LAWMAKERS SCRAMBLE TO GET CLIMATE BILL TO HOGAN’s DESK: The Maryland House of Delegates passed an amended version of landmark climate legislation Tuesday, setting legislators scrambling to get the bill to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan by Friday to allow time for a possible veto override. Stephen Neukam of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
- The Senate is poised to concur with the House of Delegates’ version of a wide-ranging climate bill that aims to significantly reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions. Elizabeth Shwe/Maryland Matters.
- Del. Wayne Hartman, a Lower Shore Republican, said most solar panels are made in China, where environmental regulations are less stringent than those in the U.S. “So here we are with these lofty goals,” he said. “And these goals may be doing the exact opposite of what we want. So, simply requiring these products be manufactured in the USA, we could be helping to accomplish her goals more quickly.” Joel McCord/WYPR-FM.
SENATE OKs NEW MAP THAT SHAKES UP INCUMBENTS’ DISTRICTS: Facing a looming court deadline to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts, Democrats in the Maryland Senate quickly approved a hastily redrawn map Tuesday on a party-line vote. Bryn Stole/The Baltimore Sun.
- Under the Maryland General Assembly Democrats’ newly unveiled redistricting map, created in response to a state judge’s decision throwing out the old map, the worlds of U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger and other U.S. House members — or at least their districts — are changing practically overnight. Jeff Barker and Bryn Stole/The Baltimore Sun.
- The new congressional map advancing through the General Assembly this week includes the biggest shakeups to Democratic incumbents’ district lines in recent memory. Bennett Leckrone/Maryland Matters.
- Republicans said the new map does more of the same “extreme partisan gerrymandering” that deep-sixed the previous map. The latest map, which includes significantly more compact districts, would only take effect if Anne Arundel County Senior Judge Lynne A. Battaglia’s ruling stands. Meagan Flynn, Erin Cox and Harry Stevens/The Washington Post.
- “The first map was a punch in the nose,” said Sen Bob Cassilly, R-Harford. “The second map is a punch in the gut. Either way you look at it, it’s still an assault on democracy. It doesn’t make it any better, doesn’t make it right. It might hurt a little bit less but it’s still an inappropriate assault on democracy.” Bryan Sears/The Daily Record.
Abortion rights supporters gather in Washington in 2021. Maryland legislators are proposing legislation they say will ensure abortion rights in the state. Photo by Brittany N. Gaddy/Capital News Service.
SWEEPING CHANGES TO ABORTION LAW PASSES: In the most sweeping change to Maryland’s abortion laws in three decades, state lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that would dramatically expand who could perform abortions and forbid most insurers from charging patients out-of-pocket costs for the procedure. Ovetta Wiggins and Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
- The Senate gave the measure final passage on a 28-15 vote. That sends the measure to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, whose office did not immediately comment on his position on the bill. The governor has said he personally opposes abortion, though he has called the issue settled law in the state. Brian Witte/The Associated Press.
- Proponents say expanding the number of abortion providers would create more access for women, particularly those living in rural communities. Logan Hill of the Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
- The bill would establish a $3.5 million practitioner training program and would remove limitations to insurance coverage. It faced three proposed amendments in the Senate all of which failed. Republican leader Sen. Justin Ready of Carroll County called the bill “radical” and said it reaches too far. Callan Tansill-Suddath/WYPR-FM
SENATE PANEL OKs BILL TO LEGALIZE SMALL AMOUNTS OF WEED: The Senate Finance Committee approved a measure Tuesday that would add Maryland to the growing list of states that have legalized small amounts of cannabis. The measure would take effect only if voters approve a related ballot question this fall. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
MO CO TO RE-INSTITUTE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS: Montgomery County officials are soon expected to approve a new plan that would place police officers back in schools. The about-face comes after several violent incidents inside Montgomery County Public Schools during the 2021-2022 school year. Glynis Kazanjian/WJLA-TV 7News.
WOMEN SEEK TO IMPROVE STANDING ON MO CO COUNCIL: After a disappointing showing for women four years ago in the Montgomery County Council race, candidates and party leaders are hoping for stronger results in 2022. Women account for 51.6% of the county’s population. Yet, since 2018, there has been only one woman, Nancy Navarro, among the nine seats on the council. The number has dropped since 2009, when Navarro was first elected and was among four women on the council. Women have never held more than four seats at once. Dan Schere/Bethesda Beat.
MOSBYS’ USE OF WAR CHEST FOR DEFENSE OK, BOARD SAYS: The use of campaign funds for the legal defense of both Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and City Council President Nick Mosby did not violate state election law, according to a decision from the Maryland State Board of Elections. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Sun.
MARYLAND MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN CAPITOL RIOT: A Maryland man who waved a Confederate flag attached to a lacrosse stick during the siege at the U.S. Capitol pleaded guilty on Tuesday to interfering with a police officer who was trying to disperse a crowd of rioters. Michael Kunzelman/The Associated Press.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Del. Ben Barnes.
