New Law

Maryland's highest court handed a victory to same-sex couples Friday in a ruling that the governor and other advocates hailed as an endorsement of administration policies recognizing gay marriages performed in other states. "To treat families differently under the law because they happen to be led by gay or lesbian couples is not right or just," Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement. "Today's decision is another step forward in our efforts to ensure that every child is protected equally under the law. " However, the ruling, in a case over whether Maryland courts could grant divorces to same-sex spouses, met with skepticism from groups fighting a recently passed state law legalizing gay nuptials.

Maryland public schools will all soon be keeping emergency supplies of epinephrine on hand for students who may have an allergic reaction, and patient advocates are applauding the new law . “Receiving a dose of epinephrine in the critical minutes following exposure to a food allergen can mean the difference between life and death,” said Susan Sweitzer, executive director of the Maryland-DC Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of...

Maryland legislators moved Friday to toughen the state's sex offender laws with a package of changes that includes a truth-in-sentencing provision for the most violent and repeat offenders, longer supervision after prison and an expansion of the state's public registry. The House Judiciary Committee, which handles crime legislation, unanimously approved seven bills, wrapping into them a dozen more. The flood of ideas - lawmakers introduced more than 75 bills addressing sex offenses - came after the killing in December of an 11-year-old girl on the Eastern Shore.

In what parents and health organizations called a life-saving measure, Gov. Martin O' Malley signed into a law Tuesday a bill that will require all Maryland schools to maintain an emergency supply of epinephrine in order to respond to a growing trend of severe allergic reactions among school-aged children.  “Receiving a dose of epinephrine in the critical minutes following exposure to a food allergen can mean the difference between life and...

Maryland public schools will all soon be keeping emergency supplies of epinephrine on hand for students who may have an allergic reaction, and patient advocates are applauding the new law . “Receiving a dose of epinephrine in the critical minutes following exposure to a food allergen can mean the difference between life and death,” said Susan Sweitzer, executive director of the Maryland-DC Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of...

A 9-year-old Edgewater girl who inspired a new federal law was honored by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony Friday for Americans with disabilities. Rosa Marcellino, who has Down syndrome, is the namesake of a new law that removes the words "mentally retarded" from most federal health, education and labor statutes. Replacing that terminology in the federal code from now on will be the phrase "intellectual disability. " "It's so inspiring to have her here," Obama said, looking over at Rosa, who had a first-row seat at the East Room event.

The Maryland General Assembly passed a measure today that changes unemployment benefits so that the state can tap into nearly $127 million in federal stimulus money. The money will arrive as soon as Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who pushed for the changes, signs the bill into law. It is emergency legislation, so that could happen quickly. This morning, the House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a plan the Senate had unanimously signed off on earlier this month. Lawmakers increased the number of people who can tap into benefits by shifting the work period reviewed when calculating claims.

The thrill of potentially winning big bucks gets people to spend millions of dollars regularly on lottery tickets. Can this same concept excite Marylanders to become better savers? We'll find out. A new law that kicks in next month will allow banks and credit unions here to offer raffles with cash prizes as a way to promote savings. Michigan's credit unions launched a similar campaign a few years ago, and thousands of depositors have managed so far to save tens of millions of dollars.

Could crowdfunding work for entrepreneurs who need capital for their private startup and are willing to sell a stake in it to the masses? Congress seems to think so. Charities and artists successfully raise money for their causes via crowdfunding, a method of soliciting hundreds or thousands of small donations over the Internet. Could it work for entrepreneurs who need capital for their startup and are willing to sell a stake in it to the masses? Congress seems to think so. The bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups — or JOBS — Act loosens restrictions so business can more easily raise capital and, it's hoped, create jobs.

Stunned by the not-guilty verdicts this week in Florida's Casey Anthony murder case, state Senate Republican leader Nancy Jacobs wants Maryland parents who do not report the death of a child to be subject to felony charges. Jacobs said dozens of outraged constituents have contacted her and asked her to do something. She said she is drafting a bill to introduce in the next legislative session. She's now looking into criminalizing the failure of a parent, guardian or legal caretaker to inform authorities that a child has gone missing or has died — new crime categories that several local top prosecutors said could prove helpful to them.

