$15 minimum wage heads to Governor Moore, as gun control faces major rewrite ahead of session end

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With just days left in the legislative session, some bills are sprinting to the finish line, while others are facing major last-minute changes in hopes of passing before Sine Die on Monday.

The Fair Wage Act of 2023 passed both the House and now heads to Governor Moore’s desk, despite losing a provision that would have permanently tied the state minimum wage to the consumer price index, and the failure of a sister bill that would have bumped up the minimum wage for workers that depend on tips.

Speaker Pro Tempore Sheree Sample-Hughes tells 47ABC she voted for the measure, while still understanding it was not the measure she and the business community wanted.

“It is in a much better posture than it was and I certainly have personal concerns for our smaller businesses so you have to weigh do you go with the 85 percent of the bill knowing this will move our economy and help people get food on the table, so yes I did support it but at the same time my heart and mind is always with the small businesses and figuring out how to continue to sustain them wether its grants or opportunities through agencies to make sure they are not forgotten in this process,” she said.

But some measures are still working their way through with the potential to see major changes prior to being passed, including the Gun Safety Act of 2023.

Now the measure includes changes to both open and concealed carry laws, licensing, and the process by which someone would be prohibited from purchasing or owning a handgun.

Lawmakers say the measure was the subject of intense debate.

“We’ve got competing views one is that lawful gun ownership needs to be restricted and controlled the other is repeat offenders need to be addressed and something has to happen otherwise the crime crisis will continue to grow,” said Senator Johnny Mautz, adding that “I’m hopeful to see some action compromise so we can get some policies moving forward,”

“I know it’s been heightened awareness about the storage how those things come to pass for the average citizen what does that look like in terms of signage posted of where they can bring their wear and carry into establishment so some of those points are being more defined,” said Speaker Pro Temp Sample-Hughes.

The measure had its first reading in the house and now heads to committee.