MD legislature aims to work out differences ahead of deadline

Midnight Monday will mark the end of the Maryland Legislative Session, but some key bills involving things such as tax relief, police reform and drunk driving are still in limbo.

Both the house and senate have passed versions of the drunk driving bill that would hand down stricter punishments and expand the state’s ignition interlock requirements. However, the two sides remain split because of a provision in the house version that would allow for punitive damages against the defendant.

Meanwhile, the police reform bill would allow for citizens to join law enforcement officials on the boards that oversee police disciplinary hearings. That bill has also divided the legislature.

A house version of the bill would allow for citizens to sit on the board, but it would not allow them to vote on matters of discipline. The senate version would.

As for tax relief, we’re told both the house and senate have their own versions of a bill,. but that it is unsure if the two sides we’ll be able to work out their differences before Monday’s deadline.