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June 24, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

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Hogan Announces End of COVID-19 State of Emergency in Maryland

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Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) announced the forthcoming end of the Maryland public health emergency on Tuesday — one year, 3 months and 10 days since the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed have reached the state.

“With all of this amazing progress and thanks, in large part, to the hard work, sacrifices and the vigilance of the people in Maryland, we have finally reached the light at the end of that long tunnel,” Hogan said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

On March 5, 2020, Hogan announced three positive cases of COVID-19, initiating the beginning of the state of emergency.

After 461,392 positive cases, 9,742 deaths and 18 executive renewals, the state of emergency will officially end July 1, doing away with suspended state regulations and mask mandates.

Private business owners and other facilities reserve the right to require patrons to be masked inside of their establishments.

“But there will not be any legal mandate from the state for wearing masks at any location anywhere in the state,” said Hogan, who added that masking will not be required at public schools, summer camps and childcare facilities.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether local school systems will be able to maintain stricter mask requirements.

The governor also announced Tuesday that the state will be extending a 45-day grace period for residents to update documents, like driver’s licenses, and the eviction moratorium.

Both of these grace periods will end on Aug. 15.

“Every single day since that day, last March, together, we have faced immense and unprecedented challenges,” Hogan said. “We’ve been through so much over the past 15 months. But just look at how far we’ve come together to reach this hopeful point.”

Hogan reflected on the state’s success in creating an infrastructure to fight the virus, from reopening closed hospitals to standing up a network of thousands of contact tracers to slow the virus’ spread.

According to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, more than 3.1 million Marylanders have been fully vaccinated.

More than 6.5 million doses have been administered, “not only meeting but exceeding our goal of reaching 70% of all adults [at least partially] vaccinated by Memorial Day,” Hogan said.

While he announced the end of the state of emergency, Hogan implored unvaccinated Marylanders to get the vaccine, stressing that as things return to normal people are still at risk of contracting the virus and its variants.

“At this point, there’s simply no excuse for not getting vaccinated,” he said. “Vaccines are safe, they’re effective and they’re readily available everywhere.”

By Hannah Gaskill

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Hogan Lifts Most Remaining COVID-19 Restrictions, Effective Saturday

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In the latest sign that the state is emerging from a pandemic that has upended everyday life for more than a year, Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) on Wednesday eased most of the remaining restrictions on public gatherings and commerce.

As a result, restaurants can return to 100% capacity both indoors and outdoors, effective on Saturday.

State restrictions on indoor entertainment venues, conventions and other businesses are also being lifted. And restrictions on outdoor professional sports, entertainment and arts venues are also being pulled.

“Effectively, as of Saturday, every business in Maryland will be able to open at 100%, with no restrictions,” Hogan told reporters outside Government House.

As of Wednesday, two-thirds of the state’s adult population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and more than 2.4 million Marylanders have been fully vaccinated.

The state’s test-positivity rate is a 2.74%, its lowest level since September. Hospital bed usage has been falling for almost a month. And the state has a plentiful supply of vaccine, with walk-up opportunities available at scores of locations, including mass-vaccination sites and pharmacies.

“The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is thrilled businesses can fully open their doors and bring Marylanders back to work with these eased restrictions,” Chamber Vice President Andrew Griffin said in an email.

“We align with the governor in following CDC recommendations and encourage the public to get vaccinated so Maryland can continue along the path of economic recovery.”

The only restriction that Hogan is retaining is the mandate to wear masks inside businesses. That requirement will be lifted when Maryland reaches the federal goal of 70% adults receiving at least one dose of a vaccine, he said.

“President Biden set the goal of trying to get things back to normal by the Fourth of July; here in Maryland, our plan is to get everything back to normal by Memorial Day,” the governor said.

Hogan said people who have yet to get vaccinated were slowing the state’s return to full economic activity and social interaction — and putting themselves and their loved ones at risk.

Anne Arundel and Harford counties announced immediately that they will lift restrictions in line with Hogan’s order.

