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Maryland State House dome slated for repairs
The Maryland State House. (Credit: Capital News Service) The historic dome atop the Maryland State House, and surrounding grounds and structures, is scheduled to get a revamp with a new $619,620 state contract.The state Board of Public Works this month agreed to dedicate money to “(Restoring) the exterior of the Maryland State House and grounds within State Circle, including stabilization and potential restoration of the Old Treasury Building,” according to the panel’s agenda.
Maryland Governor's Immigration Office Launches
Photo by Martin Falbisoner, via Wikimedia Commons A new Governor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs is tasked with connecting immigrant advocacy resources across the state to those in need, and Maryland’s nonprofits and high-ranking officials have thrown in their support — and expectations. Bills SB85 and HB15, which chartered the office on Oct.
Maryland's state song, a "relic of the Confederacy", is abolished -
Maryland has abolished its official state song, which had Confederate-supportive lyrics. Gov. Larry Hogan has signed off on a law that repeals Maryland’s state song because it is a “relic of the Confederacy.” The song repeal was among 226 bills signed into law this week, and includes another which allows sports betting in Maryland.
Gun applications in Maryland surge more than 100 percent in a single year
Handguns displayed for sale From 2019 to 2020, the number of approved applications for Maryland civilians licensed to buy or own a regulated firearm more than doubled, according to data obtained from a public records request. In 2019, 47,093 total requests were approved for civilians in the state, while that number rose to 95,502 in 2020, an increase of more than 100 percent.
Love is no defense to sex crimes, lawmakers in Annapolis say
A Maryland bill that would repeal the prohibition on prosecuting some sexual crimes against a victim who is the spouse of the assailant has appears poised to pass in Annapolis, receiving a unanimous vote in the Senate. The “Love is No Defense to Sexual Crimes Act” is co-sponsored by Sen. Susan Lee, D-Montgomery, and Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, D-Montgomery.
State bill would curb use of military surplus equipment by police
Capital News Service – Law enforcement agencies in Maryland could be limited from obtaining certain military equipment via a federal surplus program under a bill that passed the state Senate last week. class=”gmail_default”>SB0599, with sponsors Sen. William C. Smith Jr., D-Montgomery, and Sen. Chris West, R-Baltimore, is one legislative piece of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, which has been a key focus throughout the Maryland General Assembly this session.
Bill would lessen punishment for some teen sexting
A bill that defines how to handle juveniles charged with sexting in Maryland passed in the House with a wide majority on Wednesday. The bill, which passed on a vote of 131-8, doesn’t legalize sexting for juveniles, but it defines certain cases that aren’t a part of child pornography laws.
Senate bill would ban firearms at polling sites
Capital News Service – A bill banning firearms at polling sites in Maryland is advancing in the state Legislature, and advocates say it is necessary to stop voter intimidation. “Everyone should be able to vote free from fear and intimidation,” Senate bill lead sponsor Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, D-Montgomery, said at a Feb. 4 committee hearing Capital News Service viewed.
Maryland bill would refine environmental justice commission
Capital News Service – A bill in the Maryland Senate would reform a commission to reflect the diversity within the state and expand to help vulnerable communities affected by environmental justice issues. SB674, cross-filed as HB1207, would revitalize the commission to meet the needs of vulnerable communities facing environmental hazards, which have only increased because of the coronavirus pandemic, advocates said.
Bill to rebuild trust between immigrants and law enforcement
Capital News Service – A bill that would prohibit law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status and end police cooperation with ICE in Maryland drew emotional testimony from immigrants, advocacy groups and lawmakers on Wednesday.
Bill would grant Md. high school seniors extra year of play
Capital News Service – Legislation in Maryland could allow senior athletes at public high schools to play sports the year after they graduate, to make up for the challenges and unusual circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.
Many Maryland schools set to reopen Monday
Capital News Service – Many of Maryland’s most populous districts are set to welcome some students back for in-person instruction Monday, marking the start of varying local plans in response to Gov. Larry Hogan’s push to reopen schools by March 1. Maryland had the lowest percentage of in-person instruction operating in the nation at 10 percent as of Sunday, according to Burbio, a community event tracker.
New bill would change police procedure during traffic stops
Photo by Elvert Barnes, via Flickr Capital News Service – A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would change procedure during a traffic or other stop to ensure that officers explicitly state certain rights, and aims to prevent police from using deceptive or coercive measures to obtain information. SB0589, also known as the Know Your Rights Act, was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee last week.
State bills seek to limit implicit bias in judicial system
Capital News Service – Maryland legislators introduced a pair of bills that could mandate police, judges, state’s attorneys and public defenders undergo implicit bias training in order to recognize and counteract any potential biases they may carry against specific groups. Implicit bias is the attitudes, or stereotypes that may unconsciously affect someone’s actions and decisions toward a person or group of people.
Cannabis legalization proposed in Md. General Assembly
Capital News Service – A bill essentially legalizing recreational use of cannabis in Maryland would be an important step toward addressing social equity and racial injustices, advocates said. “This is the year we are talking about equity,” Del. Jazz Lewis, D-Prince George’s, sponsor of the bill, said at a Wednesday House Judiciary Committee hearing Capital News Service viewed.
MD Senate advances tax credit expansion to immigrants
A debate over whether to expand an anti-poverty tax measure to immigrants is breaking down along party lines in the Maryland General Assembly, with Republicans vehemently opposing the move. The bill cleared an initial vote in the Senate Wednesday, with just one Democrat voting with the Republicans. At the heart of the fight is the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or ITIN.
