Politics

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown called a Texas court’s decision Friday to suspend the FDA’s longtime approval of an abortion medication called mifepristone “an attack on reproductive freedom.” Around the same time, another federal judge in Washington state ordered U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability.

Riding the legislative momentum of a voter-driven mandate, the 2023 Maryland General Assembly arrived Saturday at a policy destination the state has been inching toward for years — establishing rules for recreational cannabis sales. Should Gov. Wes Moore sign the bill into law, which he is likely to do, Marylanders 21 and older will be able to buy recreational cannabis on July 1.

After some procedural maneuvering and heated debate, the Senate gave final approval on an expansive gun bill about 30 minutes before midnight Friday. The 28-13 vote passed House Bill 824, which raises the age for legal gun possession to 21 and expands prohibitions on who cannot possess firearms. The vote may not have happened if Sen. Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore City) didn’t make a motion to reconsider a special order that would have postponed additional debate until Monday.

The Maryland Senate unanimously confirmed two of Gov. Wes Moore’s latest executive appointments Friday, days before the adjournment of the legislative session. Senators scheduled the candidates’ confirmation hearings and floor votes in between moving landmark legislation on gun control and setting up a regulated recreational cannabis market in the waning days of the 2023 General Assembly.

A bill that advocates and elected officials say would empower Baltimore to tackle its vacant housing crisis appeared stalled on Friday after the city raised concerns about the legislation. The bill would allow the city to overhaul its controversial tax sale system, an annual auction of homeowners’ property tax debt, which can leave residents owing thousands of dollars to investors or risk losing their homes.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Thursday evening confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in Annapolis: That he’s nominating Del. Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery) for a slot on the Maryland Public Service Commission. Barve, who has served in Annapolis since 1991 and been the chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee since 2015, will bring his expertise on climate and technology to an important if obscure regulatory body that will play an increasingly prominent role in the state’s efforts to combat climate change.

There’s a new push to encourage more healthy food options for residents in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The county council is considering a bill that would bring more options to the county and support businesses that offer more balanced meals. Prince George’s County Council Vice-Chair Wala Blegay introduced the bill and said it would provide free advertising and promotion for businesses who choose to participate in the program. That means 30% of a restaurant’s menu would need to be deemed healthy by the county’s dietitian.