Maryland
New laws in Virginia, Maryland, DC going into effect July 1: gun control, cat declawing, child marriages
Starting July 1, residents in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., will see significant changes as a range of new laws come into effect.
These laws, signed by Governors Glenn Youngkin and Wes Moore, cover various issues from banning cat declawing and child marriages to prohibiting auto sears and cracking down on ticket price scams.
Additionally, D.C. will implement the highest minimum wage in the country, aiming to ensure fair wages for all workers.
Virginia laws going into effect July 1
In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed 777 bills this session.
July 1 brings with it a ban on declawing cats, a ban on child marriages, and prohibits legacy admissions at public higher education institutes.
There is also new legislation that bans “auto sears” — also known as Glock switches.
Those are devices that can convert a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon that is able to rapidly fire a full magazine of bullets.
Delegate Michael Jones sponsored HB-22 – one of only two gun laws passed by the governor.
“It’s not your average gun owner who is going to have these, it’s people who are out there trying to hurt innocent people, innocent bystanders,” Jones said. “It’s going to keep us safe and make our streets a little safer.”
Maryland laws going into effect July 1
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 23: Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks during a campaign event for Angela Alsobrook’s run for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat at Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 23, 2023.(Amanda Andrade-Rhoade
Moving into Maryland, Governor Wes Moore signed 1,049 bills into law.
Some changes you will see come July 1 include a ban on vaping in indoor spaces, public transportation, and workplaces, as well as alcohol delivery being allowed from permitted businesses.
And Maryland is cracking down on those wild ticket prices we have seen for concerts and shows lately – becoming the first state in the country to fine resellers and platforms that offer “speculative” tickets – tickets they don’t even own but sell anyway, driving up prices for everyone.
This was Maryland State Senator Dawn Gile’s bill.
She said it is in response to outrage from consumers, and she hopes it changes people’s perspectives on what it means to buy tickets.
“People have just become accustomed that this is what they have to do – pay these astronomical ticket prices to see a show but that’s not the way it should be,” Gile said. “There’s deception in the marketplace, there’s a manipulation in the marketplace of these prices and we can have a fair marketplace.”
Another one going into effect in Maryland on July 1 is called Nick’s Law – which calls for stricter boating rules and punishments when it comes to boating under the influence.
It’s named after Nick Barton, a 21-year-old college lacrosse player who was killed in a boating accident in June 2022 by someone who was drinking.
His mom, Marie Barton, has been fighting to make Maryland waterways safer ever since.
“After I lost Nick, I started looking into everything and I could not believe the law – or the lack of laws, I should say,” Barton said.
Nick’s Law prohibits a person from operating a vessel for two years if they are convicted of boating under the influence and five years if it results in death
“It also gives DNR a database which they have never had before to be able to track these boaters that aren’t supposed to be on the water,” Barton explained.
DC laws going into effect July 1
Muriel Bowser, mayor of the District of Columbia, during an interview in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. This summer Bowser and DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said they were united in opposition to a federal measure overhauling poli
The minimum wage is increasing in the District of Columbia on July 1, to $17.50 per hour for non-tipped workers, the highest in the United States.
The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) sent FOX 5 the following statement.
“Mayor Bowser’s commitment to creating more pathways to the middle class remains a priority.
Starting July 1, the District’s minimum wage will increase to $17.50 per hour for non-tipped workers and $10.00 per hour for tipped employees.
This adjustment is crucial for ensuring workers receive fair wages and our employers comply with D.C. wage laws.
Maryland
Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes
SEVERN, Md. (WBFF) — A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.
The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.
Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.
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The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.
The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.
The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.
More information is available at mdlottery.com.
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For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit helpmygamblingproblem.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland
SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned
Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.
“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”
The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.
In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.
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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.
Maryland
Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Md. (WBFF) — An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.
According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.
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Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.
No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.
The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.
Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.
The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.
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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
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