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GOP senators set summer deadline on Congress’ policing bill
Congressional bargainers should reach a bipartisan deal on revamping policing procedures by early summer or abandon the effort, Republicans said Wednesday, a day after George Floyd’s family used visits to the White House and the Capitol to prod lawmakers to act.
New Maryland health care laws
The Maryland General Assembly recently enacted a number of laws that will impact health care providers and health insurers in the state. Here are some of the legislative highlights from the 2018 session.
GOP senator confident Trump will protect states’ rights on marijuana
A Colorado Republican senator believes President Donald Trump will support a bipartisan congressional effort to give states autonomy over their marijuana laws – even though it would put the White House in direct conflict with its Justice Department.
Md. legislation seeks to eliminate exceptions to marriage age
A bill to outlaw marriage for anyone under the age of 18 without exceptions was reintroduced in the General Assembly this year, making Maryland part of a national movement to outlaw child marriage under any circumstances.
Editorial Advisory Board: Eliminate the religious exemption for vaccinations
Maryland should eliminate the "religious" exemption, which, in practice, is the same as the personal belief exemption abolished in California. Such action would place Maryland in the forefront of states determined to protect the safety and lives of its children.
Here’s to second chances
A one-time shielding of minor offenses seems but a modest step along a longer journey to providing opportunities for those who want to be productive members of society.
O’Malley signs minimum wage increase bill
Maryland's minimum wage will increase in steps over several years from $7.25 an hour to $10.10, under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Bills to facilitate prison guard investigations
The governor has signed a series of bills aimed at preventing another corruption scandal like the Black Guerrilla Family case at the Baltimore Jail.
Compromises fail on several high-profile Md. bills
Lawmakers' plans to allow shielding of certain criminal records and reform Maryland's bail system were lost in the shuffle of the legislative session's final days.
O’Malley signs bill expanding pre-K program
As bill sponsors and other supporters gathered behind Gov. Martin O’Malley for pictures, the governor signed more than 100 bills into law Tuesday, including a pre-kindergarten expansion and a law ending the practice of holding the owners of pit bulls to a different liability standard than other dog breed owners.
Two pot bills, two legislative approaches
Legislation expanding the state’s medical marijuana appears inevitable, lawmakers say, even as the House of Delegates and Senate have passed substantially different measures.
Senate poised to vote on medical marijuana bill
The Maryland Senate's version of a medical marijuana bill is poised for a full chamber vote.
