Laws Committee Mission

As the home of the legal profession, MSBA provides a strong voice and is a powerful advocate for our priorities on behalf of over 42,000 Maryland attorneys and legal professionals. A key component of the MSBA’s legislative advocacy effort is the Laws Committee, which monitors legislative activity for bills that could impact Maryland’s legal profession.

 

Laws Committee Purpose & Impact

When the committee identifies a bill of interest, aided by input from the appropriate MSBA member constituency, the committee analyzes the bill and determines which practice area the bill impacts. The committee solicits a recommendation from the impacted MSBA practice section.

The impacted section analyzes the bill and transmits back its recommendation to support, amend, oppose, or monitor the bill to the Laws Committee. The section may also include a statement accompanying its recommendation. Each section manages its decision-making process by its own rules.

The Laws Committee submits its analysis and recommendation, together with that of the impacted section, to the MSBA Board of Governors. The Board deliberates and votes on whether to adopt the committee’s recommendation. The Committee may then submit written or oral testimony, propose amendments, file informational letters, and/or monitor bill activity.

 

Recent Legislative Successes Include:

  • Defeating proposed taxation on legal services
  • Obtaining COVID-19 vaccine priority for Maryland’s lawyers
  • Securing over $40 Million in Civil Legal Aid Funding for Access to Counsel in Evictions Program (with the Maryland Access to Justice Commission)
  • Protecting judicial independence through strategic advice to legislators on Judicial Transparency Bills
  • Successfully securing passage of several bills that positively impact businesses around the state
  • Modernizing Estates and Trusts practice
  • Providing testimony and advice on hundreds of bills that impact the profession and specific practice areas

Contact Us: advocacy@msba.org

 

 

Legislative Advocacy Resources

Maryland General Assembly

Maryland Senate – Judicial Proceedings Committee

Maryland House – Judiciary Committee

 

Committee Reports

Click below to access digital versions of each report.

 

Committee Roster

 

For a full roster of committee members, visit the MSBA Member Directory.

 

Co-Chair
David Cahn
dcahn@wtplaw.com
410-215-0258

Co-Chair
Kelly Hughes Iverson
khi@gdldlaw.com
410-783-4022

Vice-Chair
Meg McKee
mmckee@pklaw.com
410-769-6153

 

Now Announcing: MSBA Connect

Online Discussion Platform Upgrade

MSBA is now offering your committee access to MSBA Connect, our new online discussion community exclusively for members. This new tool will replace the current Email Discussion Lists (more commonly referred to as the MSBA’s ListServs) as we modernize our online presence. MSBA Connect will provide members with a more functional and reliable means of connecting with each other well into the future.

Make sure you’re logged in with the email you use for your MSBA account and click the button below. You’ll find detailed FAQs and “How-To” videos to help you get started.

Access MSBA Connect