Fiscal and Policy Analysis of Proposed Legislation

Legal, programmatic, policy, and economic and fiscal impact information for legislation introduced in each legislative session can be found in the fiscal and policy notes developed by analysts in the Office of Policy Analysis.

Generally, a fiscal and policy note prepared on a bill contains (1) a summary of the bill; (2) an estimate of the fiscal impact of the bill on the revenues and expenditures of State and local governments during the year in which the bill is to become effective and for the next four years following that year; (3) an overview of relevant existing law; and (4) an assessment of the bill’s economic impact on small businesses.  A fiscal and policy note also identifies when a bill mandates an appropriation to a program as well as when it establishes a mandate on a unit of local government.  When available, a fiscal and policy note may also incorporate background information about the bill’s introduction or associated programs and policies. 

Prior to the hearing on a bill, copies of the fiscal and policy note are furnished to the sponsor of the bill and to the members of the standing committee assigned the bill.  Subsequently, if an amendment modifies the original estimate, staff develops and issues a revised fiscal and policy note.  Copies of fiscal and policy notes are available from the Department of Legislative Services and on the Maryland General Assembly website (mgaleg.maryland.gov) where only the most recent version of the note is available.  To access the note on a particular bill, you will need to know the bill number and the year in which the bill was introduced.