Maryland RELIEF Act stimulus payments in process, comptroller says
Image courtesy of the Comptroller’s Office. Capital News Service – Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, D, expects 98% of all relief payments to be processed and in the bank accounts of those who are eligible as early as Friday. He said 266,985 electronic payments totaling $113.6 million and 148,972 paper checks totaling $61.7 million will be processed and sent to eligible recipients starting Tuesday as part of the recently passed RELIEF Act.
Bill allows for more local restrictions on tobacco products
Capital News Service – Maryland legislators introduced a bill that would allow localities throughout the state to place more stringent restrictions on the sale and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products. SB0410 and its cross-file, HB1011, sponsored by Sen. Benjamin F. Kramer, D-Montgomery, and Del. Samuel L.
Maryland bill would provide voting info to the incarcerated
Capital News Service – Those incarcerated awaiting trial or convicted of misdemeanors would be able to register to vote and learn about their voting rights under legislation in the Maryland General Assembly this year. The Senate version of the bill, which was jointly referred to the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, is being sponsored by Sen. Chris West, R-Baltimore County.
Taskforce will study college students’ mental healthcare access
Capital News Service – College students nationwide are reporting increased instances of depression, anxiety, and related symptoms, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. A bill in the Maryland Legislature would create a task force to study the barriers this population faces when seeking mental healthcare. College students are, under normal circumstances, at high risk of developing new and struggling with existing mental illness, according to the American Psychological Association.
Bill establishes Md. police use of force requirements
A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would revise police use of force requirements in the state — part of a growing initiative surrounding police reform nationally. Conversations surrounding police reform have intensified with the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, and the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, among others, which sparked protests throughout the nation. HB0139 and its cross-file, SB0626, sponsored by Del.
ICE detention centers could leave Maryland for good
Capital News Service – Maryland lawmakers heavily debated a bill concerning ICE detention centers on Wednesday, including testimony from a previous detainee who spoke about her experience in a Maryland center. The Dignity Not Detention Act would prevent the state’s detention centers from renewing existing contracts with ICE or private prison companies and prevent the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency from coming into Maryland in the future to build new detention centers.
Gun restrictions, BSO support among four Md. Senate veto overrides
The Maryland Senate overrode today four vetoes from Gov. Larry Hogan including one that would require a licensed firearms dealer to facilitate most transactions involving rifles and shotguns. The four bills that the Senate overrode were part of a slew of legislation from the previous session that Hogan vetoed in May 2020, at least in part to limit new state expenditures at the start of the pandemic.
Maryland bill bans plastic carryout bags at retail shops
Capital News Service – A Maryland House committee on Friday voted to approve a bill prohibiting all retail establishments from distributing a plastic carryout bag at the point of sale. HB314, the Plastic Bag Reduction Act, cross-filled with SB223 in the state Senate, would tackle the plastic pollution problem in the state, advocates said. Advocates for the bill said reusable bags create less waste, reduce the state’s carbon footprint and will better the environment long term.
Maryland bill would allow therapy dogs in schools
Photo credit: therapydogs.com Capital News Service – A bill in the Maryland state legislature would require public schools to allow the use of therapy dogs across the state. There’s currently no Maryland-wide policy for these dogs. Under the law — filed in the House as HB713, and in the Senate as SB419 — certified canines would be permitted entry to offer emotional and scholastic support for students. How exactly that should happen would be left up to each county board of education. Sponsor Sen.
Lawmakers eye repeal of law officers’ Bill of Rights
Photo via Baltimore Police Department Capital News Service – A proposed law in the Maryland House of Delegates could roll back certain protections for law enforcement officers. HB0151, sponsored by Del. Gabriel Acevero, D-Montgomery, would fully repeal Maryland’s Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights. The law, which provides certain protections for officers under investigation for wrongdoing, has been heavily criticized for frustrating police-reform efforts.
State lawmakers seek to lock in transit repair funding
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott speaks in support of the Transit Safety and Investment Act at a state Senate hearing on Jan. 29, 2021. Screenshot by Audrey Decker for the Capital News Service. Capital News Service – State lawmakers are pushing a transportation bill that would increase funding to the Maryland Transit Administration to make the state’s bus system, MARC train, Metro and Light Rail more safe and reliable.
Proposed Maryland legislation expands hate crime law
Capital News Service – Judges will be allowed to require people charged with hate crimes to complete anti-bias education programs if a bill to expand the current Maryland hate crime law is passed. Sen. Shelly Hettleman, D-Baltimore, is sponsoring the bill, SB0220, which aims to use anti-bias education programs to reduce the number of repeat offenders.
Hogan esatblishes redistricting reform commission
In the latest effort to resolve a gerrymandering issue in the state, Gov. Larry Hogan this month announced the formation of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. Hogan’s executive order comes 18 months after the Supreme Court declared that federal courts had no jurisdiction in resolving the issue of partisan redistricting. In a 5-4 court decision, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that the burden of adjusting the redistricting process fell on the legislative branch.
Gambling risks for youth may be taught in Md. high schools
Photo by Jamie Adams, via Wikimedia Commons Capital News Service — Maryland high schools may soon be required to adopt a curriculum on gambling addiction, depending on the fate of one bill in the state legislature. SB0243, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-Anne Arundel, directs the Maryland State Department of Education to develop a program for local schools to teach high school students the dangers of gambling.
Lawmakers to introduce housing justice package this legislative session
As Maryland’s annual General Assembly session opens Wednesday, a coalition of lawmakers and advocates are pushing a package of bills that would provide relief to tenants and homeowners hurt by the pandemic. The session begins weeks before eviction and foreclosure moratoriums expire on Jan. 31. Delegate Vaughn Stewart, a Montgomery County Democrat, and Sen. Jill Carter, a Baltimore City Democrat, are sponsoring bills in both houses that would extend the foreclosure moratorium.
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