“After consulting with our Health Officer, we have decided to follow the State’s lead,” Anne Arundel Executive Steuart Pittman (D) said in a statement.

“We believe that our low case rates will continue through the summer, but the only effective way to prevent a fall surge in cases will be a summer surge in vaccinations.”

Prince George’s County announced a hybrid approach, some businesses allowed to reopen at 100% capacity and others at 50%.

The governor’s actions mean sports teams can return to full capacity if they choose to, but it does not require them to do so.

In a May 4 letter to season-ticket holders, Ravens president Dick Cass wrote, “[W]e are optimistic that we will have a full stadium of fans this season.”

“We will continue to work diligently with state and local agencies to prepare to host fans safely,” he added. “To achieve our goal of a full stadium, we encourage everyone in our community to get vaccinated and continue following the best practices recommended by public health authorities.

The Orioles are expected to announce a stadium policy next week. It could not immediately be learned on Wednesday how the Washington Football Team will respond.

The governor said Maryland’s NFL teams “are both very anxious to be at 100% in the fall.”

The annual Preakness Stakes, which will be run on Saturday, was authorized to go to 50% capacity but opted for 10%. Hogan said he did not expect the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns Pimlico Race Course, to change its policy on short notice.

“Next year, hopefully, we’ll have it full again,” he said.

The cruise terminal in Baltimore will reopen soon, Hogan said. The CDC is working with the nation’s ports and the industry on protocols allowing passengers to cruise again.

The governor said the state Department of Labor will petition the federal government to reinstate a work-search requirement for people receiving unemployment insurance benefits.

Those requirements were suspended early in the pandemic, as business owners shed workers and job opportunities were scarce.

But now, some employers — in Ocean City and elsewhere — report having difficulty finding workers, Hogan said.

“It’s not just anecdotal. There are some people that have made the decision to stay home and to collect unemployment rather than returning to work,” he said. “We hear that every day from hundreds of people.”

The Maryland Center on Economic Policy, a progressive advocacy organization, called the reinstatement of work-search requirements “an additional obstacle for people who are out of work and an additional administrative burden” for the agency that administers benefits.

“It is premature to begin reinstating work search requirements for people relying on unemployment payments, putting at risk the economic support that has been keeping families afloat,” said Kali Schumitz, the center’s director of communications, in a statement.

“While the situation is rapidly evolving, data suggest that there are still far more job-seekers than available jobs.”

Asked whether he would join other GOP-led states in cutting expanded unemployment benefits, Hogan said Maryland would not.

“There are some people who really have been trying to find work and do need those benefits and Maryland’s cost of living is higher than a lot of those other states,” Hogan said. “At this point, we think we’re taking the steps that we need to take.”

By Bruce DePuyt

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On Untraditional First Day of School, Hogan Still Hopes For More In-Person Instruction

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Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. visited three schools in Caroline County as they opened for limited in-person instruction on Tuesday, marking the start of a less-than-traditional school year for thousands of Maryland students.

Hogan, along with State Superintendent of Schools Karen B. Salmon, visited North Caroline High School, Lockerman Middle School, and Denton Elementary School on Tuesday. Caroline County is one of 16 jurisdictions that plans to slowly phase in limited in-person instruction this fall.

Plans for in-person instruction vary by jurisdiction, with most counties planning a phased return to masked, socially distanced instruction for certain students. Students with special needs, and those who may not have access to the internet at home, are among those being brought back for in-person instruction, Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Saelens said.

Hogan said eight jurisdictions declined to open for any in-person instruction for fall semester, but said he hopes those school systems reconsider and offer some in-person instruction to students who need it.

“We asked them to go back and take another look at that by the end of the first quarter to see if there weren’t some special needs kids and some folks that are really going to suffer by not having in person instruction,” Hogan said of the jurisdictions that decided not to reopen. He noted that the decision ultimately rests with local school boards.

Salmon said local boards of education will be tracking COVID-19 cases in their districts throughout the year. She said she’s hopeful that limited in-person instruction won’t pose a huge threat of infection for students, and pointed out that Worcester and Calvert counties held in-person summer school with no reported cases.

