Politics

Health care workers besides physicians could start performing abortions in Maryland and the procedure would be covered without cost by most insurance plans in the state under legislation passed by the General Assembly this week and is now headed to Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk. The Abortion Care Access Act received broad support from Maryland Democrats, who hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, and was passed over fervent objections from Republican lawmakers who oppose abortion on moral grounds.

While her son spent 891 days in Maryland juvenile detention over a stolen cell phone, his first encounter with the justice system, Keisha Hogan found her voice. Earlier this month — seven years after her son was released — she delivered an impassioned speech to state legislators asking them to support proposed legislation that would prevent other Maryland youth from being incarcerated under similar circumstances.

President Joe Biden announced a new COVID-19 government website Wednesday while urging Congress to approve billions in funding to keep the pandemic at bay. Speaking from the White House, Biden said that without a bipartisan agreement on new funding, the federal government will need to roll back or end programs meant to curb the spread of the virus.

The use of campaign funds for the legal defense of both Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and City Council President Nick Mosby did not violate state election law, according to a decision from the Maryland State Board of Elections. Jared DeMarinis, director of the candidacy and campaign finance division for the board, said he notified attorneys for both officials Monday of his decision. “The documentation was sufficient regarding the expenses in question,” DeMarinis told The Sun on Tuesday.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and leaders in the legislature have reached a $1.86 billion agreement for tax relief over five years for retirees, small businesses and low-income families, officials announced Monday. When combined with a recently enacted gas tax suspension, the governor’s office said this legislative session will deliver nearly $2 billion in tax relief. The Republican governor called the bipartisan deal “the largest tax cut package in state history with major and long-overdue relief for Maryland’s retirees.”

The Senate Finance Committee approved a measure Tuesday that would add Maryland to the growing list of states that have legalized small amounts of cannabis. The measure would take effect only if voters approve a related ballot question this fall. The bill would make it legal for people 21 and older to possess “personal use” amounts of marijuana and would allow households to cultivate up to two plants. It also would require the state to release some people who have been jailed for marijuana-related offenses and to expunge those convictions from their records.

The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that would expand access to abortion by ending a restriction that only physicians provide them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost. The Senate gave the measure final passage on a 28-15 vote. That sends the measure to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, whose office did not immediately comment on his position on the bill. The governor has said he personally opposes abortion, though he has called the issue settled law in the state.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman signed an agreement Tuesday with Glenn Burnie Landfill Solar to lease about 20 acres of landfill space on Dover Road in Glen Burnie where the business will install more than 10,000 solar panels. The agreement was unanimously approved by the county council last week. “It’s a good deal for the taxpayers, and it’s a great deal for the environment,” Pittman said at an event last week.