The General Assembly introduced 117 joint res-
olutions: 43 in the Senate and 74 in the House. Of
these, 14 Senate joint resolutions and 17 House
joint resolutions were passed by both houses.

The State operating budget passed for the 1986
fiscal year was $7.5 billion. The amount of the
new State debt authorized by the General Assem-
bly totaled $219,987,000. This amount included
$83,597,000 in the General Construction Loan of
1985; $34,600,000 in the School Construction
Loan; and $101,790,000 in individual bonds.

Fifteen constitutional amendments were pro-
posed during the session, but none were approved
by the General Assembly.

The bills that had been vetoed by the Governor
from the 1984 session were considered by the
1985 General Assembly, but no vetoes were over-
ridden.

The 1985 session produced significant legisla-
tion related to banking, the environment, health
care, racing, and prisons. Enacted laws included
measures to phase in limited regional banking; al-
low full-service banking for Citicorp in 1986; ban
phosphate detergents; approve a new shock trau-
ma facility; provide health care cost containment;
allow the terminally ill to end life support; pro-
vide a tax break for the racing industry; and ap-
prove plans for a new maximum security prison.
Other legislation involved subsidized telephone
service for the disabled; voluntary plant closing
notification; regulation of mobile vendors; provi-
sion for children to testify on closed circuit TV;
establishment of a home improvement guaranty
fund; and closure of a loophole in consumer loan
law. The legislature passed, but the Governor ve-
toed, legislation that would allow slot machines
for charity and repeal the ban on steep slope strip
mining. The General Assembly rejected proposals
to license all gambling operations and require
their disclosure of proceeds, and to mandate back-
ground checks for persons who work with minors.

1985 SPECIAL SESSIONS

The Governor called the General Assembly into
special session on May 17, 1985, and again on Oc-
tober 17, 1985, pursuant to Article III, sec. 14, of
the Constitution. These special sessions constitut-
ed the 390th and 391st sessions of the legislative
branch of Maryland government.

The purpose of both sessions was to address a
financial crisis in the State chartered savings and
loan industry. Legislation was enacted to protect

depositors, create the Office of Special Counsel,
and provide for the sale of savings and loan insti-
tutions.

A total of 31 bills (14 in the Senate and 17 in
the House) was introduced during the First Spe-
cial Session on May 17. Fourteen bills (7 Senate
and 7 House) were passed by both houses; 12
were signed and 2 were vetoed by the Governor.
The 2 joint resolutions introduced (1 in each
house) did not pass.

During the Second Special Session (October 17-
November 5), two of the 1985 Regular Session
bills vetoed by the Governor were passed over the
veto and became law as Chapters 1 and 2. Of the
45 bills introduced (33 Senate bills and 12 House
bills), 6 (4 Senate and 2 House) were passed by
both houses and signed by the Governor. The one
Senate joint resolution introduced did not pass.

1986 SESSION

The General Assembly convened on January 8,
1986. This was the 392nd session of the legislative
branch of Maryland government. The session con-
cluded 90 days later on April 7.

A total of 2,938 bills were introduced (1,070 in
the Senate and 1,868 in the House). Of the Senate
bills, 364 were passed by both houses, 299 signed
by the Governor, and 65 vetoed. Of the House
bills, 623 were passed by both houses, 566 signed
by the Governor, and 57 vetoed.

The General Assembly introduced 127 joint res-
olutions: 39 in the Senate and 88 in the House. Of
these, 19 Senate joint resolutions and 24 House
joint resolutions were passed by both houses.

The Governor did not exercise the authority to
introduce Executive Orders during the 1986 ses-
sion.

The State operating budget enacted for the 1987
fiscal year was nearly $8.2 billion.

The amount of new State debt authorized by
the General Assembly totaled $219,984,000. This
total included $90,627,000 for the General Con-
struction Loan; $44,300,000 for the School Con-
struction Loan; and $85,057,000 for individual
bonds.

The 1986 session considered issues relating to
malpractice, liability, aid to education, sports sta-
dium, seat belts, housing, and the environment.
Enacted legislation provided for a cap on
noneconomic damages in personal injury lawsuits;