By Associated Press - Monday, March 18, 2019

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Latest on developments in the Maryland General Assembly (all times local):

7:40 p.m.

The Maryland General Assembly has given final approval to a measure to let local school boards decide when school starts.

A final vote by the Senate on Monday sends the measure to Gov. Larry Hogan, who has opposed the bill. The House and Senate passed the measure with enough votes to override a veto by the governor.

Hogan signed an executive order in 2016 to require schools to start after Labor Day.

Supporters of the governor say longer summer breaks give families more time together, but critics say it shortchanges education. Others say different jurisdictions have different calendar demands.

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6:30 p.m.

The Maryland House of Delegates has passed a bill to end the statute of limitation for when victims of child sexual abuse can file lawsuits.

The House approved the measure 136-2 Monday. It now goes to the Senate.

The measure would change the current law, which says people who say they were victims of abuse as a minor have until they reach 38 years of age to file a lawsuit against their alleged perpetrators. The measure also would allow anyone who was prevented from suing due to age an additional two years to file a lawsuit.

Separately, the House also passed a measure to require background checks anytime someone buys a rifle or shotgun. Supporters say Maryland law now has a loophole that enables private sales of long guns without background checks.

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4:29 a.m.

Maryland lawmakers are reaching a milestone in their 90-day legislative session.

Monday is known as crossover day. That’s a deadline set by lawmakers for a bill to pass either the House or the Senate to have a chance of clearing both chambers and making it to the governor’s desk.

It’s not a deadline that’s written in stone. But lawmakers generally aim to have legislation they intend to pass clear one of the chambers by the end of the crossover day.

Some contentious bills are on the agenda. The Senate is expected to take a final vote to allow local school boards to decide whether to start school before or after Labor Day.

There are three weeks left in the session, which is scheduled to adjourn Monday, April 8 at midnight.

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