The House and Senate both gave unanimous approval to bills requiring police training for "elopement" -- when someone with autism or dementia wanders way -- two pieces of a multipronged package of bills working steadily through the legislature. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/21/e...

Sen. Ron Watson walked away from a Prince George’s County school system job due to potential ethical concerns, but he didn't walk away from the issue, and his bill to make it easier for lawmakers to have second jobs got an important boost Friday. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/21/b...

It may never even take effect, but that did not make the debate any less intense Friday over the Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026, which could regulate the ability of charitable organizations to participate in partisan activity. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/21/a...

The Supreme Court of Maryland restored the law license Friday of Annapolis power lobbyist Bruce Bereano, more than 26 years after it disbarred him in the wake of a federal mail fraud conviction linked to his lobbying firm. marylandmatters.org/briefs/supre...

Maryland is one of 13 states that are reportedly under investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services because the states require health insurance plans to cover abortion care. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/20/r...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it will need more time to assess environmental impacts at two proposed immigrant detention center sites, as ordered by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration, stalling the projects for now. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/20/r...

A federal judge extended his order Thursday blocking work on a Washington County warehouse that Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to turn into an immigrant detention center to house up to 1,500 people. marylandmatters.org/briefs/judge...

Since late February, Del. Christopher Eric Bouchat (R-Carroll) has shown up to register his presence in the House in the morning, then left, skipping meetings and votes, all but throwing in the towel on his career out of frustration with Annapolis. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/20/b...

Legislative Republicans said Thursday they will press for a 30-day gas tax holiday to ease skyrocketing gas prices spawned by the Iran war. Democrats were either silent on it, or asked how the GOP planned to make up for $100 million in lost revenues. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/a...

Supporters could begin soliciting volunteers to serve on the long-awaited, and long-delayed Maryland Reparations Commission as soon as next week, ending a year of starts and stops on the measure. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/a...

The U.S. Treasury Department will take over the Department of Education’s responsibility for collecting on defaulted federal student loan debt, President Donald Trump’s administration announced Thursday. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/r...

It's well known that oysters filter water, but a new study says they may have another benefit: Oysters may save the lives of blue crabs, by feeding on a parasite that is often deadly to crabs in saltier parts of the bay and coastal Eastern Shore. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/o...

The Board of Public Works voted unanimously Wednesday to approve up to $1.2 billion over five years for contracts with licensed group homes, adding bed capacity that state officials hope will end the practice of hospital overstays for foster children. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/s...

The tables are turned on Del. Vaughn Stewart, Del. Kathy Szeliga and Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk try to figure out who's to the left of whom, March Madness is already starting in the legislature and more, in political notes. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/t...

The Postal Service is less than a year away from running out of cash and is calling on Congress to increase its limit to borrow money from the Treasury Department, the postmaster general told a House committee this week, but lawmakers were skpetical. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/18/c...

Five years after Virginia legalized possession, but not the sale, of small amounts of marijuana, lawmakers last week approved legislation establishing a regulated retail market for adult-use cannabis, years after most of its neighbors. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/18/r...

Programs like Open Space are efficient, effective investments in the health and beauty and livability of Maryland, writes Allison Colden, and are worth defending even in lean budget times. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/18/m...

A nearly $71 billion state spending plan is headed to the House of Delegates after the Senate gave final approval to the package Wednesday. that closes a $1.5 billion shortfall with no new taxes and limited new spending. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/19/s...

The House gave overwhelming approval Tuesday night to a broad piece of energy legislation that Democrats believe will lead to a noticeable reduction in peoples' gas and electric bills, starting as soon as this summer. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/e...

The way Sen. Cheryl Kagan sees it, actions have consequences. That's why the Montgomery County Democrat is sponsoring a bill to ban anyone convicted in the Jan. 6 attacks on U.S. Capitol from serving on certain state boards. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/b...

A Senate panel approved a bill to let Marylanders sue federal agents in state courts for constitutional violations, despite concerns by one Republican lawmaker who called it just “another slap at federal law enforcement” carrying out immigration law. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/n...

A group of U.S. House Democrats trekked to an out-of-the-way Capitol hallway Tuesday to draw attention to the fact that a plaque honoring those who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 has been installed there, and not in the prominent place intended. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/r...

Senate Republicans fell just four votes shy Tuesday of repealing an unpopular and underperforming tech tax, leading Senate President Bill Ferguson to hint afterward that there may be a willingness to alter or possibly repeal the year-old tax. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/s...

Maryland is showing what's possible at the state level to rein in drug costs, writes David Conway, but it can't let up now, as a growing senior population and higher need make efforts like the Prescription Drug Affordability Board all the more important. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/m...

Electricity rates “increased significantly” in nearly every U.S. state in 2025, with residents in a dozen states seeing at least a 10% jump, according to a congressional report released by Democrats Tuesday, and Maryland near the top of the list. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/p...

