Several new laws take effect today, October 1, 2018. These laws range from banning bump stocks, creating extreme risk protection orders to prevent individuals who are at risk of harming themselves or other from possessing guns, to prohibiting the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. A MarylandReporter article summarizes a large number of bills taking [...]

Comptroller Peter Franchot recently announced that the State closed out fiscal year 2018 with a surplus of $508 million. As reported by the Baltimore Sun, Strong returns from the state’s capital gains tax returns helped revenues come in about $339 million — or about 2 percent — higher than expected, while state agencies spent less [...]

Secretary of Health Robert Neall announced the appointment of Dr. Howard Haft as the new executive director for the Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP) and Fran Phillips as the new deputy secretary of Public Health Services. From the Department of Health press release, Dr. Haft has served as deputy secretary since 2015, focusing on improving [...]

Comptroller Peter Franchot has submitted emergency regulations to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review in light of the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision. This decision reversed a 1992 ruling on Quill Corp. v. North Dakota that said sellers only had to collect state sales taxes if they had a warehouse, office or [...]

Dentons US LLP, of which Manis Canning & Associates is Maryland's member of its national network of government affairs partners Dentons 50, will be holding a webinar on Tuesday, August 7th at 11 a.m. on the state-level changes and activity expected in light of the recent Wayfair decision of the Supreme Court. During the webinar, Dentons [...]

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. recently announced leadership changes for Senate standing committees that will take effect in January 2019. The new chairs and vice chairs of each committee are listed below. Budget and Taxation - Senator Nancy King will serve as Chair and Senator Bill Ferguson will serve as Vice-Chair Education, Health [...]

House Speaker Michael Busch recently announced several leadership changes that will take effect January 2019. Major changes are summarized below. Delegate Kathleen Dumais (Montgomery County) will become Majority Leader. Delegate Luke Clippinger (Baltimore City) will become chair of the Judiciary Committee. Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (Howard County) will become vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee. Delegate Eric [...]

Now that the dust has settled and primary election results are official, below is a summary of some of the major State primary election outcomes. Democratic Nomination for Governor In a field of nine candidates vying for the Democratic Nomination for Governor, Ben Jealous came out on top with 39.6% of the vote. He will [...]

Governor Larry Hogan announced the appointment of Jason M. Stanek as the incoming chair of the Public Service Commission. Mr. Stanek most recently served as Senior Counsel to the Energy Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee. Prior to that, he served 16 years in progressively senior positions in the Federal [...]

Dentons US LLP has recently released its 2018 Election Update - 150 Days Out Report. With less than 150 days till the November general election and results in from roughly half of the state primary elections, this report sizes up the elections in all 50 states as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the US [...]