Posts Tagged ‘Maryland General Assembly’
MD Gov Wes Moore Holds First Bill Signing Ceremony
The Maryland General Assembly session ended last night and today Governor Wes Moore held a bill signing ceremony. Included in the bills that were signed were three key measures. The Fair Wage Act of 2023, which raises the minimum wage in Maryland effective January 1, 2024. The acceleration brings the minimum wage up to $15…
Read MoreMaryland Lawmakers Approve POWER Act of 2023 – Awaiting Governor’s Signature
The Maryland General Assembly has passed the POWER Act of 2023. POWER – is Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources and US Wind is applauding House and Senate leadership for passing this legislation which paves the way for a new clean energy future for Maryland. The measure is now headed to Governor Moore for his signature.…
Read MoreLegislation to Create a Wicomico County Sanitary District Passed in General Assembly
Legislation that authorizes Wicomico County to create a sanitary district has passed in the Maryland General Assembly and is now awaiting action by Governor Wes Moore. Wicomico County Executive, Julie Giordano, says SB 246 provides the necessary regulation for the County’s water and sewer project. The third reading of the measure passed with a unanimous…
Read MoreMaryland HB 119 Would Mandate the Development of a Comprehensive Health Education Framework for Schools in All Counties
A measure in the Maryland State House (HB 119) would require the State Department of Education along with the Department of Health to develop a comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board of education to create an age-appropriate curriculum that is consistent with the comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board to establish…
Read MoreLegislation Announced Creating Maryland’s New Legal, Adult-Use Cannabis Industry
Legislation that establishes Maryland’s new legal, adult-use cannabis industry has been announced by Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones. This program is aimed at curbing illicit sales, addressing equity in licensing, taxation and regulation – and meets the July 1, 2023 program implementation goal. Adult-use cannabis will be regulated in the same…
Read MorePressure Mounts For Md. Lawmakers To Hold Special Session On Gas Tax Holiday
There are new calls for a gas tax holiday in Maryland. State Comptroller Peter Franchot, who is a Democratic candidate for Governor this year, has asked presiding officers of the U.S. Congress and Maryland General Assembly to enact federal and state gas tax holidays. President Biden supports a three-month gas tax holiday. A 30-day Maryland…
Read MoreVideo | Gov. Larry Hogan Addresses Law Enforcement Training Session In Ocean City
Governor Larry Hogan (R.-Md.) appeared in Ocean City Tuesday to address the Maryland Municipal League Police Executive Association Annual Training Conference. “Every single day that I have served as governor, I have been immensely proud of all our law enforcement officers, including all who serve in Maryland’s municipal police agencies,” Hogan said. “Our state and…
Read MoreUpdate / Video: Sine Die Day For Md. General Assembly
(Story Update) The curtain has come down on the 2022 Maryland General Assembly session.Speaking hours before the late-night gavel, Governor Larry Hogan said late Monday that the session produced agreement on a tax cut package and leaves Maryland with a healthy budget surplus.Not all of the Governor’s proposals were enacted – including tougher sentences for…
Read MoreMd. Gas Tax Holiday Extension Amendment Fails To Pass
Drivers who fuel up in Maryland could face a 36-cent price hike, if the gas tax holiday is not extended past April 16th.Republicans in the House Thursday pressed their Democratic colleagues to approve a 45-day extension of the gas tax holiday that took effect last month. An amendment to do so was presented on the…
Read MoreLegal Case Against Redrawn Md. Congressional Districts Moves Forward
Fair Maps Maryland will be able to move forward with its claims of partisan gerrymandering in the state’s congressional redistricting process. The group, which has ties to Governor Larry Hogan, has objected to both congressional and legislative maps produced by the Maryland General Assembly’s commission on redistricting. Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Lynne A.…
Read MoreMd. Board of Ed. Votes To End School Mask Mandate
The Maryland State Board of Education voted Tuesday to rescind the statewide school mask mandate effective next Tuesday, March 1st. The decision is subject to approval of the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. “I want to thank the State Board of Education for heeding our call to rescind its…
Read MoreParents’ Rights Surrounding Education Are Part Of Md. House GOP Caucus Agenda
Maryland House Republicans are putting forth legislation in 2022 focused on tax relief, limited government, and parental rights surrounding their children’s education. Delegate Jeff Ghrist, R-Caroline County is lead sponsor of the “Right to Learn Act of 2022.” According to the legislation: families of children in schools with two consecutive years of rating two stars…
Read MoreMd. Legislation Would Permit Adult Recreational Use Of Cannabis
New legislation would put Maryland on the path to legalizing adult recreational use of cannabis, or marijuana. Under the bill, Marylanders would be permitted to possess up to 1.5- ounces of recreational cannabis without penalty. Possession of amounts between 1.5 and 2.5- ounces of cannabis would face a civil offense. Many previous convictions for ‘simple…