Hogan and Salmon’s visits to Caroline County schools came a week after the State Board of Education mandated school systems across the state to have an average of 3.5 hours a day of live virtual learning by the end of 2020.

The 3.5 hours of live learning was criticized by local school boards and teachers’ unions, with some saying schools weren’t given enough time to meet the new standards.

“I’m still really disappointed in the timing and manner at which this has played out,” Lori Morrow of Prince George’s County, the parent member of the state school board, said during a state board meeting last week.

Some, including Democratic Maryland Comptroller and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Peter Franchot, have warned that in-person instruction could lead to the spread of COVID-19. In a Board of Public Works meeting last Wednesday, Franchot called in-person instruction a “huge medical experiment.”

“I want to applaud the majority of county school boards that have chosen to heed the advice of experts and follow science, and not cave in under pressure from folks down the road in Washington who want to downplay the gravity of this disease,” Franchot said.

By Bennett Leckrone

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Hogan, Md. School Head Press Schools to Reopen for In-Person Learning This Fall

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With the first day of school less than a week away, top state officials are pressuring all local school systems to reopen for at least some in-person instruction this fall.

Every local school system is allowed to begin safely reopening their buildings for in-person learning, Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) announced during a news conference Thursday afternoon. COVID-19 cases are declining across the state, with a positivity rate currently at 3.3%, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

“Nearly everyone agrees that there is no substitute for in-person instruction,” Hogan said.

All 24 Maryland school districts are beginning the year virtually, with some planning to bring in small groups of students for face-to-face learning as early as Sept. 8. However, eight school districts, including the two biggest, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, have indicated that they are remaining virtual for most of the first semester.

It is “simply not acceptable” that some school boards have “not even attempted to develop any safe reopening plans” that would bring students back into school buildings, Hogan said.

Health metrics have drastically improved since these schools made their original decision to shutter schools for half the school year, Hogan said. “I don’t really want to wait until the second quarter.”

“That’s 90 days, that’s a long time to have virtual instruction when we know that virtual instruction is very difficult for parents and very difficult for children, especially young children,” state Superintendent of Schools Karen B. Salmon said at the news conference.

Hogan asked local school systems to reconsider their plans.

“It’s easier to say we are not going to bring any kids back for the rest of the year, as opposed to sitting down and doing the hard work of trying to figure out how could we get kids back for safe instruction,” Hogan said.

The authority to change reopening plans lies with each county board of education, but their decisions must be based on new statewide benchmarks, Hogan said. “We are going to put pressure on them.”

Hogan’s fellow Republicans are already starting to apply pressure.

Earlier Thursday, Del. Michael J. Griffith (R-Harford) and Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Harford) penned a letter to the Harford County schools superintendent and Board of Education, urging them to consider a hybrid re-opening plan.

“With a population of 255,441 residents, we have only seen 2,344 [COVID] cases in Harford County since March. That translates into a .01% infection rate,” they wrote. “HCPS must take full advantage of this low infection rate, adopt reasonable measures to protect teachers, students, and parents, and greatly expand opportunities for in-school learning.”

Salmon also said she is “strongly encouraging” local schools to reevaluate their mode of instruction by the end of the first quarter of the school year, which is in November.

At least 3 1/2 hours a day should be dedicated to live learning to ensure that all Maryland children are receiving an equal education, Salmon said. The state board will decide whether that should be a new requirement for all school systems early next week.

Dr. Jinlene Chan, Maryland’s acting deputy secretary of public health services, announced new metrics Thursday for school systems to use to evaluate whether it is safe to reopen for at least some face-to-face instruction.

If a school jurisdiction has below 5% test positivity, or five cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period, it should have the ability to hold in-person instruction, as long as students, teachers and staff follow physical distancing and mask-wearing guidance, Chan said.

Even schools with positivity rates above 5% should still be able to open for at least some in-person learning in a hybrid model, she continued.

