Maryland
As a trusted resource to lawmakers, our team of Maryland lobbyists reshape the dialogue at the local and state levels of government. We provide insight and strategic counsel to corporations, trade associations, nonprofits, and local governments on how decisions are made, who makes them, and the steps necessary to achieve a client’s goals.
Our Annapolis-based lobbyists know government and how the legislative and procurement processes work. They have a keen ability to anticipate emerging issues and opportunities and work closely with clients to develop strategies to advance priorities before the General Assembly, local councils, executive branch agencies and quasi-government agencies including the MD Public Service Commission, as well as oversight boards, including the Board of Public Works.
They have helped clients across sectors, including healthcare, energy, education, technology, infrastructure, procurement, and transportation, by securing funding through the state budget, guiding legislation through the legislative process, navigating regulatory changes, supporting and opposing legislation, managing industry coalitions, and offering tailored political risk assessments and advocacy campaigns.
HBS Maryland Team Members
Resources
Case Studies
Client
A statewide association of healthcare practitioners devoted to supporting and advocating for health care and their health occupation in Maryland.
Objective
Given the dynamics of patient care, especially considering COVID-19, the Association sought to allow nursing or other technical tasks to be performed by certain qualified individuals to provide high quality, evidenced based health care to more patients.
Strategy
Sarah Peters and Bill Pitcher worked with the Association to introduce a bill that would delegate a nursing or other technical task to an assistant if (1) the assistant performs only the tasks that the assistant is trained to perform and (2) the delegating APRN provides instruction to and on-site supervision of the assistant performing the delegated task.
HBS MD and the Association worked closely with the bill sponsors, to share the benefits and importance of the bill to the General Assembly, with a targeted advocacy strategy to the Health and Government Operations Committee, and the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Matters Committee.
Result
The legislation was passed unanimously by the legislature and became law without the Governor’s signature.
Client
A Maryland and D.C. regional trade association focused on financial services felt critical policy decisions were occurring without the input of their members.
Objective
To raise the profile of the Association and to ensure they had a seat at the table when industry-impacting bills are introduced and considered.
Strategy
Sarah Peters worked with the Association to coordinate meetings with D.C. Councilmembers to educate them on matters impacting the Association and to advocate for their current priorities. Sarah and the Association implemented a strategy to “localize” the issues for the Councilmembers by educating them on the Association’s members and the services they offer in D.C. and in each of their Wards.
Result
Legislation was introduced before the D.C. Council by the D.C. Mayor, which directly impacted the Association and its membership. The Association was at the table for one of the first times working with the D.C. Council to advise on the formation of the legislation. The bill passed with no opposition in 2020.
Client
A trade association with 400+ member companies devoted to maintaining and growing the cybersecurity industry in Maryland.
Objective
Given Maryland’s unique proximity to federal, commercial and cyber assets, often called the Cyber Capital of the World, and with an increased number of data breaches impacting businesses and consumers, the Association wanted to incentivize small businesses to become cyber secure while helping Maryland-based cyber companies keep their footing in Maryland.
Strategy
Sarah Peters worked with the Association to introduce a nationally unique cyber tax credit bill which would provide a tax credit against the State income tax to qualified small businesses who purchase Maryland-based cyber technology or services. In this way, Maryland technology businesses were receiving additional business and small businesses were better equipped to mitigate cyber breaches. Sarah and the Association worked closely with the bill sponsor, the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee, and the Administration to merge two cyber-focused bills while mitigating concerns from legislators.
Result
The bill successfully passed both chambers and Sarah and the Association worked with the Maryland Department of Commerce to promulgate the necessary regulations.
