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Maryland lawmakers considered 2,275 bills and nine resolutions over the course of 90 days, ranging from minor tweaks to government programs to major policy changes that will increase the minimum wage, create a new legal marijuana industry, restrict gun rights and protect access to abortion.
Members of the Maryland General Assembly also passed a $63 billion budget that will guide state spending for the next year, and gave Gov. Wes Moore most — but not everything — he asked for.
As the dust settles on the annual lawmaking process, here are key measures that won approval and will be headed to the Democratic governor’s desk for consideration. He’ll have until May 30 to veto the bills, sign them into law or allow them to become law without his signature.
On Jan. 1, Maryland’s minimum wage will be $15 per hour, after lawmakers approved a revised proposal from the new Democratic governor. That’s an increase from the current minimum wage of $13.25 per hour for employers with at least 15 workers and $12.80 at smaller organizations.
The governor sought to have future increases take place automatically each year based on inflation, but lawmakers nixed that part of his proposal. Future minimum wage increases would continue to need a vote from the General Assembly.
The governor’s minimum wage bill...
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