The decision is not a political issue, Hogan said, but very much the opposite. He noted that “national Democratic leaders” such as Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy similarly encouraged all schools in their states to reopen for in-person instruction in the upcoming school year.

Teachers expressed dissatisfaction with the newly announced guidelines.

“Today, [the governor and superintendent] chose to ambush and second guess the hard decisions that local boards of education, parents, and educators have made to keep students and schools safe. In the continued absence of adequate state and federal funds to help schools open safely — to include measures such as rapid testing, certified ventilation systems, and needed PPE — this is a recipe for chaos, confusion, distrust, and deepening the inequities that too many of our students face,” Cheryl Bost, the president of the Maryland State Education Association, said in a statement after the news conference.

Montgomery County Public Schools, which starts virtually on Monday, quickly responded to the new state guidelines, with officials saying they were “deeply disappointed by the last-minute announcement of this critical information for school systems.”

Prince George schools also start virtually on Monday and are planning to stay virtual until January.

“While I respect Governor Hogan’s desire to move back to in-person learning as soon as possible, we cannot responsibly do so at this time, especially since his reopening announcement today occurs just four days before the first day of school,” Prince George’s County Council Member Mel Franklin (D) said in a statement.

“Our school system has spent months planning this fall’s virtual session. It would be irresponsible to haphazardly discard those plans and throw our school semester into disarray.”

Earlier this month, Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George’s) and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) held a public roundtable discussion with three school superintendents and agreed that there needed to be clear, uniform statewide metrics for each school district to follow as they work on their reopening plans — ideally made by Chan and Salmon.

Yet these state lawmakers still do not think the newly-unveiled benchmarks are enough.

“MD gov just offered leadership through lip-service to school reopening, offering: minimal metric guidelines — which have already been met — and no guidance for when student/staff Covid cases breakout. Also, no guarantee of PPE equipment to schools,” Pinsky wrote on Twitter soon after the news conference.

Nor do the new guidelines include transmission rate thresholds or contact tracing, he said.

“We’d likely have more local school district consistency on reopening if the State had provided *any* guidance whatsoever prior to TEN DAYS before the planned start of SY 2020-21,” Ferguson tweeted.

Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City) said she was also disappointed with the governor’s announcement.

“To be clear, this was a no-news press conference. Gov. says that schools can now reopen: that was already a local decision He announced MSDE has created metrics for schools to use — the day AFTER @BaltCitySchools reopened for teachers,” she tweeted.

“He should be embarrassed.”

By Elizabeth Shwe

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Local Officials May Need State Workers to Fill Election Judge Vacancies

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Maryland’s State Board of Elections might take Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) up on his offer to encourage state employees to fill election judge vacancies for local election boards across the state.

A shortage of election judges, fueled by safety concerns because of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, could foil Hogan’s plan to open every polling place for the Nov. 3 election.

David Garreis, president of the Maryland Association of Election Officials, warned that local election boards might have to consolidate polling places because they would not have enough election judges to operate them all.

“It’s becoming impossible to fill all of these vacancies,” Garreis told the State Board of Elections during a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon. “We’re not going to be able to make up for this election judge shortfall.”

In a July 8 letter, Hogan told members of Maryland’s elections board that the state would provide personal protective equipment and encourage state employees to fill in as election judges when needed. Now, as privately owned polling locations are being withdrawn for the Nov. 3 election and poll workers call it quits, officials are considering asking the governor for help.

“We need to let the governor know as soon as possible, so that his administration can get the word out and recruit state employees to be judges,” state elections board Vice Chairman Patrick J. Hogan said. “The inability to staff polling places, as we all know, will have dramatic impacts on the ability for such places to open at all.”

Garreis, who is also the deputy elections director for Anne Arundel County, said roughly 35% of poll worker positions for the upcoming election are vacant statewide. He has said it takes about 25,000 poll workers to run a general election in Maryland.

Poll worker positions need to be filled sooner rather than later, Garreis said. He said Anne Arundel County plans to begin training its election judges in mid-August, and that larger counties may begin training before then.

