Carozza, Mathias Outline Legislative Priorities

ANNAPOLIS — State Senator Jim Mathias and Delegate Mary Beth Carozza helped kick off the 436th session of the Maryland General Assembly earlier this week, and while each have their own items and initiatives to push forward, the session will likely be dominated by debates surrounding the budget and police and criminal justice reforms.

A law enforcement reform workgroup formed last year after the death of Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody in Baltimore, has given more than 20 recommendations to the Democrat-controlled General Assembly. Perhaps the most controversial of those recommendations is one that aims to cut the “10-day rule” to five days. Currently, under Maryland’s Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights, officers have up to 10 days before they must speak with investigators in cases where they may have committed a crime. That proposal has been met with harsh criticism for the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police.

Yet, while lawmakers will likely consider and vehemently debate those proposals, they’ll also be facing pressure from Republican Governor Larry Hogan, who wants to enact $480 million in tax relief over the next several years.

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