Len Lazarick

New 3% alcohol tax passes; O’Malley will sign

The House of Delegates and Senate Monday night passed a new 3% sales tax on alcohol sold in stores, bars and restaurants, with most of the proceeds in the first year going to schools and school construction.

Gov. Martin O’Malley said Monday he will sign the two bills, which will go into effect July 1.

In-state tuition for illegal immigrants wins final approval; O’Malley plans to sign it

In-state tuition for illegal immigrants wins final approval; O’Malley plans to sign it

After a midday Senate filibuster temporarily delayed its passage, the bill granting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants was sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley for his promised signature Monday night.

As the House of Delegates approved the final negotiated version of the bill on Monday night with a vote of 74-65, the student lobbyists sitting in the galleries on either side of the chamber burst into cheers. The finalized bill had passed the Senate with a vote of 27-19 less than an hour earlier.

UPDATE: Expanded union rights for private state contractors passes Senate

UPDATE: Expanded union rights for private state contractors passes Senate

As governors and legislatures in the Midwest battle over rolling back collective bargaining rights for government workers, Maryland lawmakers are on the verge of establishing more union rights for private home health aides paid by the state. The Senate gave final approval to the bill Friday afternoon in a 31 to 16 vote with several Democrats joining the dozen Republicans opposing the bill.

State Roundup, April 8, 2011

Lowest fund balance in years peaks concerns; O’Malley wind bill headed for summer study; in-state tuition for illegals gets preliminary approval in House; Maryland braces for a federal government shutdown; Monday is General Assembly’s final day; O’Malley jabs at Gov. Christie in N.J.

Tuition for illegal immigrant students gets preliminary House approval

After a marathon 2½ hours of sometimes acrimonious debate and a dozen failed amendments, the House of Delegates Thursday afternoon gave preliminary approval to a bill giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition at community colleges and state universities. The bill, which passed the Senate on a close vote three weeks ago, allows young illegal immigrants who graduated from Maryland high schools to get tuition at in-state rates.

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