A glance at some of the legislation that has cleared the Maryland General Assembly, as lawmakers near the end of their 90-day session Monday at midnight:
BALTIMORE-AID
The state will provide about $94 million over the next several years to demolish vacant buildings in Baltimore. It’s part of a package that includes additional funding to help invest in projects in declining communities and provide grants and loans to “anchor institutions” like colleges and universities in blighted areas. The package also includes funds to expand summer programs for students, college scholarships and library hours.
BEES-PESTICIDE PROTECTION
Maryland would become the first state in the country to take pesticides found to harm bees off of retail store shelves, starting in 2018.
BUDGET
With the help of surplus of more than $400 million, Gov. Larry Hogan’s $42 billion budget passed smoothly on bipartisan votes. It includes a provision creating a $5 million scholarship program for private school students from low-income families after years of debate over state funding of private-school scholarships.
DIVORCE WITNESS
A witness would no longer be needed to confirm a couple hasn’t lived together for a year when someone is seeking an uncontested divorce.
EQUAL PAY
Maryland’s equal pay law would be expanded to prohibit businesses from retaliating against employees for discussing or disclosing salaries.
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
A new 40 percent greenhouse gas reduction target has been set for 2030. The governor has already signed the bill.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Brian Witte over at the Washington Post