After the governor announced his intent, earlier this month, to hold a more traditional election in November,  voting rights advocates, Democratic lawmakers and local election boards have called for him to reverse course and conduct a mail-in election.

On Wednesday, activists and lawmakers gathered outside of Hogan’s Annapolis residence and accused the governor of voter suppression.

Hogan seemed firm in his decision to expand in-person voting and send every registered Marylander an application for a mail-in ballot.

At a Wednesday evening press conference, the governor slammed the criticism and accusations of voter suppression as a “typical partisan argument.” He also criticized the State Board of Elections for what he described as a lack of preparation for the upcoming election.

Garreis pushed back on the governor’s claims of partisanship during the elections board’s Thursday meeting.

“The issues that we’re having are not a partisan issue,” Garreis said. “It’s a logistical issue stemming from a public health crisis.”

Officials also approved prepaid return envelopes for mail-in voting applications for the November election. Deputy Elections Administrator Nikki Charlson said the postage isn’t in the election board’s budget, but officials have said they’ll submit a budget amendment to cover that and other costs for the general election.

Prepaid postage for voters to return applications and mail-in ballots is expected to cost the state roughly $1.8 million, according to a recent letter to state officials from Maryland Elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone.

Elections board members also heard concerns from a Montgomery County resident about electronic ballots in the November elections. Lynn Garland said she has experience in elections security and noted that electronic ballots have to be printed by voters and transcribed by poll workers before they can be counted. That process is cumbersome, she said, and could delay results into December.

Republican Maryland elections board member Kelley A. Howells said she is worried about the prospect of already-limited poll workers painstakingly transcribing electronic ballots by hand.

 “It really frightens me,” Howells said.

Many other board members seemed to share Howells’ concern and the board instructed staff to look at ways to encourage voters to use mail-in ballots rather than electronic ones.

The term “absentee ballot” is no longer used in Maryland. Charlson said a new state law changed the term to “mail-in ballot” and asked board members to refrain from using the “absentee” term.

By Bennett Leckrone

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Gov. Hogan Takes Aggressive Action to Protect Nursing Home Residents, Staff Amid COVID-19 Outbreaks

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Gov. Larry Hogan today enacted an emergency order to protect residents and staff at Maryland nursing home facilities, and bolster the state’s mitigation and suppression efforts amid outbreaks of COVID-19.

Effective immediately, new directives will require facilities to direct all staff who interact with residents to wear personal protective equipment, create separate observation and isolation areas for residents, and expedite all testing through the Maryland State Public Health Laboratory.

Gov. Larry Hogan

“As we have been saying for several weeks, older Marylanders and those with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable and at a significantly higher risk of contracting, getting more severely ill, and dying from this disease,” Hogan said. “Of major concern is that we currently have cases or clusters of cases at 81 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state. Our highest priority is keeping Marylanders safe, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

On March 10, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) issued strong guidance to long-term and continuing care facilities to restrict visitation and begin implementing infection control protocols.

Today’s directives requires nursing home facilities to adjust and strengthen their policies, protocols, and procedures in line with all state and federal guidance related to COVID-19, and immediately adopt a series of enhanced protective measures:

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR STAFF. All personnel who are in close contact with residents of nursing homes shall wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including a face mask, appropriate eye protection, gloves, and gown. The PPE should be worn at all times while providing care to residents in the facility and personnel should follow CDC guidance for using personal protective equipment. Facilities must use the process established by MDH to request PPE from the state.

EXPEDITED TESTING FOR SYMPTOMATIC RESIDENTS. All facilities must use the most expeditious means available for testing. This includes using either a COVID-19 test kit provided by the state laboratory or another lab to send specimens to the state laboratory for expedited COVID-19 testing of residents and staff. Symptomatic residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities are among the patient groups prioritized by the state laboratory, alongside hospitalized patients and symptomatic health care providers and first responders.

SEPARATE OBSERVATION AREAS. All facilities must designate a unit of staff who are assigned to care for known or suspected COVID-19 residents; designate a room, unit, or floor of the nursing home as a separate observation area where newly admitted and readmitted residents are kept for 14 days on contact and droplet precautions while being observed every shift for signs and symptoms of COVID-19; and designate a room, unit, or floor of the nursing home to care for residents with known or suspected COVID-19.

