The Maryland General Assembly ended on Monday night after legislators waded through more than 2,500 bills in the 90-day session.
Here are some of the most notable bills to pass in the session, along with links to the legislation and WYPR's coverage.
Education
- Commercial Gaming Revenues - Constitutional Amendment Proposes an amendment to the Maryland Constitution that would require casino revenues be spent on public schools and prevent the money from replacing other education funding in the state budget. More on the bill.
- Public School Personnel - Disciplinary Hearing Procedures Requires local school boards to bring in an arbitrator before suspending or dismissing public school personnel.
- 21st Century School Facilities Act Takes oversight of school construction projects away from the Board of Public Works, which Gov. Larry Hogan presides over, and gives authority to approve construction funding to the Interagency Committee on School Construction. More on the bill.
Safety
- Firearm Crimes - Rapid Fire Trigger Activator Bans several devices that allow guns to fire rapidly without someone pulling the trigger with each shot. More on the bill.
- Handgun Permit Review Board - Appeals Changes the process for appealing decisions by the Maryland State Police not to license someone to carry a handgun.
- Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 Requires every public school to either have a school resource officer or a plan in place with local police to respond quickly to an emergency. Also includes provisions for wrap-around services and mental health care for students. More on the bill.
- Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting Loaded Handgun - Subsequent Offender Imposes mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders caught illegally carrying a gun. More on the bill.
- Audits of the Baltimore City Police Department Establishes the Commission to Restore Trust in Policing to review the operation of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and make recommendations on the reorganization of the Police Department and other matters.
- Law Enforcement - Prohibition on Sexual Activity Prohibits a law enforcement officer from engaging in sexual acts with a person in the custody of law enforcement office. More on the bill.
Health
- Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission Reform Act Designed to open medical marijuana growing to minority-owned businesses, and specifically to African-Americans. Also caps the number of licenses to process marijuana at 25, and creates a compassionate use fund to help veterans and residents with lower incomes gain access to the drug. More on the bill.
- Maryland Health Care Access Act of 2018 Creates a new tax on health insurers to replace the tax Congress temporarily repealed and uses the revenue to create a reinsurance program.
Taxes
- Income Tax - Standard Deduction - Alteration Increases the state’s standard deduction to $2,500 for individual filers and $5,000 for married couples.
- Income Tax - Personal Exemptions - Alteration Ensures that Marylanders will be allowed to claim personal exemptions even after Congress eliminated them from federal tax returns.
- Tax Sales - Water Liens Prevents Baltimore from selling properties with unpaid water bills.
Transit
- Maryland Metro/Transit Funding Act Requires the governor to increase funding for the Maryland Transit Administration in the years 2020 through 2022.
Rights
- State Government — Discrimination and Harassment Requires a new anti-harassment policy for state lawmakers and their staff. Also allows the legislature to refer harassment complaints to an independent investigator and creates a Sexual Harassment Workgroup to study the issue. More on the bill.
- Rape Survivor Family Protection Act Allows a woman who gets pregnant after being sexually assaulted or raped to strip her attacker of parental rights. More on the bill.
- Inmates - Menstrual Hygiene Products Requires the manager of a state or local correctional facility to make sure the facility has a sufficient supply of feminine hygiene products, to give the products to inmates at no cost when they need them, and to keep written policies and records on the subject. More on the bill.
Development
- State Center - Redevelopment-Requirements, Participation, and Process Requires the new development to include many aspects of the existing plan and requires the new developer to sign a community benefits agreement. More on the bill.
- Promoting ext-Raordinary Innovation in Maryland's Economy (PRIME Act) Establishes the PRIME Program within the Department of Commerce to provide certain Fortune 100 companies tax credits and benefits for up to 10 years.
Election Law
- Online Electioneering Transparency and Accountability Act Alters the definition of "campaign material" to include certain material that is disseminated and certain qualifying paid digital communications.
More of WYPR's coverage of the General Assembly:
Midday interview with Governor Hogan
On the Record: Down to the Wire, Sine Die 2018
Midday rundown of some of the bills that passed and crime-related bills
You can also type "General Assembly" into the search bar above to find more stories from the WYPR news team.