Spending and taxes are expected to dominate an otherwise unpredictable General Assembly session, which begins Wednesday. Here are some of the issues on the table:
Budget
Gov.-elect Larry Hogan campaigned almost exclusively on economic issues, promising to curb state spending, roll back taxes and improve Maryland's business climate. When the Republican takes office Jan. 21, he'll face a $750 million budget shortfall and has cautioned residents to prepare for painful cuts. Many in Annapolis expect local governments to get less cash, higher education to see cuts that might cause tuition to rise, and key projects such as the Red Line to be postponed if not scrapped. Last week, Hogan said his budget would include some type of tax cut but did not elaborate.
Education
Maryland saw record funding for education under the O'Malley administration, and education advocates are girding for a fight as Hogan looks to trim spending. Colleges have received big subsidies over the past eight years to keep tuition down, and some believe they could be vulnerable to cuts. For K-12 education, legislative leaders expect debate on whether to continue using a geographic cost-of-education formula that sends extra money to some districts, including Baltimore. Hogan has said he plans to push changes to promote charter schools.
Health
A spike in deaths from heroin overdoses and rising crime linked to the drug prompted Hogan to promise action, though he has not offered specifics. Legislative leaders expect debate on how to best combat the epidemic. Among the options: tougher penalties for dealers, more resources for police and better treatment for addicts. Health reform advocates hope to continue expanding access to insurance. The state medical society says cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates could make it hard for low-income patients to find doctors.
Environment
Proponents hope to move forward with fracking in Western Maryland, while critics still want a ban on such natural gas drilling. Hogan has said he will seek to repeal the stormwater fee, or "rain tax," which raises money to keep polluted stormwater out of the bay, but key Democrats will fight to keep the fee. New regulations designed to curb pollution from chicken manure spread on fields have become controversial, pitting environmentalists against farmers who find the rules too costly.
Transportation
Maryland raised its gas tax in 2013, and legislative leaders expect a fight over how to spend the new revenue. Hogan has stressed the need to improve roads and bridges, while business groups and others favor mass transit projects already in the pipeline. Hogan has not said whether he'll continue to fund the Red Line in Baltimore or the Purple Line in the Washington suburbs.
Criminal justice
Police accountability is expected to be a major issue in the session. Debate is likely on whether to weaken the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, which police defend as necessary and Baltimore MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blake says makes it hard to discipline officers. State funding for police body cameras could emerge as another area of debate. Key lawmakers plan to revisit last year's law that decriminalized marijuana but did not legalize possession of marijuana pipes and other paraphernalia.