gasoline, gasohol, and other motor vehicle fuel. This surcharge is in addition to the $.235 tax on the sale of gasoline, gasohol and other motor vehicle fuel.

Information on these tax updates in Washington D.C. were provided by D.C.’s Office of Tax and Revenue.

Virginia 

HB 1186. Department of Conservation and Recreation; two-year pilot program; all-terrain power wheelchairs in state parks:

• The law provides that the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall establish a two-year pilot program beginning October 1, 2024, and ending October 30, 2026, to enhance accessibility for individuals with limited mobility in Virginia’s state parks by providing all-terrain power wheelchairs that may be used by such persons during their visits. The law permits the Department to choose the locations for the pilot program and enter into a contract for the purchase of all-terrain power wheelchairs to be used in the pilot program. The law allows the Department to adopt guidelines to administer the pilot program and requires the Department to make a report available to the public regarding the outcome of the pilot program on its website by November 1, 2026.

HB 1475 Uniform Statewide Building Code; certain building owners and operators to supply cooling and heating: 

• Board of Housing and Community Development; Uniform Statewide Building Code; building owners and operators to supply cooling by April 1 and heating by October 1. Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development to evaluate revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to require that owners and operators of certain apartment buildings begin to supply cooling by April 1 and heat by October 1 of each year to maintain certain temperatures. Under the current regulations, such cooling period begins May 15 and such heating period begins October 15.

WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2024) – Today, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) unveiled a new report highlighting the significant and dire financial consequences facing the Washington, D.C., region in the event of a disruption to the area’s water supply during a press conference held today with leaders from the greater Washington area.

In just one month, a significant disruption from threats like infrastructure failures or natural disasters in D.C.’s water supply could result in a loss of $15 billion in gross regional product (GRP) and hundreds of millions in tax losses, according to the report, “The Economic and Fiscal Costs of Water Supply Disruption to the National Capital Region.”

ICPRB, along with officials from the Greater Washington Board of Trade, DC Water, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the American Business Water Coalition, today called for Congressional action to fund crucial infrastructure projects to ensure greater resiliency in the D.C. region’s water supply and safeguard the health and safety of both the public and the economy.

“The Potomac River is the single source of drinking water for D.C. and provides water for roughly five million people in the region,” said ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli. “It is integral to the functioning of the nation’s capital. This report clearly shows that any disruption to the water supply would have catastrophic economic consequences for the region, especially for the most vulnerable residents of our nation’s capital. Securing the resilience of our water infrastructure is not just a priority, it’s a necessity.”

VIEW THE FULL REPORT HERE

“The interconnectedness of our region means that water supply disruptions would have far-reaching consequences affecting the District of Columbia as well as our neighboring communities in Virginia and Maryland,” said COG Board Chair and District of Columbia Councilmember Charles Allen. “This report underscores the importance of regional collaboration in safeguarding our water resources and why COG is working with our partners to ensure a backup water source for the region.”

“DC Water’s motto, ‘Water is life,’ reflects how seriously we, as the water authority for the nation’s capital, take our role in supplying our customers with abundant, safe and reliable water,” said David L. Gadis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and General Manager of DC Water. “Resilience in the water sector, one of DC Water’s five strategic imperatives, is crucial not only for our success, but also for the health and wellbeing of the customers who depend on DC Water. This water supply vulnerability must be addressed to protect our city now and for the future generations to come.”

“Our region’s economic vitality and quality of life are directly tied to clean, reliable water resources,” said Jack McDougle, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. “This report highlights that a disruption in the water supply would not only harm the local economy but also have a disproportionate impact on the diverse business sectors and people who contribute to the vibrancy of our nation’s capital the Greater Washington region. This includes small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned enterprises, which are at greater risk of permanent closure if forced to shut down due to water supply disruptions. It is imperative that we confront this challenge proactively to safeguard our thriving region and everything it has to offer.”

“Federal investment in our nation’s water infrastructure is essential to protect all communities from the devastating impacts infrastructure failures can have on operations,” said Mae Stevens, CEO of the American Business Water Coalition. “Restoring the country’s water systems to meet the needs of the population is expected to cost more than $1.25 trillion over the next 20 years, a figure far too large for utilities, companies and private citizens to meet alone. Congress needs to recognize this as a critical need and close the funding gap so that we can better protect the D.C. region and our nation against devastating water supply disruptions.”

Key findings presented in the report include:

• Economic impact: The report estimates that a significant water supply disruption could result in losses of almost $15 billion in gross regional product (GRP) and hundreds of millions in tax losses, all within the first month.
• Disproportionate impact: Small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of water supply disruption, with potential losses that could devastate their operations and subsequently, impact the livelihoods of their employees. Supply disruption would additionally have a greater impact on lower-income households that have fewer financial resources to mitigate the loss of services.
• Sectoral vulnerability: Major sectors, including healthcare, food and beverage, chemical manufacturing and arts & entertainment, are identified as being at severe risk, underscoring the necessity for enhanced infrastructure resilience and preparedness.