PLACEMENT OF DISCHARGED PATIENTS. MDH’s Office of Health Care Quality will assist acute care hospitals, if necessary, in discharging patients who require nursing-home level care.  Facilities must cooperate with the Office of Health Care Quality and hospitals in the placement of discharged patients.

RIGHT OF RETURN FOR RESIDENTS. Nursing home residents admitted or seen at a hospital for COVID-19 must be allowed to return to the nursing home as long as the facility can follow the approved CDC recommendations for transmission-based precautions. If the residents must temporarily go to other facilities, every effort must be made by the receiving and original nursing homes to transfer the residents back to their original nursing homes as soon as possible.

Governor Hogan’s order makes compliance with these directives mandatory. Anyone who knowingly and willfully violates this order is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year, or a fine not exceeding $5,000—or both.

All of Governor Hogan’s emergency orders and proclamations are available here. For COVID-19 resources, including case counts and clinician guidance, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Hogan: Non-Essential Businesses Must Close at 5 p.m., Residents Urged to Stay Home

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Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered all non-essential businesses in the state to close effective 5 p.m. Monday, March 23.

“We are not issuing or ordering a shelter-in-place directive or forcing people to stay home,” Hogan said. “However, we are telling all Marylanders to follow all of the directives we’ve already issued and to follow state law against crowds of more than 10 people.

“And we are telling you, unless you have an essential reason to leave your house, then you should stay in your homes.

“Today’s actions of closing non-essential businesses are absolutely necessary to protect the health of Marylanders and to save lives,” the governor said. “This is an exceptionally challenging time for Marylanders and for all Americans and that includes those who are out of work and our small business community.

“Our first priority is saving the lives of thousands of Marylanders, and while we are fighting this unprecedented worldwide pandemic, at the same time we’re also facing another huge battle against the potential of tremendous economic harm,” Hogan said. “And we must tackle both of these problems aggressively and simultaneously. Both of these battles are going to take all of us at the federal, state and local levels and the private sector rising to this challenge and working together.”

The Office of Legal Counsel at the state attorney general’s office offered the following guidance concerning Hogan’s executive order:

1. Not a Shelter-in-Place Order. The Order is not a shelter-in-place order. However, all Marylanders are urged to remain home, and employers are urged to promote work-from-home arrangements to the greatest extent possible.

2. Businesses, Organizations, and Facilities That May Remain Open. The following is a non- exhaustive list of businesses, organizations, and facilities that are included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors. The Order does not require these businesses, organizations, and facilities to close.

a. The Chemical Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Pharmaceutical manufacturers.
ii. Chemical manufacturers.
iii. Distributors of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

b. The Commercial Facilities Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Lodging.
ii. Building and property maintenance companies, including without limitation plumbers, electricians, HVAC service companies, roofers, environmental services companies, exterminators, arborists, and landscapers.
iii. Janitorial firms.
iv. Companies that sell supplies and materials for maintenance of commercial and residential buildings, including “big box” home improvement supply stores, plumbing distributors, electrical distributors, and HVAC distributors.
v. Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry services.
vi. Commercial and residential construction companies.
vii. Self-storage facilities.
Please note: Casinos, racetracks, simulcast betting facilities, enclosed malls, certain recreational establishments, and certain retail businesses are subject to specific provisions of this and other Orders, and are required to close. Please read the Order
carefully.

c. The Communications Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Broadcasting companies and stations.
ii. Cable TV companies.
iii. Telephone (cellular and landline) companies.
iv. Internet service providers.

d. The Critical Manufacturing Sector includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing of:
i. Steel, iron, and aluminum products.
ii. Engines, motors, turbines, generators, and power transmission equipment.
iii. Earth-moving, mining, agricultural, and construction equipment.
iv. Parts for water, electric, and telecommunications utility infrastructure.
v. Land, air, and water vehicles, and related parts.
vi. Medical equipment.
vii. Personal protective equipment.
viii. Cleaning and sanitation equipment and supplies.

