Politics

With a primary election scheduled for July 19, the boundary lines of Maryland’s eight congressional districts are in flux. A map adopted in December to account for population changes determined by the 2020 census was struck down by a judge on March 25 as too partisan. Now, the Democratic state lawmakers who approved it are waiting to see if a newer map — their attempted fix — will meet judicial muster. A hearing on the new map’s adequacy is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Maryland’s Senate on Thursday took a major step toward making “personal use” amounts of marijuana legal beginning in 2023. Lawmakers gave approval to two bills that would allow residents 21 and older to possess small amounts of marijuana — up to 1.5 ounces — beginning next year. Possession of between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces would be subject to a civil citation. Anyone caught with a greater amount would be subject to the state’s existing laws on possession with intent distribute, said Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery), vice chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Maryland lawmakers passed an omnibus climate change bill on Thursday designed to give the state some of the most aggressive environmental goals in the country — if the bill survives a veto threat from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. The sprawling legislation accelerates Maryland’s already ambitious environmental goals, seeking to cut emissions by 60 percent of 2006 levels by 2031, up from the current goal of 40 percent. It also spells out sweeping changes to get there.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner Michael Harrison joined state lawmakers and gun control advocates in calling on Gov. Larry Hogan to sign into law a ban on “ghost guns,” unserialized firearms that can be purchased as kits and assembled at home. A bill prohibiting people from purchasing, receiving, selling, offering to sell or transferring a “ghost gun” or “ghost gun” part on or after March 1, 2023 was passed in the House of Delegates on Tuesday by a vote of 92 to 41. The Senate passed it on March 16, 35-11.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has amended her annual finance report to indicate that her 84-year-old grandmother – and not her deceased grandfather – contributed to her campaign. The corrected report, submitted to the State Board of Elections, wipes from the public record a $500 check that was listed as coming from Prescott Thompson, who died in 2016, on November 30, 2021

Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. announced a $216 million plan on Wednesday that would boost funding for cancer treatment, prevention and research in Maryland. The investment, which uses a historic budget surplus to invest in projects prioritized by Hogan (R) and legislative leaders, was formally introduced as a supplemental budget amendment in the General Assembly.