ANNAPOLIS, Md. — At midnight, the 2019 General Assembly ended without the usual celebration.
Instead, lawmakers chose to pay tribute to House Speaker Michael Busch, who died Sunday, one day before the last day of the session.
They ended the session by sharing words and memories of Busch, who was the longest serving house speaker in Maryland’s history. Before that, there was still much work to be done as lawmakers crammed to get as many bills passed as possible.
RELATED: 2019 legislative session ends in mourning with the death of Speaker Michael Busch
Among the bills that passed included the clean energy jobs act, with a goal to have Maryland using 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
READ MORE: Maryland General Assembly passes Clean Energy Jobs Act
Laura and Reid’s bill, named after the pregnant teacher in Howard County who was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend. The bill will add an enhanced penalty for killing an unborn child.
The oyster bill passed with an override of Governor Hogan’s veto to permanently protect five oyster sanctuaries in the bay.
The University of Maryland Medical System bill that would ban board members from making business deals with the University of Maryland Medical System.
The bills that did not pass include extending the statute of limitations for sex abuse cases involving minors.
Also, none of the bills involving Pimlico and the future of Preakness passed. Baltimore City delegates are confident they can get the investment funds necessary to keep the Preakness in Baltimore.
"We shave a state law on the books that requires the Preakness stakes to be run in Baltimore unless there is an emergency. I know that Stronach seems to be trying to create an emergency by underinvesting in Pimlico but we can’t let that happen. We are going to do everything we can to make sure that Pimlico, the stadium and the area around it, is redeveloped so we can continue holding the Preakness Stakes there for the long term." said Baltimore City Delegate Brooke Lierman.
The governor has until May 28 to sign or veto the hundreds of bills that did pass.
Any bill that’s not signed after that day automatically becomes law.
