Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) sent one of the most closely watched bills sent to his office this legislative session on Monday, signing a new set of congressional district boundaries into law.
But the Democratic majority in the General Assembly voted last week to send dozens more bills to the governor’s desk at the start of this legislative session, a move that will require the governor to act on the measures by the end of this legislative session. end of this week and will allow the legislature to override any potential veto before the end of the 90-day session next Monday at midnight.
Since this is an election year, this is probably the only opportunity for lawmakers to override a veto. And Hogan’s actions will certainly prompt further scrutiny as the two-term governor considers a 2024 White House bid.
Here we have the full list of bills the governor is considering:
House Bill 937, the Abortion Care Access Act, would expand who can perform abortions in the state and provide $3.5 million in financial support to clinically train health professionals to provide reproductive services. The bill would also make current state abortion care coverage under Medicaid permanent and require private health insurance plans — except those with religious or legal exemptions — cover abortion care without cost sharing or deductibles.
Senate Bill 275the Time to Care Act of 2022, would provide Marylanders with 12 weeks of partially paid family leave each year to care for themselves or a loved one after a serious health condition and up to 24 weeks of paid leave for new parents.
Senate Bill 528the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, would set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland and establish new policies to help achieve that goal, including requiring more building electrification, creating a “green bank” that would invest public funds in private projects that reduce gas emissions and expand the state’s electric vehicle fleet.
House Bill 20 would increase the membership of the Maryland Stadium Authority – an independent branch of state government originally created to fund and oversee professional sports stadiums that has expanded to other government building projects, including schools, such last years. The two new board members would be nominated by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Speaker of the Maryland Senate.
House Bill 90 would allow lawyers in the Office of the Public Defender to choose to enter into collective agreements with the state regarding their pay, benefits and working conditions. Under the bill, public defenders could also only be sanctioned or fired for cause.
House Bill 425/Senate Bill 387 would ban untraceable firearms or phantom guns.
House Bill 459/Senate Bill 691 is a broad juvenile justice reform effort based on the recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Reform Council. The bill would generally bar children under 13 from facing criminal charges, although charges can be brought in criminal court for the most serious crimes, including murder and sex offences. The bill would also set limits on the lengths of detention, out-of-home placement and probation that can be imposed by juvenile courts.
House Bill 571/Senate Bill 279 increase funding to allow tenants to have access to lawyers in eviction proceedings.
House Bill 580 would add sergeants and supervisors within the Maryland Transit Administration Police to the list of employees permitted to participate in collective bargaining.
House Bill 609 would require the Secretary of State for Health to provide a written explanation if a local health worker is fired and give the fired worker the opportunity for a hearing.
House Bill 649 would require greater oversight by the Maryland Department of the Environment of facilities operating under “zombie permits” or water discharge permits that have been administratively extended beyond their original expiration without inspection.
House Bill 734 would require at least $116 million to be mandated each year for three state scholarship funds and expand eligibility for financial aid — in certain circumstances — even as a student’s family income increases. The bill also provides $4 million a year for scholarship funds for the children and dependents of public safety and military employees, including those who have lost their lives in the performing their duties, such as Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley.
House Bill 740/Senate Bill 566 would require the national pension and retirement system to consider the potential financial risks of the impact of climate change in investment decisions.
House Bill 778/Senate Bill 514 would require the Maryland Transportation Administration to create capital programs to advance projects to connect Maryland to surrounding states via the Maryland Region Regional Commuter Rail.
House Bill 837 details certain provisions on the legalization of cannabis and would come into effect if a statewide electoral referendum on the legalization of cannabis passes.
House Bill 891 would require the Maryland Department of Transportation to present cost estimates to the General Assembly for projects for which the legislature has added additional funding in the state budget.
House Bill 1021 would require businesses that sell firearms to have 24-hour burglar alarm systems, as well as other security measures, including security bars, metal doors or physical barriers to prevent vehicles from s ‘to crush.
House Bill 1080 would require the state Medicaid program to provide medical care to pregnant immigrant women and their babies.
House Bill 1088 increases to $5 million the amount the Governor must allocate annually to the African-American Heritage Preservation Grant Fund.
House Bill 1228 would establish new financial incentives for restaurants, nonprofits, community associations, seafood vendors and processors to increase the amount of oyster shells recycled in the state.
House Bill 1255 would prohibit schools from using physical restraints and isolation of students.
House Bill 1290 Change state funding levels and local cost-sharing formulas for school construction projects.
House Bill 1450 would gradually increase sales and use tax revenue funneled into the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund and set new deadlines for the decade-long, multi-billion dollar school reform program.
Senate Bill 1 would allow the Commissioner of Labor and Industry of the Maryland Department of Labor to investigate and issue stop work orders to state contractors and subcontractors who have violated applicable wage laws.
Senate Bill 6 would establish rules and procedures for landlords who give tenants prorated utility bills or utility bills based on factors such as square footage or number of bedrooms. It would also require documentation of costs for a landlord withholding a security deposit refund and expand protections for tenant abuse.
Senate Bill 53the Child Interrogation Protection Act, would protect minors from self-incrimination in encounters with law enforcement.
Senate Bill 158 would require the state and counties to equally share the cost of purchasing, operating, and maintaining statewide voting systems. It would also require the Maryland State Board of Elections or local election boards to open the same number of in-person polling places for the 2022 election as were available in the 2018 election.
Senate Bill 222 would require bars, shops and clubs located at “The Block” in downtown Baltimore to implement safety plans or close at 10 p.m. the neighborhood on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Senate Bill 228 would expand the Maryland Corps program and allow its participants to transition into jobs or college programs.
Senate Bill 259 extends existing state wage requirements to state-funded service contracts for mechanical services such as HVAC, refrigeration, electrical, and elevator maintenance.
Senate Bill 541the Great Maryland Outdoors Act, would stimulate investment in state parks.
Senate Bill 662 would require the comptroller to allocate $14 million from the unclaimed property fund to the special fund for access to counsel in evictions in 2024. The governor should then include a provision in the 2024 budget bill to transfer that money from the fund Special to Maryland Legal Services Company.
Senate Bill 708 create a compliance officer position in the office of the Maryland Inspector General of Health to ensure Department of Health employees comply with laws, agency policies, and best practices in health Health care. It would also create a complaint investigation protocol.
Senate Bill 862 would require the Maryland Transit Administration to provide passes for eligible students and Baltimore City YouthWorks program participants to attend school, work, or educational extracurricular activities free of charge.
With the legislative session a week away, lawmakers continue to pass dozens of bills every day. If these measures are vetoed after the legislature leaves next week, the only possibility of overriding them would be in a special session.
