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| Maryland voters could decide the fate of daily fantasy sports | Maryland voters could decide the fate of daily fantasy sports |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| and Josh Hicks | and Josh Hicks |
| Maryland voters could decide in November whether daily fantasy sports, an online game that has become widely popular, should be legal in the state. | |
| Under a bill that advanced in the Senate on Tuesday, voters would weigh in on whether the unregulated game should be legalized. | |
| The legislation includes regulations for the daily fantasy sports industry, which has been banned in New York, Texas and elsewhere. But those regulations would only take effect if the ballot referendum to legalize daily fantasy sports is approved. | |
| [Fantasy sports games make a play for legitimacy] | [Fantasy sports games make a play for legitimacy] |
| In a separate bill, daily fantasy sports would become illegal, effective January 2017, if voters reject the referendum proposal. | |
| Lobbyists for DraftKings and FanDuel, the top fantasy sports operators, have been scurrying to get regulations for daily online fantasy sports put in place across the country. | Lobbyists for DraftKings and FanDuel, the top fantasy sports operators, have been scurrying to get regulations for daily online fantasy sports put in place across the country. |
| Virginia recently became the first state in the country to regulate the activity, which has been declared illegal in seven states. | Virginia recently became the first state in the country to regulate the activity, which has been declared illegal in seven states. |
| “We want to give the people a chance to decide yes or no,” said Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Prince George’s), the sponsor of the Maryland legislation. He said legislators also “want to be fair” to the state’s casinos, “to be honest with you.” | “We want to give the people a chance to decide yes or no,” said Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Prince George’s), the sponsor of the Maryland legislation. He said legislators also “want to be fair” to the state’s casinos, “to be honest with you.” |
| Earlier this year, Attorney General Brian E. Frosh’s office recommended that the General Assembly clarify the legality of daily fantasy sports operations during its 90-day session, which ends in April. Frosh’s office suggested that the state constitution may require a referendum to authorize such activities. | Earlier this year, Attorney General Brian E. Frosh’s office recommended that the General Assembly clarify the legality of daily fantasy sports operations during its 90-day session, which ends in April. Frosh’s office suggested that the state constitution may require a referendum to authorize such activities. |
| The bills are scheduled for a final vote in the Senate on Thursday. They would then move to the House for consideration. | The bills are scheduled for a final vote in the Senate on Thursday. They would then move to the House for consideration. |
| The Senate also gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that changes the translation of the words on the state motto to be more gender-neutral and to a measure that would mandate that funding for pre-kindergarten increase by $3.7 million in fiscal 2018 and $7.3 million in fiscal 2019. | |
| [How a ‘sexist’ 16th century quote became Maryland’s state motto] | [How a ‘sexist’ 16th century quote became Maryland’s state motto] |
| The Senate delayed action until Wednesday on a pay-equity bill that would prohibit private-sector employers from punishing workers who talk about their salaries, while also barring employers from providing women less favorable advance opportunities, such as restricting them from management positions under the assumption they’ll become pregnant. | The Senate delayed action until Wednesday on a pay-equity bill that would prohibit private-sector employers from punishing workers who talk about their salaries, while also barring employers from providing women less favorable advance opportunities, such as restricting them from management positions under the assumption they’ll become pregnant. |
| The Senate also gave initial approval to a $999 million capital budget bill, which includes $27.5 million for Prince George’s Hospital Center. | |
| The House also gave preliminary approval to Gov. Larry Hogan’s budget, adding minor amendments. As it has for many years, the Democratic-majority House on Tuesday rejected a budget amendment to end state funding for abortions in cases where a physician has determined that the procedure is necessary to protect the mental health of the woman. | The House also gave preliminary approval to Gov. Larry Hogan’s budget, adding minor amendments. As it has for many years, the Democratic-majority House on Tuesday rejected a budget amendment to end state funding for abortions in cases where a physician has determined that the procedure is necessary to protect the mental health of the woman. |
| House Appropriations Committee Chair Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore) described the budget as “fiscally prudent and socially responsible,” saying it invests in state residents and leaves $1.4 billion in reserves and cash balance. | |
| Also Tuesday, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) made changes to committee assignments, moving longtime Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden (D-Baltimore) onto the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. | |
| The committee is dealing with several weighty issues this session, including a bill to change how nonviolent drug offenders are sentenced and how long they are imprisoned, and a police reform measure that would change the way officers are hired, trained and disciplined. | The committee is dealing with several weighty issues this session, including a bill to change how nonviolent drug offenders are sentenced and how long they are imprisoned, and a police reform measure that would change the way officers are hired, trained and disciplined. |
| McFadden has been in the Senate since 1995 and has served as president pro tempore since 2007. He has served on the Budget and Taxation Committee for 21 years and was one of two members of that committee assigned to a workgroup last year that studied how to reduce prison populations and costs. | |
| McFadden will join Judicial Proceedings in place of Sen. Lisa A. Gladden (D-Baltimore), who has been absent since she was hospitalized about two weeks ago. | |
| “Baltimore City needs a representative on that committee,” Miller said. “It needs another African American on the committee.” | “Baltimore City needs a representative on that committee,” Miller said. “It needs another African American on the committee.” |