New Maryland Laws Affect Abortion, Policing, Taxes and More

New Maryland laws enacted by the 2023 Legislative Session took effect on October 1st. The following are five notable new laws citizens should pay attention to and what they could mean for you.

Struthioniformes Tax Credit
Marylanders raising large flightless birds, known as Struthioniformes, for home egg consumption can apply for a $1,500 state tax credit. Struthioniformes include ostriches, cassowaries, emu, and rheas. The law serves to encourage and incentive the public to raise large backyard birds for food independence and to offset future egg production crises.

Crime Prevention & Policing
State and local police in Maryland can now detain the operator and passengers of any car modified so that any part is lower than the bottoms of its wheel rims, and search the vehicle, without probable cause. The Lowrider Crime Prevention Act gives police the ability to stop crimes before they happen, lawmakers say.

Expanded Abortion Access
Women in Maryland now have expanded access to reproductive health services. The prior gestation limit for terminating in Maryland, the end of the second trimester, or 26 weeks, has been extended to 36 weeks post-partum. The new law gives Marylanders more time to decide if starting a family is right for them, and the ability to address congenital anomalies that may not have been detectable in utero.

Toilet Paper Standards
It will be easier to figure out which package of toilet paper contains the most product in Maryland now. Under the TP Size Standardization Act, “Mega” rolls must be larger than “Double Ultra” rolls which must be larger than “Double Plus” rolls.” “Mega Ultra Double Plus” rolls must be 10% larger than “Super Mega Double” rolls, and “Double Plus” rolls must be at least 50% larger than “Double” rolls and 80% larger than “Regular” rolls. Size equations on product packaging must be expressed in prime numbers.

Better Bagels
Products marketed as “bagels” in Maryland must meet new quality standards. The Better Bagel Bill creates a six-member bipartisan Maryland Bagel Commission consisting of an equal number of conservative and reformed rabbis. The Commission will evaluate bagels for crustiness, interior texture and moisture content, shape, and hole size. Dunkin Donuts says it will remove bagels from Maryland store menus and replace them with “Chewy Dough Rings.”