Companion House and Senate bills were introduced this week
Maryland
Maryland Island, Once Diminished, Reconstructed with Dredged Material
A Chesapeake Bay island, once used as a presidential retreat but diminished to less than 5 acres by the 1980s, has been replenished with dredged material, creating wetlands that serve as a wildlife sanctuary.
Bill Would Ban Electronic Cigarettes Indoors in Public
Smoking electronic cigarettes would be banned indoors in public places as part of Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act under a bill Delegate Aruna Miller, D-Montgomery, presented Wednesday at a hearing of the House Economic Matters Committee.
Poor Communities Surrounding Baltimore Casino Getting Less Revenue Than Anticipated
Horseshoe Casino, plopped right in the middle of impoverished South Baltimore, was supposed to inject new life into “historically ignored” communities mired with high crime and unemployment rates, poor health and lackluster housing. But city agencies’ needs have skyrocketed since the casino’s opening — and the community-intended fund has absorbed the costs.
Maryland’s Judiciary Focuses on Digitizing Courts, Helping Children, Elderly
Maryland Appeals Court Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera described the state’s judicial system as “doing well,” and highlighted drug courts, embracing technology and helping children and the elderly as priorities.
NTSB Makes Urgent Recommendations Following Deadly L’Enfant Plaza Smoke Incident
The National Transportation Safety Board issued urgent recommendations Wednesday for Metro to improve its ventilation procedures in the wake of the deadly smoke incident in the tunnel at L’Enfant Plaza in January.
No More ‘Rain Tax,’ Hogan Says
Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday announced legislation to repeal the stormwater management fee, critically known as the “rain tax,” encouraging localities to address their runoff requirements without a state-mandated fee.
Delegates Hear Bill That Would Punish Heroin and Fentanyl Dealers Whose Drugs Kill
Opponents Fear 30-Year Maximum Sentence Would Be Applied to Users
Curbing Heroin Addiction Among Bills Presented By Maryland Senate Leadership
Curbing heroin addiction, and civil penalties for drunken driving were atop a legislative agenda released by the Maryland Senate leadership Tuesday morning.