Maryland Legislature Enters Final Day With Most Priorities Done
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers entered the last day of their legislative session Monday with most high-profile measures already passed into law, including tax relief, a paid family leave program and an extensive measure aimed at slowing climate change.
Democrats, who control the legislature, and Republican Gov. Larry Hogan already have signed a bipartisan budget deal. It features nearly $1.86 billion in tax relief over five years for Maryland retirees, small businesses and low-income families in a year of enormous budget surplus for the state's $58.5 billion budget.
The deal included a tax credit as an incentive for employers and businesses to hire and retain workers from underserved communities. It also includes sales tax exemptions for child care products such as diapers, car seats, and baby bottles, and health products for dental hygiene, diabetic care and medical devices.
"I think we've gotten some remarkable work done," Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, said after Saturday's session. "We've passed an incredible budget that invests in Maryland, gives money back to taxpayers, invests in seniors and working families."
They also agreed on a one-month gas tax suspension to provide about $100 million in additional relief from high prices at the pump. Lawmakers decided against extending the suspension, which expires at the end of the week.
"We were successful in accomplishing nearly everything that we wanted to accomplish," Hogan said. "We pushed the largest tax cuts in history and got that passed through this legislature—something we've been talking about for a long time: retirement tax cut and helping struggling Marylanders. We were successful in throwing out the worst gerrymandered maps in America—the first time any Democratic maps were thrown out in the country."
Democrats still had their disagreements with the term-limited governor, who is in his last year in office. They needed to get priority bills to him early in order to override them while still in session — a strong incentive for getting the bulk of their priorities already passed. Since this is the last year of the term before elections, bills vetoed by the governor after the legislature adjourns can't be overridden next year.
Lawmakers overrode Hogan's veto on Saturday to create a paid family leave insurance program that has been discussed for years in the state. Maryland workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of partially paid leave to deal with such family issues as having a baby, caring for a sick relative or dealing with a military deployment. Up to 24 weeks could be taken in some cases, such as when someone who took 12 weeks due to an illness has a child later.
They also overrode the governor's veto of legislation to expand access to abortion in the state. Maryland will end a restriction that only physicians perform abortions, enabling nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants with training to perform them.
Lawmakers passed a broad measure aimed at slowing climate change. Hogan said Friday he would let the bill go into law without his signature. The "Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022" speeds up Maryland's current goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 40% of 2006 levels to 60% by 2031. It also sets a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 in the state.
Lawmakers also approved a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in July 2023, giving the final decision to voters in November. A measure lawmakers passed to take initial steps toward implementation went into law without Hogan's signature. Licensing and taxing issues will be taken up next year, if voters approve.
Legislators and the governor also agreed to a new congressional map for the state, after a judge struck down the map approved by lawmakers over Hogan's veto in December as a "product of extreme gerrymandering." The General Assembly redrew the state's eight U.S. House districts to be more compact, and Hogan signed the measure last week.
A measure to ban so-called "ghost guns," which do not have serial numbers, is going into law without Hogan's signature. Lawmakers overrode Hogan's veto of a bill to require firearms dealers to have certain security measures in place as stores.
"We're very pleased about some of the progress that we've made with respect to crime bills," Hogan said. "We're a little frustrated still that we haven't got the most important bill passed, but that's something we're still hopeful—but if the legislature doesn't pass it, they're going to have to answer to the 90% of the voters who support our bill and explain in an election year why that didn't get done."
The General Assembly also approved juvenile justice reforms. Lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of a bill that prohibits a law enforcement officer conducting custodial interrogation of a child, unless the child has consulted with an attorney.
Lawmakers are still working on details related to enhancing the state's cybersecurity defenses.
"We have to finish out cyber on Monday, but I think there's large agreement so that's probably one of the biggest issues that's outstanding," Ferguson said Saturday.
Reporting by Paul Gessler contributed to this report.
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