Spring Break
Flurry of bills comes as Friday deadline passes
Megan Eckstein
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: News
Friday marked the last day for state lawmakers to introduce legislation they hope to vote on this session. The final list of bills ranges from issues like gay marriage and illegal immigration - which impact most Marylanders - to designating a state dessert - which, of course, is … important … as well.
Here's a list of some of the bills, serious and otherwise, to keep an eye on in the coming months:
- Some legislators who may have skipped lunch wrote up a sweet bill for bakers in the Chesapeake Bay area. The bill asks that the Smith Island cake be designated the official state dessert.
- Several gay marriage bills were introduced in the Senate and House of Delegates. One Senate bill would overturn wording in a current law that states only a man and a woman can be married, allowing more freedom for future laws to determine who can be married. However, another Senate bill would tighten the current law, stating that only a man and a woman can be married and that any other marriage is not valid in the state.
- The House wants to create a permit for people who want to teach a home brewing class. Freshmen and sophomores shouldn't get too excited, though - only those of age will be allowed to attend the classes.
- A Senate bill aims to steeply raise alcohol taxes. According to the bill synopsis, it would increase the taxes "from $1.50 to $4.50 per gallon for distilled spirits, from 40 cents to $1.20 per gallon for wine, and from 9 cents to 54 cents per gallon for beer."
- Milk crate buyers beware: if you buy five or more plastic milk crates, you and the crate seller will need to verify one another's identity, keep records of the transaction and hold onto the records for at least one year. Punishment for failing to adhere to these rules, if approved: a $100 fine.
- College Park's drive-through liquor store might be one of the last of its kind; a Senate bill wants to prohibit Prince George's County from issuing alcohol serving licenses to drive-through stores.
Here's a list of some of the bills, serious and otherwise, to keep an eye on in the coming months:
- Some legislators who may have skipped lunch wrote up a sweet bill for bakers in the Chesapeake Bay area. The bill asks that the Smith Island cake be designated the official state dessert.
- Several gay marriage bills were introduced in the Senate and House of Delegates. One Senate bill would overturn wording in a current law that states only a man and a woman can be married, allowing more freedom for future laws to determine who can be married. However, another Senate bill would tighten the current law, stating that only a man and a woman can be married and that any other marriage is not valid in the state.
- The House wants to create a permit for people who want to teach a home brewing class. Freshmen and sophomores shouldn't get too excited, though - only those of age will be allowed to attend the classes.
- A Senate bill aims to steeply raise alcohol taxes. According to the bill synopsis, it would increase the taxes "from $1.50 to $4.50 per gallon for distilled spirits, from 40 cents to $1.20 per gallon for wine, and from 9 cents to 54 cents per gallon for beer."
- Milk crate buyers beware: if you buy five or more plastic milk crates, you and the crate seller will need to verify one another's identity, keep records of the transaction and hold onto the records for at least one year. Punishment for failing to adhere to these rules, if approved: a $100 fine.
- College Park's drive-through liquor store might be one of the last of its kind; a Senate bill wants to prohibit Prince George's County from issuing alcohol serving licenses to drive-through stores.
Submit a letter to the editor or post a comment below.
Be the first to comment on this story