The 2018 legislative session in Annapolis has ended, and lawmakers worked all the way up until midnight to get bills passed, including crime-reduction initiatives for Baltimore.
There was some concern that the crime reduction bill wouldn't get passed in time because the House cut up the Senate's comprehensive bill this weekend making amendments, and dividing it into separate bills.
Governor Hogan says they did pass tougher sentences for repeat offenders, drug dealers, and people who use guns to commit crimes. Baltimore's safe street program has expanded from four sites to ten and lawmakers also passed a number of school safety initiatives.
The 'Lock Box Bill', which guarantees money from casinos goes toward education funds, will go before voters in November.
During his State of the State Address earlier this year, Hogan called on lawmakers to work together and get things done. He says he's very pleased with what was accomplished during the 90-day legislative session.
"We had the most aggressive package of our whole four years by far our most successful session, and I want to thank everyone for working with us to make it happen," said Hogan.
Hogan also touted the approval of the multi-billion dollar incentives package created to lure Amazon to Montgomery County and build its new headquarters there.
He will be signing more than 100 bills into law on Tuesday, one of several bill signings that will take place over the next couple of weeks.
