Politics

As former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was heading out the door a few weeks ago, his administration attempted to push through changes to the state’s vehicle emissions inspection (VEIP) program — over the objections of environmentalists and a legislative panel that examines proposed state regulations. But now the new regulation — and an accompanying procurement process designed to execute the Hogan administration’s plan to scale back emissions inspections — has been put on hold. Although state agencies under Hogan had sought to limit the number of vehicles that required an emissions test, the decision by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the Department of the Environment to scotch the procurement and pause the implementation of the new regulation preserves the status quo for now: Vehicles that are 3 years old or older will continue to need $14 state emissions inspection every two years.

State Sen. Justin Ready of Carroll County has co-sponsored a bill that would establish fundamental parents’ rights, including the right to direct a child’s education. Senate Bill 566 states that a parent has “the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, care, and welfare of the parent’s child,” and prohibits the state from infringing on that right unless the state “can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence certain factors.” The Senate bill has been cross-filed with House Bill 666, sponsored by Frederick County Republican Del. April Miller. The House bill has a hearing Wednesday with the Judiciary Committee; the Senate bill will be presented March 15.

A former Baltimore County official was charged Thursday with stealing more than $140,000 from two political campaign accounts — one for a former county councilmember and the other, a slate controlled by a former county executive — while he served as their treasurer. William Christopher McCollum, 52, of Hampden in Baltimore, a political insider who once headed the so-called Baltimore County Ag Center, was charged with felony theft, embezzlement and perjury in a 21-count criminal information filed by the Maryland State Prosecutor’s office.

Legislation to repeal Maryland’s law requiring youthful offenders accused of heinous crimes to be automatically charged as adults drew support Thursday from youth advocates but scorn from prosecutors and a victims’ rights attorney. “It is truly the right policy for Maryland moving forward,” Sen. Jill P. Carter, D-Baltimore City and the bill’s chief sponsor, told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on which she sits. “All this bill does is treat children in the criminal justice system the same way we treat them in other areas of the law.”