It depends on what the meaning of “reasonable” is?

The owners of an apartment or condominium will have to make reasonable accommodations for the religious practices of residents of the building – if my legislation is adopted.

I didn’t originate the phrase “reasonable accommodation.” It’s been part of our civil rights laws for 40+ years. However, the meaning it has been given in court cases dealing with fair housing differs from that used in cases involving access for the disabled.

For myself and the lawyers in the room today, the question was this: Which meaning will better protect the religious practices of residents AND be accepted as a reasonable solution by the members of the General Assembly?

Details when the bill is introduced.

P.S. Interest in my lead paint bill is unabated.

Two more lobbyists asked me about it today.

Today began my 27th year as a member of the House of Delegates. For two former colleagues I spoke with, Clay Mitchell and Nancy Kopp, this was their 39th opening day in Annapolis. Or first day in school, as a younger, parenting staffer termed it.

I began the day with my annual cholesterol binge of eggs and hash browns at Chick and Ruth’s Deli. peta dunia satelit . I asked the owner what the prices were 26 years ago when my family joined me to start this tradition, hoping he might give me a 1983 discount, but no such luck.

At work, I put two bills in the hopper, decided not to introduce one, and was asked about another by two lobbyists who will oppose it.

House Bill 57 would refer to family planning counseling and services a person whose parental rights have been terminated or has been found guilty of child abuse or neglect.

The logic: if a court of law has found someone not capable of raising children, the state should encourage that person not to have more children – without violating that individual’s religious beliefs.

House Joint Resolution 1 is the Jim McKay Maryland Million legislation.

The bill I won’t be introducing would have required a court to give notice to the media before issuing a gag order, which prohibits the parties in a case from speaking to the press. A law isn’t necessary, two newspaper lawyers told me this afternoon, because reporters learn about these gag orders anyway.

Lastly, twice today lobbyists asked if I would be reintroducing my legislation to make lead paint manufacturers liable for the harm they’ve done to children based on each company’s share of the marketplace.

“No, but we will,” I replied.

More homework to be done. Today’s only the first day.

Bad news travels fast.

The session hasn’t started, and I attended my first budget briefing today.

No, I haven’t returned to the Appropriations Committee. The projected deficit was the topic at our Democratic Caucus meeting this morning.

“The forecast for 2009 is very bad, and that’s assuming benefits to the economy from the Obama stimulus package,” the General Assembly’s principal fiscal adviser informed us. “Even if we freeze spending, we still have a $1 billion problem.”

That deficit would be even greater if we had not enacted tax increases at the 2007 special session and reduced state spending by $1.75 billion over the last two years.

Better news for two of my bills at meetings this afternoon.

The first would prohibit the State Police from infiltrating undercover agents into groups engaging in lawful First Amendment activity. We had what we hope will be our last meeting to discuss the language in the bill.

The second bill would rename the Maryland Million, the annual day of racing for horses bred in Maryland. To honor the person who thought of this event, it would be called the Jim McKay Maryland Million. I met with the chair of the committee that will hear the bill, and she agreed to co-sponsor it.

From police surveillance to the race track.

To paraphrase what Jim McKay said in the opening sequence of Wide World of Sports: “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of the sport of legislation.”

This Wednesday, January 14, is the first day of the session, but that’s a ceremonial occasion. January 27 is the more important date looming on the legislative calendar.

It’s the Bill Request Guarantee Date. That’s the last day I can ask that legislation be drafted and know that it will be ready in time for me to meet the next deadline – on February 12.

If I introduce my bills by that date, they will get a public hearing before one of the six standing committees in the House of Delegates. No such guarantees for legislation put in the hopper after 2/12.

Nothing concentrates the mind like a hanging, wrote Samuel Johnson, the 18th Century English author. In Annapolis, nothing concentrates the mind like a bill hearing. Everyone who would be affected by your legislation has an opportunity – and an obligation, to make their views known.

Twice last week, I ended meetings by saying, “Get back to me before January 27. If I need to introduce a bill to address the problem we’re discussing, I’ll still have time to do so.”

Most of my many bill requests were made weeks – or even months, ago. But some won’t be executed until January 27.

My legislative diary resumes on January 12.