Governor Larry Hogan signed an additional 103 bipartisan bills into law last week. Governor Hogan was joined by House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Pro Tem Melony Griffith, who was filling in for Senate President Bill Ferguson. The bill signing marked a historic first in Maryland, with two Black women filling the role of legislative presiding officers at a bill-signing.
In his press release, Governor Hogan thanked lawmakers from both parties for their hard work this past session.
“Today, we signed another 103 bipartisan bills into law, including measures to promote job creation, address violent crime, advance our Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, and protect our firefighters and first responders,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank the presiding officers and legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle for working with us to continue changing Maryland for the better.”
A series of noteworthy animal rights legislation were among the many bills signed into law:
- House Bill 22, from Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery) and Senate Bill 67, from Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery), which makes Maryland the second state in the nation to ban the practice of declawing cats.
- HB 1062, from Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery), which establishes procedures for humane societies or law enforcement agencies to recover the costs of caring for animals seized from cruelty or severe neglect.
- SB 44, from Sen. Christopher R. West (R-Baltimore County) and HB 16, by Del. Mary Lehman (D-Prince George’s), which prevents people from leaving a dog outside and unattended for longer than 30 minutes without access to shelter during extreme weather conditions. It provides for civil penalties for any offenses.
- SB 381, from Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery) and HB 52, from Del. Sara Love (D-Montgomery), which prohibits the sale of parts and pieces from 15 endangered and imperiled species of wildlife. That legislation stems from a 2021 study from the Humane Society that found items made from ivory were found for sale at 20 stores in Maryland. A dozen other states have similar legislation. –Maryland Matters
In addition to animal rights legislation, many of the bills signed were designed to boost the economy and workforce, fight crime, protect the environment, and improve public and mental health. Governor Hogan highlighted a few of these important measures in his opening remarks.
- More Jobs For Marylanders Act, to extend the successful More Jobs For Marylanders program, which provides tax incentives to new and existing manufacturers that locate or expand in Maryland.
- Violent crime initiatives, including the Judicial Transparency Act, which—for the first time—will require information to be published on the sentences that are handed down by judges for violent crimes. Also today, the governor enacted measures to strengthen prosecutions of gun crimes, and expand joint warrant apprehension operations with Baltimore City.
- Conservation Finance Act, which makes Maryland the first state to enact legislation that leverages private capital to advance climate, conservation, and water quality goals.
- George “Walter” Taylor Act, to protect firefighters and first responders from toxic chemicals, named in honor of a veteran firefighter who died last year from occupational cancers linked to PFAS exposure.
There is expected to be at least two more bill signings this spring. The two tentative upcoming bill signings are to be held on May 12th at 2:00 p.m. and May 16th at 1:00 p.m. Track upcoming bill signings here.
If Governor Hogan does not sign or veto the rest of the bills that passed during the 90-day session by late May, the bills will go into law without his signature. Governor Hogan has already announced a series of bills that will become law without his signature.
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