maryland general assembly

How people are reacting to Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s surprise announcement Tuesday that her office will no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases.

After several years of failure, proponents of legalizing medically assisted suicide in Maryland believe they’ve got a better chance of passage this year. Their legislation would allow doctors to prescribe drugs that a patient who has six months or less to live could take to kill themselves.

Making Maryland "foam free" and curbing the cost of prescriptions are among the priorities Democrats in the General Assembly say they've agreed in principle to push for this session. Under their proposals, Maryland could become the first state to ban polytyrene packaging, better known as Styrofoam.

Mayor Catherine Pugh is supporting legislation in the General Assembly to require about 50 Baltimore police commanders to live in the city. It would enable the mayor and City Council to require officials in the police department who are ranked captain or above to in live in Baltimore.

A year after fighting off a proposal to monitor air pollution levels around industrial-scale chicken houses on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the poultry industry has joined with state environmental regulators to study whether the farms are polluting the air.

Concerned about the effects of a recently ended partial federal government shutdown, Maryland lawmakers are considering ways to cope should politicians force another closure. Unemployment benefits for nonessential employees, pay for contract workers and help with utility bills are on the table.

Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch is starting a work group to explore causes of poverty in the state and potential solutions. Members will investigate issues such as employment, housing, food security, transportation and healthcare.

Let school systems be school systems: Time to stop forcing a post-Labor Day start on local boards of education.

Count Harford County executive among the fans of a state-sanctioned board regulating prescription drug prices in Maryland.

All the talk of Gov. Larry Hogan as a possible primary challenger to President Donald Trump is great for him politically. But it might not be so great for Maryland.

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has already amassed a $1 million campaign fund, much of it raised over just three days this month. That puts up a barrier for potential challengers to her re-election to overcome, along with the power of incumbency.

Despite Gov. Larry Hogan's assurance that his state budget proposal is structurally balanced, Democratic leaders in the General Assembly say they could be forced to cut it after a non-partisan analysis found it is not.

The president of the Baltimore Development Corp. says an overhaul of Pimlico Race Course would likely require an investment of at least $125 million for infrastructure by city taxpayers — but could spur $700 million in additional development.

The Sun's opinions on the Second Amendment are ill-informed and misguided.

A battle is shaping up in Annapolis over whether — and by how much — to increase Maryland’s minimum wage. Advocates want a bill passed that will raise it to $15 for everyone. Opponents, including groups representing small businesses, hope to block an increase — or at least soften its impact.

Johns Hopkins University is buying the building in Washington, D.C., that houses the Newseum. The university plans to consolidate its programs in D.C. and aims to have a stronger influence on policymakers.

State Del. Talmadge Branch has submitted legislation to give Baltimore control of its police department — a change City Council members have been seeking for years. Branch says he sees no reason why the city is only Maryland jurisdiction with a police department that's technically a state agency.

The delegation of Carroll County's lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly met Thursday to discuss and vote on locally focused legislation. The delegation voted to support bills that would seek state money for local projects, adjust local liquor laws and adjust some gaming and gambling rules.

A recent executive order signed by Gov. Larry Hogan and Attorney General Brian Frosh that denies government contracts to businesses that boycott Israel only applies to procurement contracts.

The federal judge overseeing the Baltimore police consent decree on Thursday called for the state to contribute money towards a new city police training facility, and also disputed recent comments by the governor that reforms and crime reduction can’t occur simultaneously.

State Del. Andrew Cassilly writes in a guest column that the Harford County delegation works together in a bipartisan manner and promotes Gov. Larry Hogan's call to work across party lines.

Marylanders’ phone fees could increase to pay for major upgrades to the state’s 911 system under a proposal before the General Assembly.

Lawmakers need to take action by creating criminal penalties to make sure predators don't target lead victims with quick payments.

A recent letter to the editor got some facts wrong about the Chesapeake Bay.

The Baltimore City Council is already looking past Mayor Pugh's nominee to run the police department and looking to change the process before the next vacancy. We're not sure there's a legislative solution.

