The Maryland Department of General Services launched the state’s new electronic procurement system, eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA).

The eMMA system is Maryland’s new online platform used to connect the vendor community with contracting opportunities from state, county, and local government entities.

Registered vendors will receive notices of bid opportunities, submit bid responses, and obtain bid results online.

Accounts from the previous system will not be transferred to eMMA.

Vendors will have to register with the new system.

The state is currently training over 825 procurement professionals to help during the transition and provide training to users.

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.

On May 5, Mayor Gavin Buckley issued a proclamation declaring the Ward 6 council seat vacant after the resignation of former Alderwoman Shaneka Henson.

Henson was selected to complete the term of the late Michael Busch in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Henson resigned after last Monday’s regular City Council meeting.

According to the City Charter, the Mayor had to issue a proclamation to fill the council seat within five days after receiving the resignation and schedule the dates for a special election.

The dates for the two special elections are the primary on June 4, with the general on July 2.

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.

Campaign finance and ethics changes are happening in states all over the country. Find out which states made changes last week in today’s News You Can Use Video Digest.

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.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 8.

Legislators were in mourning due to the death of House Speaker Michael Busch the day prior.

A Democrat from Anne Arundel County, Busch served as speaker for 16 years, longer than anyone in state history.

Though delegates will vote for a new leader at a later date, county committee members will appoint a successor to Busch’s House seat.

U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm, has enjoined Maryland from enforcing M.C.E.L. §§ 13-405 and 13-405.1.

The statutes in question, require online platforms, like search engines and social media sites, to publicly disclose the contact information and amount paid by the purchaser to the online platform for the placement of the qualifying paid digital communication within 48 hours.

In the 50-page opinion, the judge concludes the statutes encroach on First Amendment freedoms. The state may file an interlocutory appeal.

On October 15, 2018, the Baltimore City Council passed an ethics bill introduced by City Councilman Zeke Cohen.

Ordinance No. 18-0230, also known as the Transparency in Lobbying Act, became law without the mayor’s signature on December 3, 2018.

The ordinance requires lobbyists to file reports twice a year and affirmatively identify their clients when approaching city government officials. Additionally, any lobbyist violating the act may be banned for a period of three years.

An amendment was adopted delaying the effective date of the reporting provisions. As a result, lobbyists will file the annual report due January 31, 2019.

Following the 2019 annual report, lobbyists will likely report semi-annually beginning with a report due on July 31, 2019.

The bill will be effective March 3, 2019, while the section impacting reporting requirements will be effective March 3, 2019, or 30 days from a viable online reporting system being implemented, whichever is later.

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.

On October 15, 2018, the Anne Arundel County Council passed a public ethics bill originally proposed by County Executive Steve Schuh.

Bill No. 80-18 increases late filing fees for lobbyists and employees, adds a revolving door provision, modifies certain definitions, requires employee ethics training, and creates changes to comply with state ethics laws, among other provisions.

The bill also updates who is required to file financial disclosure statements.

The bill was signed by Schuh and will be effective on December 6, 2018.

On October 15,2018, the Anne Arundel County Council passed a public ethics bill originally proposed by County Executive Steve Schuh.

Bill No. 80-18 increases late filing fees for lobbyists and employees, adds a revolving door provision, modifies certain definitions, requires employee ethics training, and creates changes to comply with state ethics laws, among other provisions. The bill also updates who is required to file financial disclosure statements.

The bill will become effective 45 days from the signature of the County Executive.

County Executive Steve Schuh proposed a bill to County Council to amend the county ethics provisions.

Bill No. 80-18 increases late filing fee for lobbyists and employees, adds a revolving door provision, modifies certain definitions, requires employee ethics training, and creates changes to comply with state ethics laws, among other provisions. The bill also updates who is required to file financial disclosure statements.

At the September 17 council meeting, an amendment passed to remove an exemption for free tickets and admission to certain events.

In April, City Councilman Zeke Cohen introduced an ordinance amending the Baltimore City Ethics Code.

Ordinance No. 18-0230 originally required lobbyists to file reports quarterly instead of annually.

At a work session for the bill, the reporting period was amended from quarterly to semi-annual reporting.

The bill was also amended to require a working online portal by June 1, 2019.

If passed, the ordinance will become effective 30 days after it is enacted.