Politics

Three Frederick County lawmakers have signed on to a bill that would mandate Holocaust education in schools across Maryland. State Sen. Ben Kramer, D-Montgomery, is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 837, called the Educate to Stop the Hate Act. Democratic Sen. Karen Lewis Young, D-Frederick, as well as Republican Sens. Paul Corderman and Justin Ready, whose districts include parts of Frederick County, are among the bill’s seven co-sponsors.

One of Gov. Wes Moore’s nominees to serve on the state’s Public Service Commission has withdrawn following criticism. Moore nominated Juan Alvarado, a senior official at the American Gas Association to serve on the PSC on Feb. 17. He had previously worked on the commission staff. Alvarado was criticized by some Democratic senators and environmental groups for what they said might be his lack of commitment to Moore’s climate goals, which included a 100% clean energy by 2030.

A key component of Democratic Gov. Wes Moore’s push to accelerate the state’s minimum wage could face tough sledding in the legislature. For the first time in nearly a decade, Democrats control both the legislature and the executive branch. By and large, both branches appear to be rowing in the same direction on top issues. Below the surface, there are some points of disagreement.

As Maryland’s 23 counties and the city of Baltimore continue to work on state-mandated comprehensive police reforms, some of the state’s municipalities may be able to incorporate their own methods. Sen. Ron Watson (D-Prince George’s) and Del. Lesley Lopez (D-Montgomery) have identical legislation that would allow 88 of the state’s 157 municipalities with police forces to create their own accountability boards.

The federal criminal trial for ex-Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has been rescheduled for November. U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby, who is overseeing the case, ordered jury selection to begin on Oct. 31 and testimony in the trial to start two days later, on Nov. 2. The new date was the earliest that the schedules of the lawyers and judge aligned after Mosby’s entire entire defense team withdrew from the case last month.

Baltimore apartment buildings with repeat code violations would face more frequent city inspections under legislation introduced Monday by two city councilmen. The Strengthening Renters’ Safety Act, introduced by Democratic Councilmen Zeke Cohen and James Torrence, would create a “priority dwelling” list of buildings with more than 20 apartments and a history of poor conditions. Buildings on the list would be inspected twice a year by the Department of Housing and Community Development until conditions improve.