During heavy floor action late Friday, the Maryland General Assembly gave final approval or came close to it on bills restricting legislative scholarships, holding up driver’s licenses for truants, increasing penalties for child pornography and banning the sale of inhaled alcohol.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The House of Delegates added domestic partners to the list of relatives who will be ineligible to receive a scholarship from a state senator or delegate under the state’s legislative scholarship program. The bill (SB 739) already excluded spouses, parents, siblings, children, in-laws, grandchildren and grandparents from the scholarship program.

The amended bill passed the House 99-37. The Senate will have to agree to the change before the bill can become law.

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PORNOGRAPHY

Lawmakers passed a bill (HB 285) that increases the penalties for possession of child pornography. The maximum penalty for the first offense of possession of a film, videotape, photo or other visual depiction of a child under 16 engaged in some type of sexual act was increased from one year in jail to two. Subsequent offenses now carry a maximum penalty ranging from two years in prison and a $5,000 fine to five years and a $10,000 fine. Efforts to make possession of child porn a felony, rather than a misdemeanor, failed in House and Senate committees.

TRUANTS

A bill that would deny a driver’s learner’s permit to a student who has missed 10 or more days of school in the previous semester was sent to the governor for his signature when the House agreed to accept changes made to the bill (HB 571) in the Senate. A copy of a student’s school attendance record now will be required before a learner’s permit can be issued.

ALCOHOL

The Senate sent to the governor’s desk legislation (HB 670) that will make it illegal to sell alcohol without liquid, an inhaled form of liquor that is becoming popular in some nightclubs and brings on intoxication more quickly.

REAL ESTATE

Final passage was given to a bill (SB 945) that will close a tax loophole used by some large corporations to avoid paying state income taxes. The companies create real estate trusts for the buildings they own and pay rent to them. Dividends paid out by qualified REITs are not taxed by the state, but now they will be.

stracy@baltimoreexaminer.com