e. The Defense Industrial Base Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies that research, develop, manufacture, or integrate weapons, defense, or intelligence systems or assets.
ii. Private contractors that support defense and intelligence agencies.

f. The Emergency Services Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Law enforcement.
ii. Emergency medical services.
iii. Emergency management.
iv. Fire and rescue services.
v. Private ambulance companies.

g. The Energy Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies engaged in electricity production (excluding hydroelectric and nuclear, which are included in other sectors).
ii. Companies engaged in the production, refining, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of oil, gas, and propane products, including gas stations and truck stops.
iii. Companies that provide utility maintenance services.

h. The Financial Services Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Banks and credit unions.
ii. Non-bank lenders.
iii. Payroll processing companies.
iv. Payment processing companies.
v. Armored car companies.
vi. Insurance companies.
vii. Securities and investment companies.
viii. Accounting and bookkeeping firms.

i. The Food and Agriculture Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Grocery stores.
ii. Farmer’s markets.
iii. Convenience stores.
iv. Alcoholic beverage stores and distributors, distilleries, and wineries.
v. Institutional food service and supply companies.
vi. Farms.
vii. Food manufacturing and processing.
viii. Pet supply stores.
ix. Veterinary hospitals, clinics, and kennels.
x. Companies that manufacture, maintain, and sell agricultural equipment.
xi. Companies that manufacture, or support the manufacturing of paper products.
Please note: Restaurants and bars are subject to specific provisions of the Order, and are required to close (except for carry-out, delivery, and drive-through sales). Please read the Order carefully.

j. The Government Facilities Sector also encompasses private persons and entities that support
the judicial system including, but not limited to:
i. Lawyers and law firms.
ii. Court reporters.
iii. Bail bondsmen.

k. The Healthcare and Public Health Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Hospitals.
ii. Healthcare systems and clinics.
iii. Offices of health care providers, including physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
iv. Physical, occupation, and speech therapists.
v. Behavioral health facilities and professionals, including psychologists, mental health counselors, and substance abuse counselors
vi. Rehabilitation facilities.
vii. Diagnostic facilities, including radiology, imaging, and laboratory facilities.
viii. Health plans, payors, and billing companies.
ix. Funeral homes and crematoriums.
x. Senior living facilities, including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing.
xi. Manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment and supplies.
xii. Medical cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries.
xiii. Home health care companies.
xiv. Pharmacies.

l. The Information Technology Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies that design, develop, distribute, host, sell, and support information technology software and hardware.
ii. Companies that provide network routing, access, and configuration services.

m. The Transportation Systems Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Airlines and operators of commercial aircraft (manned and unmanned).
ii. Airports, air strips, heliports, and seaplane bases.
iii. Railroads.
iv. Motor carriers.
v. Carriers of marine freight, including ocean carriers and inland carriers.
vi. Marine, rail, truck, and intermodal terminals, and operators thereof.
vii. Stevedores, longshoremen, baggage handlers, and others who handle cargo at
transportation hubs.
viii. Courier, package delivery, mail service, and mail management companies.
ix. Warehousing and distribution companies.
x. Pipeline owners, operators and maintenance companies.
xi. Lessors of transportation assets, including railcars and truck trailers.
xii. Companies that supply parts, or provide maintenance and repair services for transportation assets and infrastructure, including aircraft, marine vessels, locomotives, rail cars, trucks, buses, cars, heavy equipment, roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, air strips, marine terminals, railroads.
xiii. Automotive supply stores and repair shops.

n. The Water and Wastewater Systems Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Municipal, community, and other drinking water and wastewater systems and facilities.
ii. Well drillers.
iii. Companies that provide maintenance and inspection services for water and wastewater assets, including treatment works, residential water treatment systems, piping, pumps, tanks, drains, conveyances, and monitoring systems.
iv. Water testing companies.

o. Supporting Firms. The federal critical infrastructure sectors include firms providing the following to any other business, organization, or facility included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors:
i. Staffing and/or payroll services.
ii. Essential raw materials, products, or services.