After rejecting a request to put a hold on a bill, the Senate finds itself caught up in a lengthy gun-control debate; nobody likes political violence, but not everybody likes Charlie Kirk; and Del. Christopher pitches his last bill, in political notes. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/16/h...

U.S. Park Police say they're just routine stops of commercial vehicles generally barred from federal parkways, and ICE agents happen to be there; advocates say that officers are using public safety laws as a pretext to make immigration arrests. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/h...

Sixteen states and the District are challenging Department of Housing and Urban Development guidance that the states say will could weaken state protections against housing discrimination — and their ability to investigate them. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/16/r...

A portion of Anne Arundel County, including a shopping complex and business district near BWI, has been put under a growth moratorium to control the threat of more wet-weather sewage overflows into the Patapsco River. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/16/s...

A lawsuit challenging the residency of a House of Delegates candidate is headed to appeals court, after an Anne Arundel County Circuit judge dismissed the case before arguments could get started in his court Monday. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/16/r...

Since the beginning of 2025, dozens of Pennsylvania cities and counties have considered or passed legislation aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities or supporting immigrant communities. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/16/r...

It's a rite of Annapolis. Every year Maryland legislators hear requests for commemorative pieces of legislation and official state symbols, but even though "the testimony is compelling," few end up making the cut, even after repeated tries. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/16/s...

After last week's shooting at a Michigan synagogue, Maryland faith leaders were called upon to discuss the situation, and what can be done. But they say it's a conversation that needs to be had all the time, not just after the latest crisis. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/15/m...

When it comes to inclusion for young adults with chronic conditions, Maryland has studied the issue, documented it and adopted policies on it, writes Santi Baghat. But it lags when it comes to executing, leaving many "Young Invisibles" feeling left out. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/15/m...

Tens of thousands of employees at the Department of Homeland Security officially missed their first full paychecks on Friday, as the agency shutdown reached its one-month mark — and counting. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/15/m...

A congressional redistricting fight, a focus on affordability and a ban on local police cooperating with immigration officials, in a Democrat-dominated body. It may sound familiar, but that was the legislative session in Virginia, which wrapped up Saturday. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/15/r...

Wastewater began flowing again through the Potomac Interceptor on Saturday, after DC Water crews completed the final steps to reopen the line and end a bypass through the C&) Canal, almost two months after the sewage pipeline ruptured. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/15/d...

Investor-owned utility profits have soared at the same time that consumer utility bills have skyrocketed in recent years, according to a new analysis of dozens of electricity providers. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/13/u...

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would require businesses to accept cash payments for purchases less than $300, a move that supporters said keeps the economy open to all Marylanders. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/13/c...

Baltimore/Washington International Airport and both D.C.-area airports were shut down for hours Friday by a ground stop that was ordered after a “strong chemical smell” at a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Virginia impacted operations. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/13/g...

A nearly $71 billion state budget took a key step forward Friday as the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee finalized its version in preparation for a vote before the full Senate next week. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/14/s...

Despite being “extremely thankful” that state leaders worked with them to reduce cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, advocates say this year's budget is still “painful”to a communit that already absorbed steep cuts last session. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/13/a...

Maryland househ0lds will see at least $150 a year in utility bill savings from a package of bills unveiled late this week, the governor and legislative leaders promised Friday. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/13/e...

The House Environment and Transportation Committee approved a sweeping energy bill Thursday that aims to reduce customers’ soaring utility costs by restoring competition and retreating on some clean-energy goals. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/13/s...

Hundreds of developmental disability advocates rallied Thursday to dissuade lawmakers from making a massive budget cut to the agency that oversees services -- a last "Hail Mary" effort before senators begin votes Friday on next year's budget. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/12/d...

Tired of seeing drug commercials on TV as health care costs continue to rise? So are advocates, who want to remove a state tax break for pharmaceutical ads, arguing that those funds would be better used to boost health care coverage in Maryland. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/12/a...

The state's rockfish season will start in April as scheduled, after it was almost derailed this week by a legislative committee's hold on the season, briefly causing chaos among charter boats that had booked customers for April 1. marylandmatters.org/briefs/rockf...

A federal district judge has ordered construction to stop for at least the next two weeks at the massive Washington County warehouse that Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to convert into a detention center for up to 1,500 immigrants. marylandmatters.org/briefs/court...

Melvin A. "Mickey" Steinberg, Maryland's fifth lieutenant governor and a former Senate president known for his political acumen and sense of humor, died Tuesday. He was 92. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/12/f...

The House approved three child care bills Wednesday, including measures to lift a yearlong freeze on enrollment in a state child care scholarship program for as many as 3,700 families on a 5,000-family waitlist. marylandmatters.org/2026/03/12/h...