January 30th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

 State lawmakers voted Thursday morning to override five vetoes Gov. Larry Hogan issued last year. One of the bills eliminates the Handgun Permit Review Board, the civilian board that considers handgun permits applications and modifications rejected by Maryland State Police.

Under the measure, that job now goes to administrative law judges. Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, vice chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the bill is needed because judges operate without bias. Several Republicans objected to the override, claiming the board acted fairly.

The Senate and House also overrode Hogan's veto of the so-called "ban the box" bill, which prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant's criminal record.  

Supporters said the measure will make it easier for ex-offenders to get hired. The measure was sponsored by Baltimore City Del. Nick Mosby and Baltimore City Sen. Jill Carter.

Lawmakers also overrode a veto of a bill that would streamline the process for employee grievances, sending the grievances directly to administrative law judges.

Lawmakers also voted to override the veto of a bill that expands the Maryland Dream Act. The bill allows students who are undocumented immigrants to attend four-year colleges and claim in-state tuition rates. Under the previous law, those students had to earn an associate's degree or 60 credits at a community college before receiving in-state tuition at a four-year institution. It also reduces the time someone must have attended a Maryland high school from three years to any amount of time.

The House and Senate also voted to override Hogan's veto of a bill that creates a new system for making oyster harvesting rules.  

All of the overrides passed on largely party-line votes with most or all Democrats voting to override the vetoes, and Republicans voting against the overrides.

Three vetoes were allowed to stand.

The Senate suspended debate indefinitely on the veto of a bill that requires all freight trains to have at least a two-person crew. Lawmakers also decided not to override Hogan's veto of a bill that would have placed additional restrictions on the governor's appointment powers.

There also was not a veto override vote on a bill that would have funded the Bikeways Network Program. Hogan had said the legislation was not needed, since the program was already funded in the state budget.