The Maryland General Assembly finished its business today, but it has already enacted scores of bills, sending them to Gov. Martin O?Malley for his signature. Here are several that gained attention as they were moving through the legislature.
– Green buildings: All new state buildings, including local schools, will be constructed as high-performance green buildings, under this bill sponsored by O?Malley?s administration. The environmentally friendly standards increase costs 2 percent to 5 percent, but those costs are generally recovered in a few years through reduced use of energy and water.
– Accountability: With strong bipartisan support, the legislature mandated the creation of a new Web-based database that will include detailed information on all state grants, contracts, purchases and aid that amount to more than $25,000.
– Detergent: Soap makers were given six months longer to cut dish detergent phosphorus, after they said they needed more time to comply with last year?s deadline of Jan. 1, 2009. Phosphorus is a major cause of Chesapeake Bay pollution. An earlier law already required reduced phosphorus in clothing detergent.
– Booze: Lawmakers increased fines for adults supplying alcohol to minors, but they refused to make it a misdemeanor crime as originally proposed. Opponents said there were already laws on the books for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Maximum fines will go up to $2,500 from $1,000.
n Martial arts: Despite opponents who described it as brutal and bloody, mixed martial arts will now become a regulated spectator sport the same as boxing and wrestling, under the State Athletic Commission.
– Animal fighting: Penalties for attending a dogfight or cockfight would be increased from 90 days to a year for jail time and from $1,000 to $2,500 for the fine. The original proposal was to make being a spectator a felony, but it will stay a misdemeanor.
– Impersonators: Lawmakers agreed to protect singers from musical impersonators under the Truth in Music Advertising Act. The law seeks to curb promoters who put together groups that pretend to be the original members of oldies groups. The attorney general would be allowed to sue violators. The bill does not affect tribute groups or parodies.
– IT Department: As he wanted, O?Malley will get a new Department of Information Technology, a recommendation of his technology transition team. Some legislators had opposed creation of the new bureaucracy, but most of the workers in the new department are being transferred from the Department of Management and Budget.