Moving forward, ICPRB, COG, Fairfax Water, WSSC Water, the Washington Aqueduct, and Arlington County are partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a backup water source study for the region to ensure greater water supply resiliency. The study, which received partial funding in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, will commence later this year.

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About The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin

The ICPRB is an interstate compact commission established by Congress in 1940. Its mission is to protect and enhance the waters and related resources of the Potomac River basin through science, regional cooperation, and education. Represented by appointed commissioners, ICPRB includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the federal government.

About DC Water

DC Water provides more than 700,000 residents and 21.3 million annual visitors in the District of Columbia with retail water and wastewater (sewer) service. With a total service area of approximately 725 square miles, DC Water also treats wastewater for approximately 1.8 million people in neighboring jurisdictions, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

About Greater Washington Board of Trade

Greater Washington is a dynamic and complex region with a quick-moving and always-evolving business environment. The Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.

About American Business Water Coalition

The American Business Water Coalition is a group of water-reliant businesses—from manufacturing to energy to tech and beyond. The coalition provides a platform for businesses across the country to urge Congress and the Administration to increase investment in water infrastructure, and foster relationships between businesses and their local utilities. Learn more about the coalition here: https://www.businesswatercoalition.com/

About Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is an independent, nonprofit association that brings area leaders together to address major regional issues in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. COG’s membership is comprised of 300 elected officials from local governments, the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and U.S. Congress.

Click here for a PDF of this Press Release >>>

This content was provided by DMVMoves in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

At the DMVMoves Task Force meeting on Sept. 23, area officials took another step forward in their effort to create a unified vision and sustainable funding model for the region’s transit network.

The task force, jointly organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), reviewed initial recommendations presented by two advisory groups that have been working since June on the initiative’s vision, goals, and proposed actions for stronger coordination among the region’s 14 different transit systems.

Several actions focus on improving customer experience across all transit systems, such as integrating and aligning fare policies for the first time regionwide and implementing bus priority strategies to get the best value from high-frequency routes. In addition, officials are considering opportunities to combine functions and identify and pursue potential savings through cooperative purchasing and making training and certification for transit personnel more consistent across the region. Action plans to implement these recommendations will be provided in November for Task Force consideration and adoption.

In addition, the Task Force reviewed funding needs for the regional transit network, including Metro, MARC, VRE, and local bus systems, and began discussing scenarios and potential new public revenues to close projected funding gaps both to support service at existing levels as well as enhanced service options, such as starting implementation of the Better Bus Visionary Network, MARC and MTA commuter bus improvements, and increased Metrorail and local bus service. The Task Force will discuss scenarios for funding maximized service options and expansion at a future meeting.

The DMVMoves Task Force, co-chaired by COG Board Chair and District of Columbia Councilmember Charles Allen and WMATA Board Vice Chair Paul C. Smedberg, is made up of 23 elected and appointed officials from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and the federal government. The Task Force is being advised by two groups – a Government Partners Advisory Group representing area jurisdictions and transit service providers as well as a Community Partners Advisory Group representing business, labor, and community organizations.

The DMVMoves initiative was launched at an historic convening of the COG and WMATA Boards of Directors in May and has undertaken an ambitious work plan to develop policy recommendations and final plan by May 2025. The next Task Force meeting will be held in November.

Small business is important to the Board of Trade; we are one. And as a representative of Greater Washington, celebrating Small Business September this year allows us to show how important small businesses’ vitality is to our region’s ecosystem.  

To lean in on small business awareness in our region, our policy team looked at data points around small businesses across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia and collected some important statistics showing small businesses’ financial struggles.  

A huge need for small businesses is getting funding opportunities to create a vibrant and healthy small business community in Greater Washington. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in 2022, 69% of small businesses say that relied on personal savings to finance their business compared to 60% in 2020, which shows the need for funding opportunities for new small businesses looking to grow the U.S. economy.  

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also shared recently that small businesses in the United States are in much need of funding through capital investments, collecting data that shows 33% of businesses that launched in 2024 did so with less than $5,000 USD, with 58% of businesses launching in 2024 with less than $25,000 USD.  

As mentioned, our policy team has gathered data from the Small Business Association’s Office of Advocacy that breaks down the percentage of small businesses in Greater Washington. This includes highlighting percentages of women and minorities that represent small businesses across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.   

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

• There are 75,579 small businesses in DC, which make up 98.1 percent of all businesses in the District. 

• DC’s small businesses employ 260,713 workers, which accounts for 48.0 percent of the total DC workforce. 

• Women comprised 51.4 percent of the workforce and owned 47.4 percent of businesses. Veterans made up 3.0 percent of the workforce and owned 4.1 percent of businesses. Hispanics accounted for 11.0 percent of the workforce and owned 8.0 percent of businesses. Racial minorities made up 50.0 percent of the workforce and owned 43.3 percent of businesses. 

MARYLAND  

• There are 639,789 small businesses in Maryland which make up 99.5 percent of Maryland businesses. 

• Maryland’s small businesses employ 1.2 million people, which accounts for 48.8 percent of the state’s total employees. 

