Politics

House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) has tapped delegates from the same legislative district to immediately take over two key House committees. In the waning moments of the General Assembly session late Monday night, Jones read through an order that she was appointing Del. Benjamin S. Barnes (D) chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D) chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Both represent District 21, which is anchored in Prince George’s County and includes a piece of Anne Arundel County.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a measure Tuesday that would make up to $400 million in bonds available for development around FedEx Field in the suburbs of the nation’s capital where the NFL’s Washington Commanders play, whether the team stays there or not. The governor also signed a separate bill that increases bond authorization for both Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles, and M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens. The measure allows borrowing of up to $600 million for each stadium, up from a current cap of $235 million.

The field running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, includes 10 Republicans and one Democrat.  Rep. Andy Harris faces the redrawing of his 1st District, much the sticking point as the state’s lone Republican congressman faces three Democrats.  The Court of Appeals, while weighing in on the new Maryland Congressional Map, had already had delayed the state’s primary for all elections from June 28 to July 19. Other important dates: Mail-in ballot for the primary election must be received by July 12; and by Nov. 1 for the general election.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced Tuesday that she is running for reelection, setting up a rematch of the 2018 Democratic primary under the backdrop of her federal indictment. Mosby’s campaign unveiled her candidacy with a video in which she notes the ups and downs Baltimore has experienced over her current term and lauds residents’ “unwavering resilience.”

A Baltimore County councilwoman violated the county charter when she briefly moved out of her district in 2021, but there’s no legal precedent for making her leave office, the county attorney has concluded. The legal opinion by County Attorney James Benjamin found that while Councilwoman Cathy Bevins’ move was a violation of the charter, it is “unclear that the Charter requires Councilwoman Bevins to immediately vacate” her seat.

Baltimore’s police budget would increase by $5 million under a proposal from Mayor Brandon Scott unveiled Monday that calls for using 35 civilian investigators for police work and adding other staff to assist with an anti-violence initiative. The $4 billion proposed spending plan, a small decrease in overall spending over the previous year, would hold the line on taxes despite increases to police spending and a $65 million increase in education spending mandated by the state. About $742 million would be spent on capital projects in addition to $3.2 billion in general fund spending.

The Democratic supermajorities in Annapolis entered this year’s General Assembly session with an agenda of issues to please core blocs of voters they will depend on in statewide elections later this year: Protecting abortion rights, fighting climate change, helping workers, legalizing recreational marijuana. They ended 90 days of lawmaking late Monday having checked those boxes. Bills are set to become law that will expand abortion access, curtail the use of fossil fuels, create a paid family leave program for most workers and send marijuana legalization to voters to decide.

A bill banning seclusion in Maryland public schools will become law without Gov. Larry Hogan’s signature, he announced Friday. House Bill 1255 will take effect July 1. It will place strict limits on the use of seclusion in nonpublic schools and institute more stringent requirements on how all districts track and report instances of physical restraint.