New laws taking effect July 1 in Maryland will change alcohol regulations in Worcester County, as well as update statewide rules for schools, cannabis enforcement, health coverage, and electric vehicle charging.
One new law affecting Worcester County has expanded the Board of License Commissioners from three members to five. It also staggers terms for board members and increases annual pay from $2,100 to $4,200.
The powerful board, whose members are appointed by the governor, decides who gets to sell alcohol, enforces the rules for those sales and can penalize those who failed to observe them.
The legislative changes came from a collaboration between Lower Shore lawmakers Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) and Del. Wayne Hartman (R-38C), who each sponsored a version of the bill.
Another alcohol-related bill from Carozza that took effect July 1 (SB 846) has legalized to-go drinks for municipal events.
That tourism-related measure is intended to drive foot traffic during street fairs and festivals. It allows Berlin, Pocomoke City, and Snow Hill to set a footprint where attendees can carry open alcoholic beverages in approved to-go cups.
For Hartman, a bill he sponsored that took effect July 1 (HB 500, SB 309) creates a sales tax exemption for sales of gold and silver coins and bullion valued over $1,000. The old law only exempted sales tax when purchases were made at Baltimore’s convention center.