Economic Matters Committee

The fund could receive money seized or forfeited by state authorities in connection with illegal gambling activities, money appropriated through the state budget, investment earnings, and money accepted from other sources. It would be a special, nonlapsing fund, meaning its balance would remain in the fund at the end of each fiscal year rather than returning to the state’s General Fund.

The fund could invest only in decentralized, blockchain-based cryptocurrency secured through cryptographic technology and having a market capitalization of at least $500 billion. The bill does not name a specific cryptocurrency.

Any cryptocurrency purchased by the fund would have to be safeguarded through a secure institutional platform operated by the State Treasurer or through a qualified custodian selected by the Treasurer. Expenditures from the fund would be made through the state budget process.

The purpose of this Assembly is to evaluate Maryland House Bill 51 (2026) from the perspectives of Maryland’s diverse legislative districts. Acting as members of the House Economic Matters Committee, students, henceforth referred to as delegates, will examine the bill’s potential benefits and costs, consider its likely effects on their assigned districts and constituents, and apply relevant economic concepts to their arguments. Following deliberation, delegates will cast a confidential straw vote on whether HB 51 should receive a favorable committee report.

The Assembly will proceed in four stages:

1. Review: Students, henceforth delegates, will read and develop an understanding of HB 51.

2. Debate: Each delegate will evaluate the bill from the perspective of his/her constituents and assigned policy, such as Energy, Transportation, or Environment.

3. Report: Delegates will compose a district report to pass or reject the bill, supported by district-level evidence and relevant economic concepts.

4. Vote: After deliberation, delegates will take a straw poll on whether HB 51 should receive a favorable committee report.

In this assembly, students will act as members of the Maryland House of Delegates’ Economic Matters Committee. Each student is assigned to represent a Maryland legislative district. A district might have 3 or 4 delegates. The course instructor will serve as the Chair of the Assembly.