ANNAPOLIS, Md (WMAR) — All eyes are on Annapolis today for the last day of the legislative session. Among the things to watch for: a gas tax relief extension and the potential passage of emergency crime bills.
This session had an historic amount of money available to lawmakers. With more than a $7 billion excess in the state budget, lawmakers were able to accomplish a lot.
The climate change bill made it through, that should reduce greenhouse gasses in Maryland. Ghost guns, ones you build as a kit at home, were made illegal.
Governor Larry Hogan put forth an Ambitious Crime Bill, and after adjustments to the bill, it was passed.
"We passed a Criminal Justice Plan that is the right way to approach in reducing violence. It's the entire continuum. The entire spectrum," Senate President Bill Ferguson said.
Also, to give drivers a break from rising gas prices, lawmakers passed a 30-day tax holiday in March. It saved drivers 36-cents per gallon at the pump, but it is set to expire on Saturday, unless they find a last-minute solution.
A Republican delegate’s amendment to extend the relief by another 45 days failed to pass on Thursday.
Some Democratic lawmakers worry extending it would hurt the state’s transportation fund, which is used to fix roads and bridges.
“I think they need to reconsider the decisions they're making, and also reconsider the effect on families, you know, the ordinary citizens. That's exactly what I think in kind words,” said Baltimorean Evelyn Cavanaugh.
Some wonder if Gov. Hogan will step in to extend the holiday, though he has said he’d like the federal government to offer its own tax break.
What Hogan has been very vocal about is two emergency crime bills that he said would help get shooters and murderers off the streets by increasing accountability and penalties.
The Violent Firearms Offender Act, which has failed before, would toughen penalties for people caught with illegal firearms.
The Judicial Transparency Act would require a state commission to track and publish information on sentences handed down for violent crimes.
Hogan is challenging lawmakers to at least hold votes on these bills so constituents, including crime survivors and victims’ families, can see where the politicians stand.
Gov. Hogan has felt this violent crime bill may have been watered down. He thought that may not have been a good strategy as elections are on the horizon.
"They are going to have to answer to the 90% of the voters who support our bill and explaining why that didn't get done," Hogan said.
Eighty-seven people have been murdered in Baltimore City this year.
It includes a 39-year-old who was shot several times Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Northern Parkway and Narcissus Avenue.
With the excess in the state budget, Gov. Hogan was able to get his retirement tax break through which he had failed in previous years.
Legislators passed a bill that would add more time for family leave here in Maryland.
Lawmakers and Gov. Hogan were both happy with another difficult session in the middle of a pandemic.
"We're very pleased with the session generally. I think it was your best session yet after eight years," Gov. Hogan said. "We were successful in accomplishing almost everything we wanted to accomplish."
As this session wraps up, many lawmakers head home to campaign for this is an election year.
With an election year and some lawmakers deciding to retire, there will be a different lineup next year.
