Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Tax breaks to promote manufacturing dead for session

Tax breaks to encourage new manufacturing operations in Maryland are dead for this session, after the Senate Budget and Taxation struggled to come up with compromises that would please all sides, especially current manufacturers.

Senate passes landmark criminal justice reform bill

The Maryland Senate unanimously passed one of the most sweeping criminal justice reform bills in decades on Thursday after contentious debate over several amendments. The bill, more commonly known as the Justice Reinvestment Act, would offer non-violent offenders, such as drug users, treatment and the possibility of post-conviction expungement (cleaning the record), while incarceration would still be emphasized for violent offenders.

State Roundup, March 24, 2016

Amid bipartisan joy, House passes Gov. Hogan’s $42 billion budget, which will now go to conference committee to work out House-Senate kinks; Senate poised to vote on justice reform package today; bill to give Morgan State funds to move tech projects to marketplace moves forward; advocates of charge-expungement bill say it was watered down; Delaney sends out a billboard to press Hogan on Trump endorsement; delegate’s missing brother found safe; Van Hollen, Edwards to meet in 2nd Senate race matchup; and former Frederick County Commissioner Blaine Young charged in prostitution sting.

Harrisburg vs. Annapolis: Partisan contrasts in passing budgets

In Harrisburg on Wednesday, a reluctant Democratic governor and the Republican legislature have finally come to an agreement on a budget — not for next year, but for the final three months of this fiscal year. A year of rancor and dispute came close to bankrupting schools and social agencies as the legislature refused to pass Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax hikes for a major increase in school aid. At the Maryland State House on Wednesday, the Democratic House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly to approve its final vote on Gov. Larry Hogan’s $42 billion budget, with bipartisan praise of a bipartisan process.

Supporters push for bill to prevent child sexual abuse and assault in schools

Advocates and victims convened in Annapolis on Wednesday to testify before the Senate education committee on a measure to raise awareness about sexual assault and abuse in schools. Sponsored by Del. Eric Luedtke, HB 72 would require the State Board of Education and private schools who benefit from the state’s Nonpublic Schools Textbook and Technology Grants program to establish and enforce an age-appropriate program that would educate students about preventing sexual abuse and assault.

State Roundup, March 23, 2016

Lawmakers continue to move forward on Gov. Hogan’s operating and capital budget plans; Marylander may get to vote on legalizing fantasy sports betting; bills addressing jail time for those enabling underage drinking to meet in conference committee; three years of funding approved for new hospital in Prince George’s; state motto gets a makeover; brother of Del. Eric Luedtke is missing; three media outlets file Open Meetings complaint against continuing closed sessions of BDC; and mayoral candidates debate.

Justice Reinvestment bill expected to return to Senate Wednesday

Legislation that aims to reduce Maryland’s prison populations, corrections spending and recidivism rates is expected to return to the state Senate Wednesday, after concerns were raised Monday over committee amendments to the bill. The Justice Reinvestment Act would alter criminal penalties and provisions on sentencing, corrections, parole and supervision in an effort to focus correctional resources on “serious and violent offenders,” according to a legislative analysis.

Boyd: Electing Baltimore’s next mayor

The race to become Baltimore’s next mayor hinges on several factor, writes Laslo Boyd — turnout, coalescing the anti-Dixon, and making a compelling case that the candidate can do the job.

State Roundup, March 22, 2016

Justice reform bill, watered down by Senate committee, gets sent back to lawmakers by Pres Miller as he seeks more savings, drop in prison population; change in corporate tax calculation sought to benefit, attract more companies to state; state bar sees backlash after stand on parental rights/rape bill; Gov. Hogan’s bill on slashing fees gets slashed itself; bipartisan support aimed at cutting mandated school testing; bill would give tax break to first responders who buy homes, work in Baltimore City; editorial cartoonist Glenn Foden dies; and Sun building up for sale.

Limit on school testing passes House, as do other measures to control testing

Reflecting overwhelming bipartisan opposition to over-testing of public school students, the House of Delegates on Monday voted unanimously to restrict mandated standardized testing to 2% of instructional time — about 20 hours per school year. The bill was the most comprehensive of a package of bills in House and Senate reflecting the eagerness of teachers and parents to limit the amount of tests imposed by federal, state and local authorities.

Cynthia Prairie

Support Our Work!

Recent Comments

Twitter

Facebook

Recent Articles