June 30th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

Maryland on Saturday will become the first state in the nation with a law to protect funding for Planned Parenthood from a possible federal cutoff. The Baltimore Sun reports legislation ensuring that the state will cover the cost of the group's health care services in Maryland if Congress blocks it from receiving federal funding is among the more than 250 bills passed by the General Assembly that will become law July 1.

The new laws include Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's plan to offer tax breaks for manufacturers who bring new jobs to economically disadvantaged parts of the state, as well as his proposal to expand technical education. Other laws give retired police officers and firefighters a tax break, require schools to educate students about the dangers of heroin and other opioids, and rename two state departments.

In addition to the changes brought by this year's laws, the state's minimum wage will increase 50 cents to $9.25 an hour under a law passed in 2014.

The measure protecting Planned Parenthood's funding, which the Democratic-dominated legislature passed amid Republican opposition, became law without Hogan's signature.