• Women comprised 49.2 percent of the workforce and owned 44.6 percent of businesses. Veterans made up 5.7 percent of workers and owned 6.6 percent of businesses. Hispanics accounted for 9.8 percent of the workforce and owned 9.2 percent of businesses. Racial minorities constituted 43.7 percent of the workforce and owned 38.5 percent of businesses. 

VIRGINIA 

• There are 818,450 small businesses in Virginia, accounting for 99.5 percent of all businesses in the state. 

• Small businesses in Virginia employ 1.6 million employees, which accounts for 45.4 percent of Virginia’s workforce. 

• Women made up 47.6 percent of the workforce and owned 44.3 percent of businesses. Veterans comprised 8.6 percent of the workforce and owned 9.1 percent of businesses. Hispanics accounted for 9.5 percent of the workforce and owned 9.2 percent of businesses. Racial minorities made up 32.1 percent of the workforce and owned 27.0 percent of businesses. 

The Board of Trade will continue to engage with people and business professionals in our region to help promote small business across the Greater Washington region. And the vitality and future of small businesses depends on public officials, regional stakeholders, and the broad Greater Washington business community, working together for a better future for our region.  

There is a lot to learn about small businesses that the SBA and U.S. Chamber of Commerce shares so people can learn more about the opportunities and struggles small businesses face.  

Below are a few stories you can read: 

New Survey Shows Small Businesses Growing Concern about Raising Capital 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Small Business Data Center 

U.S. Small Business Administration: Fund Your Business 

SBA: Women Entrepreneurs Are Accelerating the Small Business Boom 

As of July 1, 2024, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia residents have seen a wave of new legislation take effect across various sectors that have an impact on their daily lives. These changes reflect the region’s commitment to addressing issues and improving the quality of life for those who live within it. These new laws represent an attempt to meet evolving challenges and opportunities throughout the area.  

Maryland: 

During the 90-day 2024 session, Governor Moore signed 1,049 bills into law, including:  

• SB 1113: is a model for state-level ticketing reform as it bans speculative ticketing and makes resale platforms accountable for any speculative tickets sold or listed on their site. Additionally, the bill requires all-in pricing throughout the purchasing process and codifies that a ticket is a license and not property. 

• SB 244/HB 238: This legislation amends the Maryland Clean Indoor Act and makes vaping illegal in indoor public places, public transportation, and places of work.  

• HB 4: Prohibits institutions of higher education that receive state funds from considering a legacy preference or donor preference as criteria for admissions at the institution. 

• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration will implement new fees and increase registration rates: Drivers will see prices increase by up to 60-70%. Fees will simultaneously increase for electric vehicles who will now have to pay a $250 biannual surcharge. 

• The Pava LaPere Innovation Acceleration Grant Program: It was established to provide grants to technology-based startup companies founded by students of postsecondary institutions by providing grants to these businesses located within the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metropolitan areas. The program is named in honor of Pava LaPere, founder, and CEO of Baltimore-based startup EcoMap Technologies, who was tragically killed last year. 

Virginia: 

Simultaneously in Virgina, several significant recent changes have gone into effect, including multiple bipartisan gun reform efforts, changes to higher education, impacts on commerce, etc. that were signed into law by Governor Youngkin. These include:   

• HB 22/SB 210: Bans devices known as “auto sears” that convert firearms to automatically shoot more than one shot without manual reloading.  

• Lucia’s Law (HB 36/SB 44): Gun owners will be charged with a felony if they allow a child who poses a potential risk to have access to a firearm. Lucia’s Law was spurred by the 2021 tragic killing of Lucia Bremer, a 13-year-old who another teen fatally shot while she was walking home in Henrico County.  

• SB 480: A new law concerning Virginia’s public utilities – electric, gas, water, and wastewater- these services cannot be disconnected to a residence during an official state of emergency – and 30 days after- even if a customer is behind on bills or fees. The law goes on to state that utilities cannot cut off service when temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit and on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, and the day before a state holiday.  

• HB 48: Virginia codified similar legislation to the legacy admissions ban in Maryland with the passage of legislation in the state that will now stop public universities and colleges from giving applicants who are related to alumni or donors of the school a boost in their admissions process.  

• SB 336: State and local law enforcement can now place photo speed monitoring devices at intersections deemed to be “high-risk”, which requires it to be part of or adjacent to an intersection with a marked crosswalk in which a traffic fatality took place in since January 2014.  

• HB 790: Bans on the sale of liquid nicotine/tobacco products over the internet and through vending machines is now prohibited.  

• HB 525:  Removes Richmond from the list of Virginia’s eligible host cities for a casino, grants the city of Petersburg the ability to hold a vote for a casino project in November, and blocks cities that fail to get a casino project passed by voters for three years.  

Washington, D.C.: 

• Fair Shot Minimum Wage Act of 2016: The law, passed in 2016, includes provisions to further increase minimum wage in subsequent years. Therefore, in Washington, D.C., the minimum wage has increased as of July 1 from $17.00 to $17.50 per hour for non-tipped workers and $10.00 for tipped workers, a $2 increase making it the highest minimum wage in the United States. The wage increases have gone into effect, regardless of the size of the business.