Gov. Hogan Signs 229 Bills Into Law Including Gay Conversion Ban

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed 229 bills into law on Tuesday, ranging from a ban on gay conversion therapy to changes in the tax code and measures aimed at improving water quality in Chesapeake Bay. Hogan was joined by Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and Speaker of the House Michael Busch at a signing ceremony at the Maryland State House in Annapolis.

Other measures signed were a bill that creates a commission to investigate corruption in the Baltimore Police Department. The law was signed the same day that Baltimore's latest police commissioner, Darryl De Sousa, resigned. The city's top cop had been suspended on Friday with pay after being charged for filing to pay income taxes for tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015, when he was a salaried employee of the Baltimore Police Department.

Maryland is the 11th state to ban gay conversion therapy, an effort by therapists to offer a so-called cure to being gay in an attempt to change one's sexual orientation. Maryland's bill bars licensed medical professionals from carrying out conversion therapy on minors, and state money could not pay for support or referral of conversion therapy. Families could still use the therapy, but not with licensed workers.

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Del. Meagan Simonaire of Anne Arundel County spoke out on the House floor in favor of the bill noting her father tried to have his daughter see a gay conversion therapist.Her father, GOP Sen. Bryan Simonaire, opposed the ban and said he supports conversion therapy if a child is willing and the therapy is done in a loving manner.

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The governor and presiding officers signed House Bill 365/Senate Bill 184, which will save Marylanders from nearly $3 billion over the next five years in increased state taxes as a result of the federal tax overhaul by adjusting state law on personal income tax exemptions, according to a news release. They also signed legislation expanding Maryland’s Hometown Heroes Act to include retired correctional officers (SB 299/HB 296) and allowing retired military veterans to keep more of their money (HB 327/SB 966).

“Our administration has been focused on helping hardworking Maryland families, retirees, and small businesses; restoring our state’s economy; and delivering relief for Maryland’s beleaguered, long-suffering taxpayers,” said Hogan in a press release. “We have now cut taxes, tolls, and fees four years in a row, by $1.2 billion dollars. This morning, we are signing important initiatives to prevent nearly $3 billion in new tax increases on hard-working Marylanders.”

Also signed was economic development legislation (SB 989/HB 1295) that will build on the More Jobs for Marylanders Act, which was passed in the 2017 session. The program incentivizes manufacturing companies to create jobs in areas with higher unemployment by providing a tax credit for each new job created. In less than six months, over 110 companies have filed letters of intent with the Maryland Department of Commerce, with the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs, and 37 of those companies have filed official applications, which are projected to create over 1,400 new jobs. The legislation signed Tuesday will expand the program to additional jurisdictions, including Garrett, Caroline, Kent, and Wicomico counties.

Additional measures signed will bolster Maryland’s small business job creators and burgeoning cyber sector. The Small Business Relief Tax Credit (SB 135) will aid these employers in providing benefits like paid leave to their employees, and the Cybersecurity Incentive Tax Credits (SB 228) will encourage investment in the state’s cybersecurity industry and further solidify Maryland’s position as the cyber capital of America.

Building on efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the governor also signed legislation enacting his proposal to incentivize septic system maintenance and agricultural best practices to reduce runoff, further protecting the Bay (HB 1765), as well as legislation to protect Maryland’s shoreline from offshore drilling (HB 1456) and additional environmental measures.

“I want to again thank President Miller, Speaker Busch, and legislators on both sides of the aisle for working together with us this session as we continue to change Maryland for the better,” said the governor.

Photo of Gov. Larry Hogan courtesy of Maryland governor's office