Read MoreControversy Swirls Around Md. Legislative Redistricting Votes
The Maryland House of Delegates has approved new maps for legislative districts that were produced by the General Assembly’s Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission. Republican lawmakers made a final attempt Thursday to get support for maps produced by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission, a panel that was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan in early 2021. Fair…
Read MoreVIDEO | Md. Gov. Hogan Presents FY ’23 Budget
As he begins his final year in office, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Wednesday presented his Fiscal Year 2023 budget plan – a plan he said would provide major tax relief for retirees and working families, makes record investments into education and school construction, and boosts the state’s Rainy Day fund. Hogan also said the budget…
Read MoreMd. Gov. Hogan Delivers Proposed District Maps To General Assembly
On the first day of the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session, Governor Larry Hogan Wednesday dropped off a set of proposed legislative district maps produced by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. “These fair maps call for districts that are geographically compact, that do not take into account how citizens are registered to vote, how they…
Read MoreMaryland Lawmakers Head Into 2022 Session
The Maryland General Assembly begins its 2022 90-day session Wednesday in Annapolis. “There is a lot of work to do getting our bills ready, starting to build consensus and getting signatures for cosponsors and so forth,” Delegate Wayne Hartman, R-Dist. 38C said to WGMD’s Mike Bradley on the day before the start of the session.…
Read MoreVIDEO: Gov Larry Hogan Announces Expansion of Re-Fund the Police Initiative
Governor Larry Hogan today announced the expansion of his Re-Fund The Police Initiative to a three-year, $500 million investment in increased support for law enforcement, and for increased crime control and victim protection services across the state. The governor also announced that he will reintroduce legislation to address violent crime during the upcoming session of the Maryland…
Read MoreVirtual Hearing Today (Wed.) On Md. Legislative Redistricting Plan
The Maryland Legislative Redistricting Commission is out with proposed maps of state Senate and House districts, to reflect the results of the 2020 Census. The panel will hold a public hearing, virtually, this afternoon (Wednesday). Please sign up by 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE Maryland lawmakers will consider the plan during the session in January.…
Read MoreUpdate: Md. General Assembly Overrides Gov. Hogan’s Veto Of Redistricting Plan
Soon after a veto from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, members of the House of Delegates and the State Senate voted Thursday to override his veto of a proposed map of congressional districts to take effect for the 2022 elections. “The congressional map drawn in back rooms by party bosses in Annapolis makes a mockery of…
Read MoreLawsuit Promised To Challenge Md. General Assembly-Approved Congressional Maps
“Aggressive legal action” is being planned against a Congressional redistricting map passed by the Maryland General Assembly. Fair Maps Maryland describes itself as a nonpartisan grass roots organization. Spokesman Doug Mayer said the General Assembly ignored the will of the overwhelming majority of Marylanders and is violating state and federal law. The maps have also…
Read MoreQuestions Arise About Public Comment Ahead Of Md. Special Session On Redistricting
Marylanders have the opportunity to testify during a General Assembly special session next week, but one group says the process of submitting comment is not very inviting. Governor Larry Hogan Thursday encouraged support for the fair maps he has transmitted to the Maryland General Assembly on behalf of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. “Gerrymandering has rightly been…
Read MoreMd. Citizens Redistricting Commission Opens 3rd Round Of Hearings
The Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission begins a third round of virtual meetings. The panel was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to draw up ‘fair and representative’ legislative and Congressional district maps for the 2022 elections. The Commission has drawn up proposed maps, while considering dozens that have already been submitted by the public. Marylanders may…
Read MoreMd. GOP Lawmakers Seek Repeal Of “Netflix Tax”
Maryland Senate Republicans are seeking to repeal what’s known as the Netflix Tax, a tax on streaming services, audiobooks, e-books and other digital content. Members of the GOP Caucus released a video message Thursday as they began a grassroots petition drive in their attempt to repeal the tax in January, 2022. According to Senate Minority…
Read MoreEastern Shore Lawmaker Gets GOP Leadership Role
Members of the Maryland House of Delegates Republican Caucus have elected new leadership. Delegate Jason Buckel of Allegany County will serve as House Minority Leader. Delegate Christopher Adams of the Eastern Shore’s District 37-B becomes Minority Whip. Former Minority Leader Nic Kipke and Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga had previously announced their intention to step down…
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