Md. Passes Broadband Tax Bill; Wash. 988 Bill Nears Final Passage

State legislators passed bills on broadband and 988 Friday. The Maryland House voted 138-1 to pass HB-551, a broadband tax incentives bill that also passed the Senate last week (see 2304070021). It next needs the governor’s signature. The Washington Senate voted 48-0 for HB-1134 on implementing the mental health hotline, which passed a committee last week and passed the House last month (see 2304040047). The House must vote again because senators amended the bill in committee.