WITH THOUSANDS OF ABUSE LAWSUITS, STATE UNSURE HOW IT WILL PAY: Maryland leaders still can’t say how the state will pay for thousands of child sex abuse lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act, legal claims that attorneys say could ultimately cost taxpayers billions of dollars. More than a year after the Sun first reported that the state faced thousands of legal claims from survivors of child sexual abuse inside its youth facilities and services, state officials acknowledge the scope of the potential liability remains unclear. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
JEWISH LEADERS CONCERNED BY ‘ANTI-ISRAEL’ BILLS: As Maryland lawmakers consider a slate of bills involving Israel, Jewish leaders in the state said the measures unfairly target Israel and its American supporters and are creating a hostile atmosphere in Annapolis. One of five bills drawing opposition is House Bill 1184, known as the “Not on Our Dime” Act. The proposal would empower the Maryland Office of the Attorney General to file civil lawsuits against charities that give to Israel. The bill summary calls out Israel specifically. Keith Daniels/WBFF-TV News.
GUNS, KIRK AND BOUCHAT’s LAST BILL: It wasn’t the budget bill that took up air. Instead on Monday, senators were held captive by questions over a measure that would outlaw the sale of “machine-gun convertible pistols” in the state. Meanwhile, House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy unsuccessfully tried to get a resolution out of a House committee against political violence while honoring the late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. And before the Rules Committee debated Kirk, it heard the last bill to be presented this year by Del. Christopher Eric Bouchat, who is not seeking reelection after this year. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
STATE TOP COURT TO TAKE UP RESIDENCY ISSUE IN ARUNDEL DELEGATE RACE: Maryland’s top court may soon decide a legal question prompted by a Democratic Party dispute in Anne Arundel County: When, exactly, must a candidate establish their residency to run for office? That question is at the center of a case pitting Del. Gary Simmons, an Anne Arundel County Democrat, against John Dove Jr., a fellow Democrat who hopes to unseat the delegate. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- “Well, I hope you’re all ready to go take a trip to the Supreme Court, because no matter what I do, the Supreme Court will weigh in on this at some point,” Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Robert J. Thompson said told the parties Monday. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
B’MORE RED LINE MAY NOT BE LIGHT RAIL AFTER ALL: Baltimore’s proposed east-west Red Line may not be light rail after all. Maryland transportation officials have prepared contingency plans for the long-sought transit line, following concerns over locking in federal funding, rising costs and complications with land acquisition in East Baltimore. Daniel Zawondy/The Baltimore Banner.
BALTIMORE CO COUNCIL REVERSES UNPOPULAR PENSION BUMP: The Baltimore County Council voted unanimously to reverse the pension bump they gave themselves — and make sure they’re never again in a position to give themselves a retirement raise. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
BA CO VOTES DOWN BILL BARRING OFFICERS FROM WEARING MASKS ON DUTY: A Baltimore County Council bill that would have barred law enforcement officers from wearing masks while on duty and required them to visibly display identification failed Monday night after not garnering support from anyone but the bill sponsor. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
FREDERICK DATA CENTER FOES SAY THEY’VE MEANT REFERENDUM GOAL: The committee seeking to undo a new data center zone near Adamstown says it has passed its goal of collecting 18,000 signatures toward an intended ballot referendum. “We absolutely, definitely have exceeded our goals in a significant way,” Steve Black, an organizer of the Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee, said in an interview on Monday. Erik Anderson/The Frederick News-Post.
AUDIT OF CARROLL REGISTER OF WILLS FINDS IT DID CORRECT 2018 ERROR: A state audit of the Carroll County Register of Wills Office found that the office has not been independently verifying its deposits of inheritance tax money. Auditors have raised concerns about this same issue since 2018, but the office hasn’t corrected the error, according to a report from Maryland’s Office of Legislative Audits released earlier this month. Lily Carey/The Carroll County Times.
