Maryland Legislative WatchThe 2014 session is over and this post is for information purposes, only. SB 926 and HB 847, sponsored by Senator Raskin and Delegate Rosenberg, respectively, sets parameters for government drone use. While this bill does not ban government drones, it does set restrictions on their use. This bill, while not good, is better than
HB 418/SB 691, sponsored by Delegate Cardin and Senator Pinsky, respectively, propose to change the little used Maryland public campaign finance system. It’s a 22 page bill so there’s a lot that isn’t presented in this synopsis. Some of the key points: Adds House and Senate candidates to list of offices eligible (currently only Governor/Lt.
HB 443/SB 589, sponsored by Delegate Luedtke and Senator Jones-Rodwell, proposes to raise the taxes on tobacco by 50% for manufactured cigarettes and 316% for other tobacco products. The House bill has over 50 co-sponsors. The bill’s title is, “Tobacco Taxes - Healthy Maryland Initiative”. For fiscal years 2016 and beyond, the budget is to
HB 295/SB 331, sponsored by Delegate Busch and Senator Miller, respectively, propose to raise the minimum wage to certain dollar amounts on certain dates and tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index, making the increases automatic after July 1, 2017. (C) (1) The STATE MINIMUM WAGE RATE IS: (I) FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING
HB 289, sponsored by Delegate Carr, addresses, “authorized” uses for automated license plate readers (ALPRs). Non-government persons are banned from using ALPRs and law enforcement agencies are given broad, “authority” to use the ALPR system to: (2) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY USE AN AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION PLATE READER SYSTEM TO: (I) PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY; (II)