Md. senators to consider new process for General Assembly vacancies

State lawmakers during their third full week of the 2023 session are expected to discuss a new process for filling legislative vacancies and will begin hearing from the governor’s nominees for judicial openings and seats on various boards and commissions. As lawmakers continue to digest Gov. Wes Moore’s budget, Senate President Bill Ferguson, speaking during a news conference Friday, reiterated his general support for the proposal — a budget that’s 2% smaller than this year’s and cuts spending in areas, like private higher education, community colleges and the state lottery to avoid raising taxes.