GLASSMAN ENTERS COMPTROLLER RACE: As Harford County Executive Barry Glassman announced he is running for comptroller, Maryland’s Republican lawmakers heaped praise upon him, Bryan Renbaum reports for Maryland Reporter.

• Glassman became the first Republican to declare himself a candidate for state comptroller at the Level Volunteer Fire Company firehouse, James Whitlow reports for The Aegis.
• Glassman, 59, grew up in Harford and in his announcement cast himself as a fiscal conservative, Erin Cox reports for the Post. He said he would use the state tax collector job to be a financial watchdog and taxpayer advocate.
• Glassman acknowledged that any Republican running statewide enters the contest as an underdog, but he said he is proud of his track record and said voters are looking for a moderate in a comptroller, Bruce DePuyt writes for Maryland Matters.

SESSION PASSED MAJOR BILLS: The Maryland General Assembly operated like never before in 2021 but still passed significant measures that included a multi-billion dollar COVID-19 relief plan, historic police reform, legalized sports wagering, and a wave of overrides of the governor’s vetoes, the Capital News Service staff reports in Maryland Reporter.

SESSION WRAP-UP REPORT: CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR STATUS UPDATES: Join the Maryland Clean Energy Center for the final program in their 2021 Policy Watch Series. Guest legislators will summarize the significance of bills that passed, bills that failed, and their effects on the Energy Sector, during this summary overview of the 2021 Maryland Legislative Session, April 19. Advance registration is required.

STARTING SPORTS BETTING WILL TAKE TIME: Sports betting in the state now has an approved framework, but the rollout could take 12 to 24 months, Amanda Yeager reports for the Baltimore Business Journal. Casinos and race tracks are likely to be the first to offer it, with bingo parlors and sports stadiums next.

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORMS BECOMING LAW: The General Assembly has passed two bills that will make it easier to afford and sign up for health insurance, Johanna Alonso reports for The Daily Record. An easy enrollment option will help people seek health insurance as they sign up for unemployment benefits. Another will help keep premiums low for the general population.

ANALYSIS: INSIDE THE 2022 GOVERNORS RACE: The Duckpin’s Brian Griffiths revised his 2022 gubernatorial power rankings drastically this week after his #1 ranked contender, Boyd Rutherford, announced he was not going to run. The rankings show who seems best positioned to win, or a “snapshot in time,” that will be changing as the former Red Maryland editor updates every month.

• Though the election is 19 months away, Baltimore Fishbowl reviews the Republican names that have been mentioned as the period of heavy fundraising and travelling to build name recognition is starting now, writes Brian Shane.

STATE AGREES TO COVID SAFETY MEASURES IN JAIL COURT CASE: The state has reached a settlement by agreeing for all detainees at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore to be offered vaccines by May 1 and other safeguards for coronavirus spread, Phil Davis reports for the Sun.

FORMER DEL LEADS SEC 8 OBJECTION: Former Del. Pat McDonough is leading a fight against plans by County Executive Johnny Olszewski to make way for low-income housing, vouchers commonly known as “Section 8,” Rielle Creighton reports for WBFF. McDonough sees the affordable housing program as a threat to some of Baltimore County’s affluent neighborhoods.

MD GUN LAW CHALLENGED IN SUPREME COURT: Gun Group Maryland Shall Issue has argued in court that the state cannot avoid its constitutional obligation to financially compensate gun owners for having forced them to surrender what had been lawfully possessed devices, Steve Lash reports for The Daily Record. Bump stocks and other “rapid-fire trigger activators,” which make firearms fire faster, cannot be seized without compensation just because they have become “politically unpopular property,” the gun rights group told the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

STATE TO HELP BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY PURPLE LINE CONSTRUCTION: Businesses hurt by construction of the 16-mile Purple Line are eligible for $2.5 million in financial aid allotted by the Maryland General Assembly over the next three fiscal years, Katherine Shaver reports for the Post. Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, D-Montgomery, said the money will be available through the state Department of Commerce and will help struggling businesses, many of which are small and minority owned.

LOTTERY CHIEF RETIRES: Gordon Mendenica is retiring from overseeing the state’s lottery and casino industries after years of steadily increasing revenues, Jeff Barker reports for the Sun.