Luke Broadwater and Mileah Kromer discuss the appeals for the governor to run for president and other Maryland government topics in episode 3 of their podcast series.

The board of Baltimore City schools voted unanimously to oppose a measure that would have allowed school police officers to carry weapons during the day.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire ex-mayor of New York and benefactor of Johns Hopkins University, says it’s “ridiculous” that the institution doesn’t have an armed police force. Bloomberg spoke to reporters after closed-door meetings at the State House in Annapolis with Democratic lawmakers.

Former Maryland congressman and basketball star Tom McMillen is urging Gov. Larry Hogan and legislative leaders “to take all necessary steps” to avoid a college athletics betting scandal if the state legalizes betting on football, basketball and other sports.

Lawmakers talk a good game about restoring the public’s faith and confidence in the Baltimore Police Department . If they were serious about it, however, they would sponsor a local bill this session lifting the shroud of secrecy under state law that protects the disciplinary records of the BPD.

If a well-drafted charter is proposed that provides a clear separation of powers with built-in checks and balances, then I will support it. If not, I will advocate against it. The idea of charter should not be feared, but it should certainly receive the attention of anyone who calls Carroll home.

A Hampstead woman writes about her recent positive experience at Baugher's Restaurant; State Senator Justin Ready writes about what he and fellow legislators are working on this year in Annapolis during the legislative session.

Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, a former Republican member of the House of Delegates, will serve as Maryland's Secretary of Natural Resources.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets around City Hall in Baltimore for a march that was as much about celebrating women’s recent political and social gains as it was a protest of the policies of President Donald Trump's administratiion.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has released his first budget of his second term — a $46.6 billion spending plan that would boost money for public education and give raises to all state employees.

The Department of Legislative Services compiles a weekly “protocol calendar” of social events that lobbyists host for legislators.

Maryland's state legislators face a busy protocol calendar of social events hosted by lobbyists and interest groups eager to bend their ears about their pet issues.

This is not the first time folks in Carroll County have discussed changing our form of government. On Jan. 19, 1837 our county was formed to facilitate local citizens having local control over our destiny and quality of life.

The independent monitoring team overseeing Baltimore’s consent decree is calling for an internal affairs investigation into the Gun Trace Task Force scandal, including investigating officers implicated in the case who have not been charged with a crime.

Baltimore County can't afford to go full NIMBY on vital solar farms.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is pledging to increase funding for public education in Maryland and give all state employees a raise. The governor says his $46.6 billion budget proposal will include money for a 3 percent raise for state workers,

A monitor overseeing reforms of the Baltimore Police Department says the dysfunction within the agency is so deep and widespread that it will take years longer than anticipated to root it out. Kenneth Thompson testified before the House of Delegates' judiciary committee in Annapolis.

Each year the Maryland State Legislature invites high school students throughout the state to serve as pages on the floor of the House of Delegates and Senate.

Dels. Lauren Arikan and Steve Johnson, and Sen. Jason Gallion, all freshmen legislators representing Harford County, have completed their first week in the Maryland General Assembly. They shared their thoughts on Gov. Larry Hogan's inauguration, the atmosphere in Annapolis and proposed legislation.

The siren's song of sports gambling must be resisted while the pros and cons are fully evaluated.

A sports betting bill in Maryland could move faster than expected and without ballot referendum.

The Carroll County delegation will hold their annual public hearing on proposed county legislation at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will take place in the Reagan Room of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster, and residents are encouraged to attend to hear the presentations.

The first public hearing on the Emergency Commission on Sixth Congressional District Gerrymandering, tasked with redrawing the boundary of Maryland's congressional District 6, found unconstitutional, was held in Frederick on Monday.

Maryland’s judiciary fielded 302 requests to remove firearms from individuals over the first three months the state’s new “red flag” gun safety law went into effect — including five cases involving threats against schools. Four concerned what one sheriff called "significant threats" to schools.

Gov. Larry Hogan doesn't need to lead the anti-Trumpers or set himself up for a presidential bid in 2020. He just needs to look out for his constituents in a calm, rational way. That's as anti-Trump as it gets.