ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland state government has started its new year on July 1 with a fresh budget and many new laws. Some of the new laws will affect college athletes, people suffering from mental illnesses, the Maryland state song and more. Here is a list of new laws that will be effective today.
COVID-19 Restrictions:
Governor Hogan’s executive order to end the Maryland COVID-19 State of Emergency has taken effect today. This means all emergency mandates and restrictions related to COVID-19 will end.
For example, they do not require masks in schools, childcare facilities and summer camps. However, businesses and workplaces can still require masks if it is their policy. With over 70% of Marylanders vaccinated and lower hospitalization rates, Hogan believes it is time to get things back to a semblance of normal.
“While the end of the state of emergency is an important step in our recovery from COVID-19, it does not mean that this virus and the variants no longer pose any threat,” Hogan said at a press conference announcing the end of the State of Emergency.
Maryland’s State Song Is Repealed:
Maryland will not have an official state song. Lawmakers and the governor agreed to remove “Maryland, My Maryland” from the list of state symbols.
James Ryder Randall wrote the song at the start of the Civil War, and it was a call to action to support the Confederacy. As a result, lawmakers believed it was better to move on from the state song because of its dark history.
211 Mental Health Expanding:
The state government will require Maryland’s 211 system to set up a program to allow people to sign up for a periodic call to check in on their well-being and to refer callers to mental health services.
During this year, Rep. James Raskin’s 25-year-old son committed suicide. As a result, they created the Thomas Bloom Raskin Act to expand the state’s mental health crisis call center.
College Athletes Finally Get Benefits:
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled the NCAA’s business model as unjust and has gotten the NCAA to allow athletes to receive compensation from their names, images and likeness. However, Maryland is one of several states who were already on the move to allow athletes to earn money.
Walter Lomax Act Takes Effect:
The Walter Lomax Act will finally allow people to receive compensation for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned in Maryland. Lawmakers named the act after Walter Lomax, who was wrongly incarcerated for 38 years following a fatal shooting.
Eligible individuals will receive payments based on how long they were in prison, multiplied by the average median income in the state. Also, state administrative judges can order other benefits like housing, health care, education, job training and more.
No More Alcohol On The Go:
During the pandemic, restaurants and bars could sell cocktails and other alcoholic drinks for carryout and delivery. This will no longer be the case starting today. However, lawmakers passed a law allowing the practice for another two years as long as their local liquor board agrees.
St. Mary’s County and many other localities across Maryland will be looking at possibly removing this to licensees in the future.
Easing Menstrual Problems In Schools:
Maryland public schools systems must plan to put free menstrual hygiene product dispensers in school bathrooms. Each middle school and high school must have dispensers in two women’s restrooms by Oct. 1, 2022, and in all women’s restrooms at schools by Aug. 1, 2025. An elementary school will need dispensers in at least one restroom by Oct. 1, 2022.
Maryland Environmental Service Reforms:
After much controversy, Maryland lawmakers approved extensive overhauls on this independent state agency. This law changes the memberships of the board of directors that oversee the Maryland Environmental Service’s work and requires the executive director to report to the board.
The board must undergo training on diversity, ethics and harassment. Meanwhile, the agency will be subject to more audits.
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