Baltimore City’s primary election results have been ordered to be decertified by state election officials, and a precinct-level review of irregularities is being conducted.

The decision comes in response to a discrepancy between the number of voters who checked in at polling locations and the number of ballots cast, which were higher than the number of check-ins. State elections officials became concerned when they learned Baltimore city officials certified their primary election results and later located 80 provisional ballots which were never analyzed.

The investigation into these discrepancies is expected to continue throughout next week.

The State Board of Elections has proposed new pay-to-play disclosure rules and regulations.

The board seeks to align current rules with the recent legislative change requiring business entities to disclose contributions of certain subsidiaries, even if those subsidiaries do not have contracts with the state. In addition, the new regulations would increase the amount of time a vendor has to file the initial contribution disclosure form and would clarify internal disclosure obligations and processes for vendor employees and CEOs under current state law.

The proposed rules and regulations remain open for public comment through May 30, 2016.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed a pay-to-play bill, amending campaign finance reporting requirements for filers doing public business. House Bill 112 requires filers disclosing contributions to also include contributions of any subsidiary entity the filer owns or controls by 30 percent or more, regardless of whether the subsidiary is doing public business in Maryland.

A limited exception exists for publically-traded banking institutions not owned or controlled by anyone in excess of 10 percent if they are not contracted with Maryland in connection with public business.

The law takes effect October 1, 2016.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned late Monday, April 11, 2016, after passing legislation reforming the state’s criminal justice system.

Unable to pass legislation reducing the state’s income tax during the final hours of the session, some lawmakers suggested Gov. Hogan call a special session. In response, according to the Baltimore Sun, Hogan said, “These guys can’t seem to get their act together. I’m not sure that would change with a special session.”

The Frederick County, MD Council has passed a new ordinance regarding county contracts and the size of the Frederick County Ethics Commission. The ordinance prohibits elected officials and certain family members for securing county government contracts.

Additionally, the ordinance increases the size of the Ethics Commission from five to seven members.

Gov. Hogan has established a commission to help update the state’s approach to procurement. Hogan said a new system was needed as the current approach is a patchwork of laws and processes resulting in unreliability and actually discourages participation to do business with the state.

The commission is comprised of 19 individuals with various backgrounds, including information technology, construction, engineering, law, and representatives from various state agencies.

The commission will be charged with standardizing interpretation of contracting codes, using new technology to make the procurement process more efficient, and simplifying the existing template Maryland uses for requesting proposals.

A resolution has been introduced in the Howard County Council proposing a citizen funded campaign system. The resolution would make public resources available to qualifying candidates. The resolution, if passed, would create the Commission on Citizen Funded Campaigns, which would be comprised of five county residents appointed by the council and two county residents appointed by the county executive, and would calculate estimated costs to the citizen funded campaign citizen budget.

If the resolution is passed, it would be added to ballots this year and take effect for the 2022 election cycle. The resolution will be similar to the opt-in system in Montgomery County, Maryland’s first county to have any kind of opt-in campaign finance system.

Frederick County, Maryland County Council President Bud Otis has introduced legislation to give the County Ethics Commission subpoena powers and increase the size of the commission from five to seven members. The ethics bill, which Otis submitted on September 15, includes making a violation of the lobbying rules or the financial disclosure laws a misdemeanor. The council will hear public comments on the proposals at a future meeting and then vote at a subsequent hearing, according to the Frederick News-Post.

Gov. Larry Hogan has signed 350 bills during a two part bill-signing ceremony on May 12, 2015. Among the bills signed are two bills clarifying and simplifying contribution disclosure requirements for lobbyist employers and persons doing public business.

Senate Bill 767 modifies the reporting threshold amount for lobbyist employers to include contributions in the aggregate amount of $500 or more, in order to match disclosure requirements of persons doing public business.

House Bill 769 clarifies that companies having a pre-2015 qualifying contract of $200,000 or more with the state are covered by the disclosure law, but not required to file an initial statement.

Both bills change semiannual reporting dates to May 31 and November 30, matching reporting dates for registered lobbyists. Since the bills are effective June 1, 2015, this year’s dates have been modified to August 31 and November 30.

Gov. Larry Hogan canceled the bill-signing ceremony scheduled for April 28, 2015, in response to rioting in Baltimore. Prior to the cancellation, Hogan released a list of over 180 bills he intends to sign, including a bill to change contribution disclosure reporting for lobbyist employers.

Senate Bill 767 modifies the threshold amount to include contributions in the aggregate amount of $500 or more, in order to match disclosure requirements of persons doing public business. The bill also changes semi-annual reporting dates to May 31 and November 30.

Since the bill goes into effect June 1, 2015, this year’s dates have been modified to August 31 and November 30. Previously, reports were due on February 5 and August 5.

House Bill 769, a bill making similar changes to contribution disclosure requirements for persons doing public business, is not listed as a bill to be signed. The final bill signing is currently scheduled for May 12, 2015.

Photo of Gov. Larry Hogan by Marrh2 on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Larry Hogan is expected to sign a new political contribution disclosure law covering government contractors. House Bill 769 makes significant changes to the law just months after the January 1 effective date of amendments passed in the prior legislative session. In fact, many of the bill’s provisions were prompted by questions regarding the most recent version of the law.

The new amendments clarify that a single qualifying contract of $200,000 or more with a state or local governmental entity is covered by the disclosure law, whether awarded before or after January 1, 2015. The bill also changes semi-annual reporting dates to May 31 and November 30.

Since the bill goes into effect June 1, 2015, this year’s dates have been modified to August 31 and November 30. Previously, reports were due on February 5 and August 5.

The General Assembly adjourned late Monday, April 13, 2015, after a lengthy debate regarding the state’s fiscal plan.

Last week Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order to extend the session if lawmakers failed to pass a budget, but the budget plan opposed by Hogan cleared the House and Senate on party-line votes, with Democrats in favor and Republicans against.

Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order to extend the legislative session beyond the expected adjournment date of April 13, 2015. Executive Order 01.01.2015.15 will extend the General Assembly session for no longer than 10 days to provide additional time for legislators to pass a budget.

During the 10-day extension, the budget bill is the only piece of legislation able to be debated among the General Assembly.

The state constitution provides for the governor to take such action when the budget bill has not been passed by the 83rd day of the regular legislative session.

County Council has voted to enact public financing for county elections beginning with the 2015-2018 election cycle. Bill 16-14 will establish a public election fund, regulate participating candidates, and authorize the Maryland State Board of Elections to enforce the provisions.

To qualify, candidates for county executive or council must demonstrate viability by raising a specific number of small individual contributions between $5 and $150. Candidates for county executive need at least 500 contributions totaling $40,000. At-large council candidates must collect 250 donations worth $20,000.

Maryland lawmakers included a public funding option for counties as part of a 2013 campaign finance reform bill. Montgomery is the first county to pass such a public campaign financing measure.