SUN: 7 Maryland laws taking effect June 1 that residents should know

Hundreds of bills became law in Maryland this year. Here are 7 taking effect Monday:

The law requires the Maryland State Department of Education to issue statewide guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in public schools. Local school systems are given a 120-day countdown from the publication of these state guidelines to formally adopt their own matching AI policies, assign a central-office AI coordinator, and incorporate AI literacy into standard computer science and workforce-preparation coursework.

This law extends Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise program and related procurement preferences, continuing requirements that state agencies consider minority-owned businesses in certain contracting, licensing and development programs, including some tied to cannabis, offshore wind, public-private partnerships and sports wagering. The law also pushes back several reporting and study deadlines, keeping oversight requirements in place longer. It also requires additional reviews, reports and evaluations before lawmakers decide whether to extend it again.

This law grants the State Elections Administrator and local election directors the ability to direct law-enforcement authorities inside polling environments. These election officials can now independently order the arrest of any individual who disrupts the peace or attempts to intimidate voters. It also updates rules for partisan “challengers and watchers,” allowing election officials to limit their access to polling places.

Read the full story on The Baltimore Sun’s website.