laws and legislation

• News

Man gets life sentence in shooting of Maryland ice cream truck driver

A Frederick man has been sentenced to life without parole for fatally shooting an ice cream truck driver as children waited in line.

• Opinion

Privacy and the police

Think only those who break the law need to fear police surveillance? Think again.

• Opinion

More gun carnage

Baltimore, Chicago and other cities are a case study on the limits of local gun control, not its perceived failure

• Politics

State lawmakers, ACLU consider legislation to regulate police surveillance

State lawmakers and civil liberties advocates are considering legislation that would regulate police surveillance programs — and require public disclosure — after the Baltimore Police Department ran a secret aerial surveillance program over the city for months.

• News

Korryn Gaines was passionate about beliefs, anticipated violent confrontation with police

Korryn Gaines lived and died on social media. The many photos and videos that the Randallstown woman posted on Instagram and Facebook show a confident, happy young woman bursting with pride in her young children, her family and her sense of fashion.

• Business

Maryland to receive $2.9 million in Cephalon settlement

The multi-state lawsuit alleged that Cephalon blocked cheaper generic versions of its wakeness drug, forcing consumers to pay higher prices.

By Sarah Gantz

Aug 4, 2016

• Harford

Harford legislators wrap productive 2016 session in Annapolis

The Harford County legislative delegation ended the 2016 General Assembly session Monday with the passage of a flurry of bills that will show the county and state's continued support for two slain Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies, allow alcohol to be served in local movie theaters and allow Harford Community College to obtain a license for alcohol sales during community events on campus.

By David Anderson

Apr 14, 2016

• Politics

Maryland General Assembly session ends with criminal justice reforms, no income tax breaks

The General Assembly agreed Monday to sweeping changes in Maryland's criminal justice policies, but failed to reach a deal that would have given residents their first major income tax break in nearly two decades.

• Harford

Harford liquor board, lawyers discuss licensing rules, more business friendly relationships

Six lawyers who make regular appearances before the Harford County Liquor Control Board say changes are needed in the board's resident licensee rules, paperwork and personal appearance requirements and in the current setback laws regarding licensed alcoholic beverage establishments and schools.

By David Anderson

Oct 8, 2015

• Maryland

Hager named as legislative liaison

Carroll County will soon have another voice in Annapolis fighting for its residents' concerns by assisting legislators in developing and reviewing bills that will potentially benefit or harm its residents.

• Opinion

Going gentle into that good night in Md.

Despite widespread support in the General Assembly, the "Death with Dignity" bill, which would permit a doctor to prescribe life-ending drugs to certain terminally ill patients, was not voted upon in its recent session. Instead, it was remanded to "summer study." There are some who believe that summer study is where bills go to die. In the case of "Death with Dignity," however, I believe that respectful consideration of the suggestions of thoughtful but uncommitted legislators will produce even

• Maryland

Hogan vetoes marijuana decriminalization bill

Possession of marijuana paraphernalia as well as smoking in public or while driving will remain criminal offenses for another year after Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed a decriminalization bill that passed the General Assembly.

• Baltimore County

Baltimore County Council OKs more time for door-to-door selling

Door-to-door sales representatives will have a little more time to knock on doors after the Baltimore County Council narrowly approved changes to the county's "hucksters and peddlers" law on Thursday.

By Pamela Wood

May 21, 2015

• Opinion

Maryland embraces solar power

Changes to state law should boost how much energy Maryland derives from the sun

• Laws and Legislation

Obama signs Cardin's 'Blue alert' bill to protect police officers

President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed legislation drafted by Sen. Ben Cardin to create a nationwide alert system to help capture anyone who harms a police officer or makes a credible threat to do so.

By John Fritze

May 19, 2015

• Horse Racing

Moving Preakness would require change in state law, officials say

As city officials pledged a fight to keep the Preakness in Baltimore, others pointed out Monday that state law prohibits the horse race from being moved to another track in Maryland.

By Pamela Wood

May 18, 2015

• Opinion

Hotel booking tax will hurt Md. travel agents

Hotel booking tax will hurt Md. travel agents

• Opinion

State 'smog regulations' ensure bad air quality

We ask the Gov. Larry Hogan to do the right thing and quickly issue strong nitrogen oxide regulations that bring Maryland's power plants up to snuff. Baltimore should benefit from the Clean Air Act just like the rest of the country. Instead, we continue to breathe dangerously polluted air with no fix in sight.

• Opinion

Making Howard healthy

Healthy Howard

• Maryland

Carroll getting casino nights thanks to new law

When the Carroll County Gaming Bill kicks in Oct. 1, Carroll nonprofits will be able to hold up to four gaming nights per year, featuring casino style games as fundraisers.

