In the Administration's second scheduled bill signing, Governor Moore and the presiding officers signed almost 150 pieces of legislation into law, including the Governor's service year legislation. In speaking about the legislation Governor Moore said the following: “By calling on Marylanders to serve and serve together we will bridge the gap between ambition and employment [...]
The Department of Legislative Services recently released the 2023 Joint Chairmen's Report summarizing final budget actions taken on the State's operating and capital budget by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. House Bill 200 is the State operating budget, making appropriations for support of the State government, for aid to [...]
The Department of Legislative Services recently released its 90 Day Report providing a summary of the major issues of the 2023 General Assembly session and an overview of what passed and what did not. The 90 Day Report is divided into 12 parts, each dealing with a major policy area. Each part contains a discussion of the majority [...]
The 2023 General Assembly session came to a close Monday evening, April 10 at midnight with final action being taken on a number of bills and a few others left outstanding. In all, a total of 2,283 bills and joint resolutions were introduced, of which 810 passed. A total of 780 legislative bond initiatives were [...]
Governor Wes Moore, Attorney General Anthony Brown, and Comptroller Brooke Lierman were successful in getting some or all portions of their first legislative packages passed by the 2023 General Assembly. The following summarizes where each leader's package stands as of April 13, 2023, after the 2023 General Assembly has adjourned. Governor Wes Moore [...]
Governor Moore presided over his first bill signing on April 11, signing a total of 93 bills into law. Bills among those signed included the Fair Wage Act which will accelerate the state’s current $13.25 per hour minimum wage to $15 starting in January versus the previous timetable of 2025. The Family Prosperity Act which will permanently [...]
Earlier this week the General Assembly gave final approval to the fiscal year 2024 operating budget. The $63 billion budget includes nearly $1 billion to go towards the Blueprint for Maryland's Future fund, the account that will go towards on-going ten-year education reforms (Kirwan) and places $2.5 billion in the State's rainy day fund. The [...]
Lt. Gov Aruna Miller (left); Janeen L. Birckhead (center); Governor Wes Moore (right) source Once confirmed, Moore's appointment, Brigadier General Birckhead, would become the only black woman to head a state military in the U.S. From Governor Wes Moore's press release announcing her nomination: “I am proud to nominate Brigadier General Janeen Birckhead to serve [...]
The Center for Alcohol Policy recently released its 2023 National Survey. Key survey findings include: Solid support exists across party lines for state regulation of alcohol Americans are satisfied with current alcohol regulations Americans want alcohol laws to prioritize safety The three-tier system is viewed as working well by Americans This year’s survey, as in [...]
Lt. Col. Roland Butler becomes the first black superintendent of the Maryland State Police following Senate confirmation. As previously reported, in February Governor Wes Moore named Lt. Col. Roland Butler to serve as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP). Lt. Col. Butler then faced a difficult Senate confirmation. From The Baltimore Sun: His rise [...]
