But the global coronavirus pandemic abbreviated the annual marathon of policymaking for the first time since the Civil War. Working with a skeleton crew, in conditions that defied social distancing guidelines, Maryland’s 188 lawmakers passed about 500 bills in a matter of days this week and adjourned nearly three weeks early while the Maryland National Guard was stationed outside. The public had been banned from the State House complex the previous week because of the virus. A sign directed at State House visitors. ADFor some lawmakers, the truncated session meant shelving their priorities on many constituent issues and concerns.

Source: Washington Post March 18, 2020 21:22 UTC