ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - More affordable prescription drugs, a higher minimum wage, and protections for abortion rights are among the top issues Maryland lawmakers are expected to debate when they gather for their annual legislative session next week. They also plan to study how best to legalize recreational marijuana if voters approve it on next year’s ballot.
When lawmakers convene Wednesday for their 90-day session, there will be a record number of female legislators: 72 out of 188 members, or about 38 percent of the General Assembly.
Democrats gained eight seats in the House of Delegates for a 99-42 majority. They lost a seat in the Senate, but still hold a 32-15 advantage. That’s three more than needed to override a veto by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Hogan is only the second Republican to ever win re-election in heavily Democratic Maryland.
Here’s a look at some of the top issues lawmakers are expected to take up this year:
HEALTH CARE
Legislators will debate a variety of health care issues, including high prescription drug costs and whether to restore an individual mandate for health insurance. A proposal that failed to pass last year would allow people without health insurance to make a down payment on a policy, rather than pay a penalty. Another proposal that stalled last year would make high-cost prescription drugs more affordable by setting an upper limit on what residents pay for drugs costing more than $30,000 a year.
Democratic House Speaker Michael Busch noted that prescription drugs “are hurting a lot of people out there that can’t afford the copay or don’t have the insurance.”
MINIMUM WAGE
Maryland’s minimum wage rose to $10.10 last year, the last of several incremental increases approved in 2014, when it was $7.25. Lawmakers will consider raising it to $15 over several years. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said he is “absolutely” confident lawmakers will pass legislation this session. Busch said, “We’re ready to go.”
EDUCATION
Hogan is proposing a $3.5 billion fund for school construction over five years. Separately, while an effort to increase the state’s education funding formulas for the next decade appears to be shelved for this session, Miller and Busch are planning to take some initial policy and funding steps, based on recommendations from a state commission. About $200 million has been set aside for that purpose.
“We’re going to start an initial funding mechanism, so that people know that we are serious about not just passing policy but implementing the funding as well,” Miller said.
ABORTION RIGHTS
Busch said lawmakers will take up a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights in Maryland, in case protections are overturned or weakened by the federal government. Maryland passed legislation in 1991 to protect a woman’s right to abortion if the Supreme Court should ever restrict abortions. It was petitioned to the ballot, and voters approved it with 62 percent of the vote. Although Maryland has that statutory protection, it could be subject to change by state lawmakers, supporters of the constitutional amendment say.
MARIJUANA
Miller and Busch are planning to create a work group to study how to best implement recreational marijuana use if voters approve a referendum next year. Busch said the study will help inform voters’ decisions. With an increasing number of states approving recreational marijuana use, “I think it’s something that’s on the verge of coming” to Maryland, he said.
JUVENILE JUSTICE
In 2016, lawmakers and the governor approved sweeping reforms of the criminal justice system. This year, lawmakers hope to do something similar with the state’s juvenile justice system, with a focus on releasing nonviolent offenders eligible for parole.
BALTIMORE CRIME
After Maryland’s largest city recorded more than 300 homicides for the fourth straight year, lawmakers decided to consider bolstering the police force. Miller also said he supports allowing a private police force for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
SPORTS BETTING
Lawmakers will consider legalizing sports betting. The attempt stalled last year over concerns about where to allow it: casinos, horse racing tracks or both. One idea under consideration would allow the state lottery to regulate and manage sports betting, similarly to how it manages keno or scratch-off tickets. That, supporters say, would enable the state to avoid waiting until 2020 for voters to decide on a constitutional amendment.
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