Maryland's highest court handed a victory to same-sex couples Friday in a ruling that the governor and other advocates hailed as an endorsement of administration policies recognizing gay marriages performed in other states. "To treat families differently under the law because they happen to be led by gay or lesbian couples is not right or just," Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement. "Today's decision is another step forward in our efforts to ensure that every child is protected equally under the law. " However, the ruling, in a case over whether Maryland courts could grant divorces to same-sex spouses, met with skepticism from groups fighting a recently passed state law legalizing gay nuptials.

Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff says he accepted football tickets from a developer that were not reported on his annual financial disclosure form. The county's ethics law does not require elected officials to disclose whether they've accepted sports tickets as gifts, but five of the council's seven members — as well as County Executive Kevin Kamenetz — reported that they had done so last year. The county has continued to allow the practice, despite the fact that the state requires it to be banned.

The thrill of potentially winning big bucks gets people to spend millions of dollars regularly on lottery tickets. Can this same concept excite Marylanders to become better savers? We'll find out. A new law that kicks in next month will allow banks and credit unions here to offer raffles with cash prizes as a way to promote savings. Michigan's credit unions launched a similar campaign a few years ago, and thousands of depositors have managed so far to save tens of millions of dollars.

Penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana in Maryland — less than 10 grams — will drop in October, when a new law goes into effect reducing the maximum prison term to 90 days from one year and cutting the potential fine in half, to $500 from $1000. Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein backed the bill, which was signed into law Wednesday, as a way to reduce the number of cases clogging the city's circuit courts. "To continue making Baltimore safer, we must focus our limited resources on the strategic investigation and aggressive prosecution of violent offenders," Bernstein said in a statement.

The State Board of Education was right to reject Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold's attempt to evade the spirit of a law that prevents local jurisdictions from slacking off in their support for public schools. Protest though he might that he had done nothing wrong, Mr. Leopold's budget for the current fiscal year provided less money to support classroom education than in the year before, and had his effort been allowed to stand, that difference - amounting to about $12 million a year - would have been cemented into perpetuity.

They've robbed graves and construction sites, churches and schools. They've taken downspouts, statues from bases and ordinary pipes right out of the walls. Even a new state law designed to curb these scrap metal thieves seems to barely slow them down. Copper theft, striking many utilities and other businesses, has been common in Maryland since sharp price increases took the price of copper from about $1.25 per pound in January 2009 to about $4.50 per pound in May 2011. Copper theft reports routinely show up on the Nothern District's weekly crime logs, and were identified as a major problem in Wyman Park Dell and other Baltimore City parks last year, leading the Department of Recreation and Parks to take expensive steps to combat the thefts.

Hundreds of small businesses, scrambling to blunt the impact of a new health insurance reform law that takes effect July 1, are renewing policies early, signing with different insurers or finding other ways to avoid the law's changes.The actions could mean up to a year of insurance at the same price for companies that otherwise are expecting significantly higher premiums under the new law. Some tactics would also allow brokers to lock in customers who might drop their insurance when confronted with the more expensive policies.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The morning after North Carolina's statewide primary elections, lame-duck Gov. James Hunt sat in his office and reflected on what is hoped will be a new era of cleaner politics in a state known for accentuating the negative. For the first time, the voters had just chosen the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and lower offices under a new law requiring candidates to appear personally on any television ad mentioning an opponent by name, to identify themselves and say they or their campaign paid for it. There were few surprises in a primary that, despite the law, had its share of negative commercials.

A grab bag of housing-related legislation passed in the Maryland General Assembly's recently completed session. Here are the highlights: Homestead credit penalties ( HB 1081 ): Authorizes local governments to hit people with bigger penalties if they are found to be receiving a Homestead Property Tax Credit (or credits) they don't qualify for and "willfully misrepresented facts" to get the break. The homestead credit caps big tax increases as a result of property appreciation, but it is only for primary residences.

Could crowdfunding work for entrepreneurs who need capital for their private startup and are willing to sell a stake in it to the masses? Congress seems to think so. Charities and artists successfully raise money for their causes via crowdfunding, a method of soliciting hundreds or thousands of small donations over the Internet. Could it work for entrepreneurs who need capital for their startup and are willing to sell a stake in it to the masses? Congress seems to think so. The bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups — or JOBS — Act loosens restrictions so business can more easily raise capital and, it's hoped, create jobs.