For the first time, inauguration committees will be required to disclose their donors to the public under a bill passed Saturday by the Maryland General Assembly.
The committees that pay for the galas, ceremonies and festivities surrounding the inauguration of a new governor are currently not required to tell the public who paid for the parties. There are also no rules that spell out how those donations must be spent.
In the case of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, the only public disclosure made was a list of "gold" and "silver" sponsors to the event. Two of the silver sponsors said they paid $25,000 to help finance the party.
The legislation, introduced by Democrat Del. Bill Frick of Montgomery County, requires future inauguration committees to keep track of donors and limit expenditures to items directly related to the inauguration festivities.
The bill passed both chambers by veto-proof margins and is headed to Hogan's desk. The governor has not taken a public position on the bill.