Deer season may be over in Maryland, but lobbying season is well underway in Annapolis. Hunters and gun enthusiasts have held signs this week around the State House, protesting two bills that were debated in the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee Friday.
Capital News Service
Senators debate empowering themselves to approve state schools superintendent
The Maryland Senate debated Thursday over an emergency bill that would give them greater influence over the Board of Education’s next superintendent appointee. The bill, which Republican senators characterized as politically motivated, would require the Democrat-controlled Senate to authorize the Maryland Board of Education’s appointee for state superintendent.
Dems seek more control of transportation funding; Hogan calls it ‘reckless power grab’
Complaining that decisions about Maryland’s congested transportation system are made with no accountability or public input, Maryland Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday announced legislation that would create an Oversight and Planning Board for the Maryland Transit Authority. Legislators said Marylanders also need more insight into how and why some projects are funded over others. Another bill announced Tuesday would create a scoring system for transportation projects to determine which get funding.
Comptroller seeks to withhold tax refunds from those with arrest warrants
The comptroller’s office would be able to withhold tax refunds from individuals who have outstanding arrest warrants throughout the state, under a pair of Maryland bills designed to provide criminal suspects with a financial incentive to turn themselves in.
Maryland Senate overrides Hogan’s veto of felon voting rights
After a 29-18 vote in the Senate, the bill passed and expanded the voting rights of nearly 40,000 ex-felons in the state, according to supporters of the bill.
Senate Budget & Tax Committee discusses new ways to assess property taxes, PG hospital funding
Instead of conducting a physical property inspection, the state would use satellite imagery and other technologies to assess home values, under a bill presented to the Maryland Senate’s Budget and Tax committee on Wednesday. Senate President Mike Miller also testified in favor of a bill that would allocate state and county funding for a new local hospital in Prince George’s County.
New paper ballot system ready, but officials question whether voters are
Maryland’s new paper ballot system will be available statewide for April’s elections, but officials said Friday they are worried that voters won’t know how to use them in time, adding to election day-wait times.
End of life legislation gets revived
Compassion and Choices held a news conference to support upcoming legislation in the Maryland House and Senate that would authorize doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients. Supporters of the legislation say that choice is the heart of the issue, not death. The bill failed last year, and sponsors have made changes to improve its chances this year.
Hogan announces education initiatives, early graduation gift
A tax credit for donations to public and private schools, and a scholarship for graduating early are among several education initiatives announced Wednesday by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
Maryland lawmakers override 5 of Hogan’s vetoes; Senate delays on felon voting rights
Despite impassioned speeches from Republicans, the Democrat-controlled Maryland Senate voted Thursday to override three of Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes from last session, and decided to postpone voting on a fourth.
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