March 26th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

The House of Delegates approved a $58.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year, and negotiators are likely to start meeting soon to reconcile differences with the budget proposal passed by the Maryland Senate last week. The House made about four dozen changes to the Senate budget plan, including increasing appropriations for potential launches of a paid family leave insurance program and a legalized cannabis industry in the state. The chamber also sought, again, to phase out a publicly funded private school voucher program.

Like the Senate, the House has set aside $350 million for a tax relief deal being negotiated between top lawmakers and the office of Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).