• Maryland

New law extends rights to correctional deputies in complaint process

The Maryland General Assembly unanimously approved a bill requested by Sheriff Jim DeWees and Warden George Hardinger to extend due process rights to deputies working at the Carroll County Detention Center and Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into law Tuesday.

• Opinion

Intelligence reform bill is important to safeguarding our security and privacy

The USA Freedom Act will protect our security and privacy.

• Politics

Hostage rescue bill advances as part of Defense Department funding law

Rep. John Delaney's proposal to appoint a senior official with responsibility for rescuing Americans captured by terrorists overseas will move forward as part of a Defense Department funding measure.

By Ian Duncan

May 14, 2015

• Opinion

Taming 'Big Brother'

The Senate has an opportunity to rein in the NSA's secret spying program

• Maryland

Gov. Hogan signs police accountability bills into law

Gov. Larry Hogan signed legislation Tuesday aimed at increasing police accountability during a ceremony that had been delayed because of unrest in Baltimore after the death of a man injured while in police custody.

• Politics

Hogan signs body camera bill, among 350 others

Gov. Larry Hogan signed a body camera bill Tuesday that supporters say would pave the way for equipping cops across the state with video equipment.

By Erin Cox

May 12, 2015

• Immigration

White House seeking support for deportations

As the Obama administration prepares to change the way it enforces immigration laws, top officials have been conducting weeks of shuttle diplomacy, touring the country to try to re-enlist police chiefs and mayors in the cause of deporting people convicted of crimes.

• Opinion

Protect student privacy

Privacy bill offers a good first step in protecting Maryland students

• Maryland

Master plan bill brings more accountability [Editorial]

Hogan should approve master plan changes

• Maryland

Commissioners to hold gaming bill signing ceremony

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners will be hosting a ceremonial gaming bill signing event Tuesday, May 12, to show its appreciation for the eight years of effort by the county's legislators to get the bill passed.

• Opinion

Making healthier choices in Howard

A new Howard County proposal strikes a balance between promoting health and choice.

• Opinion

Governor should veto flawed student privacy bill

Among the bills awaiting action from Gov. Larry Hogan's desk is House Bill 298, a proposal that does more harm than good when it comes to keeping kids' private and personal information out of the hands of technology companies. Governor Hogan should veto the bill.

• Politics

Lawmaker introduces hostage legislation after Maryland man is killed in drone strike

U.S. Rep John Delaney last week introduced legislation that he hopes would enable the government to better coordinate its efforts to rescue American's captured by terrorists overseas.

By Ian Duncan

May 5, 2015

• Maryland

Support bill to end horse slaughter [Letter]

• Opinion

Reining in the surveillance state

Congress must amend the U.S. Patriot Act to protect Americans' privacy rights

• Maryland

Getting into the act

Older Americans Month, which has "Getting into the Act" as theme for 2015, will be observed by Carroll County Bureau of Aging & Disabilities

• Opinion

Maryland's leaders failed to act promptly

Hogan and Rawlings-Blake did not respond to riots until too late

• Opinion

Unanswered questions about trade and human rights

This month, the trade writing committees of the Congress announced new legislation designed to advance human rights through trade. But the bill does not say what human rights the Congress includes, how policymakers will use free trade agreements to advance human rights, or explain how the U.S. will assess whether these human rights are being adequately respected.

• Opinion

Common-sense legislation on undocumented workers

Undocumented workers

• Opinion

Even presidents must obey the law

Even presidents must obey the laws

• Opinion

Trade bill benefits Israel, not the U.S.

Trade bill would benefit Israel, not the U.S.

• Opinion

Cardin amendment hurts two-state solution

Maryland senator should withdraw proposal to thwart trade boycotts of Israel

• Opinion

Giving former offenders a stake in democracy

With a bill to restore voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals on his desk awaiting a signature, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has a chance to do the right thing — and to follow in the footsteps of another Republican governor from a neighboring state.

• Opinion

Rate increases lead to delinquent water bills

Why so many delinquent water bills in the city? Because water costs three times as much as in the county.

• Maryland

Rethink changes to pot law [Editorial]

• Maryland

City Council considers bill to require signs explaining restaurant closures

A city councilman revived an effort Monday to give the public access to more information about health inspections at Baltimore's nearly 5,000 restaurants and eateries.

By Yvonne Wenger

Apr 20, 2015

• Opinion

Legislation only hurts charter schools

Proposal originally intended to boost charter schools in Maryland will only make matters worse

• Opinion

Bridging the gap between hopelessness and hope

The questions of overcoming the effects of poverty are still very much with us today, 50 years after Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help end the economic achievement gap.

• Maryland

Noah Feldman: Oversight bill doesn't tip balance

• Maryland

Md. marijuana laws may lead to battle over probable cause

Recently-passed legislation decriminalizing marijuana paraphernalia as well as smoking in public may set the stage for a Fourth Amendment probable cause battle if Gov. Larry Hogan signs it into law.