3. Door-to-Door Solicitation. Door-to-door solicitation (even by businesses that are permitted to remain open) is likely to violate social-distancing guidelines and should be discontinued.

The list in #2 above is non-exhaustive. The fact that a particular business, organization, or facility is not included in the list does not mean it is excluded from the federal critical infrastructure sectors. Please consult https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19 for additional guidance about what is and is not included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Analysts: Sales Tax Proposal Would Net More Than $2.9 Billion

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Expanding Maryland’s sales tax to most services would generate more than $3.7 billion in new taxes in five years, according to the fiscal analysis released on the eve of a bill hearing expected to draw crowds to Annapolis on Monday.

Business groups across the state oppose the proposal from House Majority Leader Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery), which would extend the state’s sales tax ― albeit at a lower rate ― to many everyday and business services that haven’t been taxed previously.

Del. Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery

Luedtke put forward the bill as a potential source of revenue to cover increased state spending on education reform. Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. has begun running ads against the proposal and vowed that it’s “not going to happen as long as I’m governor.”

Legislators will begin grappling with what the tax proposal could mean at a Monday afternoon hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee. Previous efforts to levy sales taxes on services in Maryland, and in most other states, have failed in the past. And if Luedtke’s proposal is to move forward, lawmakers will have to figure out challenges including how to quantify and track the value of services, and how to tax complex transactions like legal contingency fees.

Luedtke’s bill as currently drafted could have a dramatic effect on businesses. More than $3 billion in the increased taxes would be for business services, professional services and information services, which are largely consumed by other businesses.

The bill would impose taxes on everyday services as well:

• $141.4 million in 2025 on leisure and recreation services, which includes amusement parks, fitness centers and movies.

• $172.6 million on maintenance and repair services for things like cars, campers, electronics and jewelry.

• $131.5 million on personal services, including veterinary care, funeral services and dry cleaning.

Small businesses might face competition from nearby states. Fiscal analysts estimated that 5% of transactions on services could decrease, either because consumers are dissuaded by increased costs, or they choose to shop across state lines.

However, the bill would also decrease the state’s current sales tax rate from 6 cents per dollar to 5 cents. Analysts estimate that Marylanders would spend about $796.5 million less on taxes for retail goods by 2025.

Taken together, the reduction in the tax rate and the expansion to services would increase state sales tax revenues by $2.9 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the analysis.

Maryland’s current sales and use tax is the state’s second largest source of general fund revenue ― estimated to bring in about $5 billion this year. Shifting the state’s sales tax has been a source of discussion in Annapolis for years, as consumption has shifted from tangible goods towards services and digital goods.

The General Assembly last considered expanding the state’s sales tax to some services in 2012. That measure, which would have applied to about 30 types of services, was estimated to generate about $600 million annually at that time.

In an August 2019 annual report, Andrew Schaufele, director of Maryland’s Bureau of Revenue Estimates noted that Maryland’s current sales tax policy “is increasingly out of step with consumption patterns.”

The state has seen weak growth in sales and use tax revenues in past years and the shrinking tax base increases the volatility of state revenues because consumers will avoid spending during economic hardships.

Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D), who plans to run for governor in 2022, has said recently he wouldn’t support “a massive tax increase” to fund education reform proposals, and would prefer reforms that can be done within the state’s existing budget.

Gov. Larry Hogan

A 10-year education reform plan proposed by the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education has driven much of the Legislature’s agenda in the 2020 session, as lawmakers search for additional revenue to cover the increased education costs. An amended funding formula under consideration by key legislative committees could require state education spending to increase by more than $2.9 billion annually by 2030.

On Friday, one of Hogan’s political entities launched a 30-second ad condemning the sales tax proposal.

“This one tax hike would destroy everything we’ve done for the past five years to turn our economy around,” Hogan tweeted.

Four states broadly tax services: Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota and West Virginia.

By Danielle E. Gaines

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.