A bill that would require students to attend public school in Maryland until age 17, beginning in 2010, won preliminary approval in the state Senate yesterday, though the proposal's fate remains uncertain.
The Senate, which is expected to take a final vote next week, amended the bill to ensure that it would not take effect unless the governor provides added funding to pay for it. The House of Delegates has not taken action on a similar measure.
The Maryland State Board of Education opposed the bill. Gov. Martin O'Malley has not reviewed the legislation, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
Laura Smitherman
Senate will not alter warming-bill change
The Senate refused yesterday to alter an amendment that environmentalists and the O'Malley administration say weakens a bill designed to reduce global-warming pollution.
On a vote of 22 to 24, senators rejected a new amendment offered by Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat and the bill's sponsor. Pinsky wanted to limit the impact of a previously adopted amendment to require the state Department of the Environment to get legislative approval each time it issues regulations to curb warming-producing pollution.
Environmentalists contend the amendment makes it easier for industries to lobby legislators to block rules aimed at them.
A final Senate vote on the bill, which calls for reducing global warming pollution 25 percent by 2020, was put off until Monday.
Timothy B. Wheeler
House OKs delay on detergent bill
Maryland lawmakers yesterday moved legislation to delay implementation of a statewide ban on dishwasher detergent containing phosphorus that seeps into the Chesapeake Bay, causing algae blooms and fish kills.
The House of Delegates approved the bill that would push back the ban's implementation by six months on a 109-25 vote, while the Senate gave preliminary approval to the legislation and is expected to take a final vote next week.
Companies including Procter & Gamble told lawmakers they could not make the original deadline of January 2010.
Laura Smitherman
Delegates approve bond legislation
The House of Delegates approved legislation yesterday that would reduce the size of bonds property owners are required to post when they appeal foreclosures.
The bill was inspired by the case of Columbia resident Kwaku Atta Poku, who lost his home to foreclosure even though he never missed a payment. He sued, but his case was dismissed because he did not post a bond.
The House voted 131-3 to approve the bill. A companion bill has not been filed in the Senate.
Laura Smitherman
