They deal with transportation funding, overdose prevention, cybersecurity.
Annapolis, Md. (KM) – Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne Jones on Thursday signed 105 bills into law.
The Governor said one measure would increase transportation funding for municipal and county governments. He says his administration has been working for eight years to restore highway user revenues. “With this legislation that we’re providing, our counties and municipalities will receive more than $660-million to advance transportations projects all across the state,” he said.
There’s also a bill to help reduce drug overdoses in Maryland. “We’re enacting our Statewide Targeted Overdose Prevention–the STOP Act–to save lives by dramatically increasing the tools that are available to help us in our fight against the opioid epidemic,” Hogan says. One of those tools will be increased access to Naloxone, or Nar Can.
Senate President Ferguson said several bills also deal with improving cybersecurity. “With the record investments that we are making in cybersecurity in conjunction with the Administration, the General Assembly moved a number of critical public services to be better protected against destructive cyberattacks by Russia or any other of our international adversaries,” he said.
The Maryland Department of Health’s computers were hacked late last year.
Other cybersecurity bills would provide funding and leveraging the Cyber Preparedness Unit within the Maryland Department of Emergency Management to make sure local governments have a level of cyber security, and the state will assist them. Another measure would enhance the state’s regulatory framework for state and local government’s cybersecurity.
Senate 150 which provides dental coverage for all adults whose annual income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty level was signed into law on Thursday. “We just know how important dental health can be, and this expand access for a critical health service,” Ferguson says.
The three political leaders also signed legislation that codifies a directive from the Governor to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System to “take immediate divestment actions in regards to any investments, securities or holdings with Russian or Russian-affiliated entities,” says Governor Hogan. “As well as a joint resolution expressing Maryland’s continued commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”
The 2022 Maryland General Assembly Session adjourned for the year on April 11th.
By Kevin McManus