MOORE SIGNS NEARLY 300 BILLS INTO LAW: Some 286 bills became law Thursday after Gov. Wes Moore and legislative leaders gave their final stamp of approval. Legislation signed into law included the governor’s housing package and some of House Speaker Adrienne Jones’ “Decency Agenda” – part of which includes the Freedom to Read Act, which prevents book bans in libraries. David Collins/WBAL TV/NBC
- Gov. Wes Moore signed three housing bills dedicated to making Maryland more affordable. The bills address concentrated poverty in Maryland’s marginalized communities, reduce instability in Maryland’s housing supply and affordability, and enhance rights for Maryland renters, according to the governor’s office. Colleen Johnson/WBFF (FOX)
- Gov. Wes Moore signed a major bill into law that allows local jurisdictions in Maryland to impose higher property tax rates on structures and lots that are vacant and abandoned. Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos says this is a huge step toward tackling the vacant housing issue in the city. Ramos says this now paves the way for Baltimore City leaders to introduce a vacant property tax in the city that will hopefully force the owners of the city’s more than 13,000 vacant homes to either redevelop them or hand them over to the city. Kelsey Kushner/WJZ (CBS)
TRONE HAS DONATED MONEY TO MORE THAN 50 ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SINCE ENDORSED HIM: David Trone has helped fund the campaigns of more than 50 elected officials who have since endorsed him in his Democratic U.S. Senate primary contest against Angela Alsobrooks, according to federal and state campaign records. Among those receiving contributions from the wealthy congressman in recent years are 31 current or former U.S. House members and dozens of state officials such as Attorney General Anthony Brown and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun
MULTIPLE PAC DONATIONS LISTED IN NICK MOSBY’S FINANCE REPORTS DON’T HOLD UP TO SCRUTINY: Baltimore Gas & Electric says it never electronically transferred $9,281.94 to City Council President Nick Mosby on Feb. 23, as was reported by his campaign finance committee. Rather, the utility says its political arm wrote a much smaller ($450) check to Mosby in April. This discrepancy is not the only oddity that Baltimore Brew found in Mosby’s campaign filings, which are now under scrutiny by the Maryland Board of Elections. Mark Reutter/Baltimore Brew
ANALYSIS: ELFRETH DRAWS FIRE FROM OPPONENTS: Sen. Sarah Elfreth is apparently the woman to beat in the race for the 3rd Congressional District seat. The state senator from Annapolis has drawn veiled criticism for her support by a multi-million dollar “dark money” pro-Israel super PAC, and direct criticism from a fellow state senator and opponent over alleged weak support of gun control legislation. Len Lazarick/MarylandReporter.com
ALSOBROOKS REINSTATES YOUTH CURFEW AT NATIONAL HARBOR AFTER BRAWL: Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) announced on Thursday that she will reinstate a youth curfew at National Harbor following a brawl over the weekend involving hundreds of teenagers at the popular shopping and entertainment destination. The announcement by Alsobrooks, who is running for U.S. Senate, comes just days after members of the county’s council passed a bill in a committee meeting to allow retail and commercial areas to request curfew zones, and introduce fines on guardians with minors who violate the curfew. Lateshia Beachum & Jasmine Hilton/The Washington Post
CANDIDATE PROFILE FOR DISTRICT 6 RACE: Meet April McClain Delaney, a Democratic candidate for Congressional District 6. Ginny Bixby/MoCo360
