News Release: 3/18/2026 Opposition to House Bills 1229 and 1479

March 10, 2026

Delegate Melissa R. Wells, Chair
Delegate Kenneth P. Kerr, Vice Chair
House Government, Labor and Elections Committee

House Office Building
6 Bladen Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

RE: Opposition to HB 1229 and 1479

Dear Chair Wells and Vice Chair Kerr,
On behalf of the Olney Chamber of Commerce and our member businesses, we respectfully express
concerns regarding House Bills 1229 and 1479 and their potential impact on small and locally owned
businesses. The bills intention to eliminate the tipped wage system in place for many years combined with
a significant minimum wage increase to $18 per hour and $25 per hour, respectively, with permanent
automatic escalators tied to inflation, would directly affect many of our members.
The Olney Chamber represents a broad cross-section of local employers, including landscape companies,
fitness and wellness providers, restaurants, cafés, retailers, and service providers deeply rooted in their
communities. Many of these small businesses operate on narrow margins and already face significant cost
pressures from rising supplies, insurance, rent, utilities, and other operating expenses. A substantial and
accelerated increase in the statewide minimum wage would add additional financial strain that many local
operators may struggle to absorb.

Unlike large national chains, small businesses often lack the scale and financial flexibility to offset rapid
increases in labor costs. In addition, neighboring states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania have not
escalated their minimum wages to similar levels. Pennsylvania remains tied to the federal minimum wage,
and Virginia’s wage remains below $15 per hour. This creates a regional cost imbalance that places
Maryland small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

As a result, policies such as those proposed in HB 1479 may lead to unintended consequences including
reduced employee hours, slower hiring, higher prices for customers, delayed expansion plans, or in some
cases the closure of long-standing neighborhood establishments.

Small businesses are a critical part of Maryland’s economic fabric. They provide local jobs, support
community organizations, and contribute to the vitality of neighborhood commercial districts throughout
the state. Policies that significantly increase operating costs without sufficient flexibility can
disproportionately impact these locally owned enterprises.

The Olney Chamber of Commerce strongly supports fair wages and economic opportunity for workers.
At the same time, wage policy should balance those goals with the economic realities faced by small and
locally owned businesses that form the backbone of Maryland’s local economies.

For these reasons, we respectfully urge the Committee to carefully consider the potential unintended
consequences of HB 1229 and 1479 and to oppose these bills in their current form.
Thank you for your time and your continued service to the State of Maryland.

Sincerely,
Olney Chamber of Commerce

Marc Rosendorf, Government Affairs Committee Chair
cc: Richard Melnick, Committee Vice-Chair
Matt Hines, Committee Vice-Chair
Matt Quinn, Olney Chamber President
Terri Hogan, Olney Chamber Executive Director