GOVERNOR O’MALLEY SIGNS MANNO BILLS INTO LAW

Annapolis, MD – This morning Senator Roger Manno joined Governor O’Malley, Senate President Miller and House Speaker Busch for the signings of two important bills authored by Manno:

• SB620, Retaliatory Evictions: Strengthens protections for renters from retaliatory evictions from landlords;
  
• SB751, Phosphorus Penalties: Strengthens penalties for violations of the 2007 ban on selling and distributing dishwashing detergent containing illegal amounts of phosphorus.

  

Manno spoke from the State Capital: “We are very pleased that these bills advanced this year. The problem of retaliatory actions by landlords has been ongoing for many years, and several lawmakers and activists, including the Rental Housing Coalition and the Social Justice Center, have worked for this legislation to improve Maryland law. Against steep odds, this bill would not have advanced without the strong support of Senators Brian Frosh and Jamie Raskin, who shepherded the bill through the Judicial Proceedings Committee and the full Senate. Thanks to the large coalition of supporters, SB620 will bring greater protections for our resident renters, and a huge victory for the public interest.” Manno continued: “In addition to SB620, I am grateful for the support of environmental activists, including Sierra Club, Environment Maryland and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, in our passage of SB751.  The bill is necessary to stem ongoing violations of the 2007 phosphorous ban in dishwashing detergent products, as was recently uncovered in an extensive investigative report -- and the bill provide greater and graduated penalties for ongoing sales and distribution of products that continue to plague our streams, Bay and tributaries. A special thanks to Senators Conway and Montgomery, and members of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee for their strong support and advocacy throughout the legislative process.”

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