NEW PROGRESSIVES: Three years ago, Maryland’s House of Delegates voted unanimously to cap the state’s yacht tax. This year, 25 House lawmakers voted against renewing the cap after a small group of Democrats argued that the state doesn’t need to protect wealthy boat owners from tax hikes. That opposition wasn’t enough to keep the measure from advancing to the desk of Gov. Larry Hogan. But it highlights the slow pace of progress for Maryland’s newest progressive lawmakers, an assertive and largely young group of legislators who are trying to nudge their party leftward, Josh Hicks reports for the Post.
UNLICENSED CHILD-CARE TARGETED: Child-care advocates say a new law willraise awareness about licensed child care and provide better enforcement against illegal facilities, reports Mike Lewis in the Frederick News Post. Gov. Larry Hogan signed the companion bills (HB 329 and SB 312) on April 26. The Washington County delegation split when it came time for final votes on the measure.
UBER, LYFT REGULATIONS: Dan Russo and Maggie DeBlasis of CNS, writing in MarylandReporter.com, report that In many parts of the country – and indeed, around the world – a ride-booking service is as close and easy to use as launching an app on a smartphone. But after nearly unimpeded growth in an industry that didn’t exist a decade ago, around 30 U.S. jurisdictions have passed new ride-hailing regulatory legislation, all in the hopes of making services like Uber and Lyft safer for passenger use.
http://marylandreporter.com/2016/05/16/state-roundup-may-16-2016/