New Maryland Laws Take Effect October 1, 2019

New laws take effect in Maryland today.

HB0240 (CH0028) makes it a crime to threaten certain hate crimes.

SB0236 (CH0750) changes the minimum sentence that would disqualify someone from jury duty.

HB1169 (CH0396)  increased the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products including vaping products from 18 to 21.

SB0449 (CH0755) allows for same day voter registration.

The law banning bump stocks takes effect today but SB0707 (CH0252) was actually passed during the 2018 session. The law prohibits a person “a person from transporting a certain rapid fire trigger activator into the State or manufacturing, possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, purchasing, or receiving a certain rapid fire trigger activator, subject to a certain exception; defining “rapid fire trigger activator” as any device, including a removable manual or power-driven activating device, constructed so that, when installed in or attached to a firearm the rate at which the trigger is activated increases or the rate of fire increases…”

This is just a small sampling of the new laws enacted by the 2019 Legislative Session. The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) of the General Assembly of Maryland provides a full listing. Was there a major issue from the 2019 session that was not covered in this series? The 90 Day Report – A Review of the 2019 Session, published by DLS, includes a hyperlinked list of Major Issues from 2019.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?  DLS publishes a Popular Terms List as a reference for current legislation that is often referred to by the public and media by certain popular terms.

Do you prefer paper sources?  The Law Library’s collection includes the the advance (paperback) Laws of Maryland, arranged in chapter number order with separate volumes for a Sponsor Index, the Final Status Report, and Committee Index. In addition, the Law Library’s Maryland collection includes print copies of the current Annotated Code of Maryland. The  2019 pocket parts should be coming soon.

Don’t forget – the Law Library is here if you have questions or would like additional information. Contact us!