Gov. Larry Hogan has announced the appointment of Nicole Williams to represent District 22 in Prince George’s County.

Williams is replacing Del. Tawanna Gaines, who resigned last month after pleading guilty in federal court to illegally using campaign funds for personal benefit.

Gov. Hogan appointed Williams following the unanimous recommendations by the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee.

Gov. Larry Hogan has set February 4, 2020, as the date for the special primary election to fill the vacant 7th Congressional District seat.

The seat is vacant after Rep. Elijah Cummings passed away earlier this month.

The special general election to fill the remainder of Rep. Cumming’s term will be held on April 28, 2020; the same day as Maryland’s regularly scheduled primary election.

Gov. Larry Hogan will soon issue a proclamation stating a special primary and a special general election will be held to fill the vacant 7th Congressional District seat.

The seat became vacant after Rep. Elijah Cummings passed away early Thursday morning.

A date for the special election has not yet been determined.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill authorizing Anne Arundel County to change local ethics rules covering county elections to limit developer money and reduce influence on campaigns.

The bill also prohibits a member of the Anne Arundel County Council from participating in any legislative action relevant to a zoning change, amendment, or an application if the member has received or benefited from a contribution or donation.

The bill becomes effective July 1.

The Maryland House of Delegates elected Del. Adrienne Jones as the new House speaker on May 1.

Last month, Gov. Larry Hogan called the special session to elect a successor to the late Michael E. Busch, who passed away on April 7.

Del. Jones was the speaker pro tem and had been Busch’s second-in-command for 16 years.

The special session was delayed for more than two hours as Democrats battled over who should succeed the longtime speaker.

After much debate, Del. Jones won the nomination and was subsequently elected to the position, making her the first female and first African American speaker in state history.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed House Bill 679 on April 30.

The bill prohibits a state official from unlawfully harassing or discriminating against a regulated lobbyist based on any characteristic protected by law.

Additionally, House Bill 679 prohibits a regulated lobbyist from discriminating or harassing a state official or employee.

The Department of General Services will be able to revoke the special access to the state legislative complex granted to a regulated lobbyist who violates this prohibition.

House Bill 679 becomes effective October 1.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed Senate Bill 79 on April 18.

The bill requires lobbyists to file registrations and certain reports electronically with the State Ethics Commission.

The State Ethics Commission is also required to develop procedures regarding these electronic filings by lobbyists.

Gov. Hogan also signed an executive order calling for the Maryland General Assembly to convene a special session on Wednesday, May 1.

The special session will allow the House of Delegates to elect a successor to the late Speaker Michael E. Busch, who passed away on April 7.

Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican who has emphasized bipartisanship, was re-elected as Maryland’s governor.

He is the first Republican to win re-election in Maryland since 1954, although Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state 2-1.

Hogan has the same priorities for his second term as his first: making improvements in education, job creation, transportation infrastructure and working for tax relief.

Hogan defeated Ben Jealous, who would have been Maryland’s first black governor and is a former national president of the NAACP.

Jealous had a progressive agenda that included tuition-free college and expanding Medicare to all. He supported funding full-day, universal kindergarten with the tax revenue from his proposal to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die at midnight on April 9, 2018. Lawmakers passed legislation involving sexual harassment.

House Bill 1342, bans lobbyists from sexually harassing a member, employee, intern, or page of the General Assembly, an employee of the Department of Legal Services, an official or employee of the Maryland Executive Branch, or an individual regulated lobbyist.

Additionally, a lobbyist may report a violation of antiharassment policy and procedures by a member of the General Assembly to the State Ethics Commission.

If Gov. Hogan signs the bill into law, it will be effective immediately, however, the section involving lobbyists will not be effective until July 1, 2019.

Sen. Nathaniel Oaks resigned from the Maryland Senate before pleading guilty to corruption charges on March 29, 2018.

Gov. Larry Hogan will appoint a person to fill the vacancy from a name submitted by the Democrats.

Hogan’s spokesman stated the governor does not plan to name a successor before the General Assembly adjourns.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed House Bills 390 and 426 into law. Both bills amend the procurement code.

House Bill 390 requires business to file a public disclosure form if, during a calendar year, a business enters into contracts, leases, or other agreements with the state worth $200,000 or more.

House Bill 426 amends the dollar value of small procurements from $25,000 to $50,000.

Both bills will become effective on October 1, 2017.

The bill prohibits former lobbyists from participating in a case, contract, or other specific matter as a public official or employee for one calendar year after the termination of their registration if the former regulated lobbyist previously assisted or represented another party in the matter.

Additionally, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and treasurer are prohibited from lobbying legislative matters for one calendar year after leaving office.

The bill requires a regulated lobbyist who serves on a board or commission and is disqualified from participating in a specific matter to file a statement of recusal with the board or commission describing the circumstances of the conflict.

The bill will become effective October 1, 2017.

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 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.