Anne Arundel?s House delegation is expected to vote today on a county bill that would ban roadside solicitation, including electioneering and business advertising.
The proposal hit a snag last week when Sen. Ed DeGrange, D-Anne Arundel, added an amendment to include campaign sign waving and sandwich board advertising for businesses among the prohibited activities in county medians and along roadsides.
But Friday, the bill passed the Senate committee and will now head to the Senate floor for a vote.
Del. Mary Ann Love, D-Anne Arundel, who is chairwoman of the county?s House delegation, said she didn?t know about the constitutional concerns around DeGrange?s amendment and the House vote on the bill was delayed Friday because delegates submitted their amendments late.
Lawyers and civil rights activists questioned whether the move was constitutional. Enough questions held up a vote on the bill in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee earlier this week.
The constitutional problems had been resolved by adding some language in the bill that would allow the county to enforce the ban on panhandling on county roads even if the ban on sign waving and business advertising were declared unconstitutional, said Alan Friedman, the county?s lobbyist.
“It shouldn?t hold up the bill,” he said. “If it?s the will of the delegationto include it, and if it goes to court and it?s found unconstitutional, then we still want to enforce the other part.”
