Posted on 04/09/19
| News Source: WBAL
The Maryland General Assembly adjourned their regular session on Monday after mourning the passing of House Speaker Michael Busch.
The session officially ended following a moment of silence for Speaker Busch.
At the beginning of the session, the primary topics to be discussed were raising Maryland's minimum wage to $15.00 an hour, raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21, banning foam packaging for food, and possibly expanding a child care tax credit. Maryland lawmakers overrode Gov. Hogan's veto of the minimum wage bill, and he is still contemplating the other three topics.
Many bills passed the Maryland General Assembly last night, specifically two bills that were Speaker Busch's top priorities — establishing five permanent oyster sanctuaries and replacing the University of Maryland Medical System's board of directors.
The Senate killed a bill that would fund further construction at Laurel Park. The bill was viewed as a potential threat to keeping the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
Despite much protest and debate, lawmakers approved Johns Hopkins University to create an armed police force.
The Senate defeated the bill that would establish the "End of Life Options Act" with a tie vote. The rulings that would have allowed more survivors of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits failed as well.
The session ended around 11:30 p.m. when the senators and delegates gathered to remember the life and career of Speaker Busch. Many of the lawmakers spoke on Busch's behalf, including Gov. Larry Hogan.