Gas Tax Headlines Proposals Out Of Maryland Senate

A slew of bills were introduced in the Maryland Senate today, but it's a measure that could come later this week that will get the biggest reaction from lawmakers.

After a brief morning session where 50 bills were officially introduced, senate president Mike Miller told reporters he is considering a bill that would raise $300 million for new transportation projects by raising the state's gas tax, which has not be increased in two decades.

Miller also wants to give areas that rely on mass transit, like Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, as well as the city of Baltimore, the authority to have higher taxes than the rest of the state to allow those areas to pay for projects like the Purple and Red Lines.

Miller's bill could be introduced later in the week.

As for the proposals introduced this morning, one would set the maximum penalty for anyone convicted of carrying 10 or less grams of marijuana to a $100 fine, while another would make it mandatory for anyone applying for a driver's license to pass a first aid and CPR course in addition to a driver's test before getting the license.