Maryland governor signs sports betting, athlete health safety bills

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed more than 200 pieces of legislation Tuesday, including bills focused on sports betting and athlete safety.

Hogan signed multiple pieces of legislation during a press conference, including HB 940, which allows sports betting. It comes after voters in Maryland voted overwhelmingly in November to legalize sports betting.

The law could produce more than $18 million in revenue for Maryland from in-person and mobile sports betting in fiscal year 2022, according to a fiscal summary of the bill.

Today we signed another 226 bipartisan bills into law, including legislation to legalize sports betting and repeal the state song. I want to thank legislators on both sides of the aisle for working with us in a bipartisan way this session.

Details: https://t.co/KAfxPUCMYY pic.twitter.com/NpX0BlKVBc

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 18, 2021

Another bill, the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act, requires collegiate athletic programs to create specific guidelines for the health and safety of student athletes. 

Watch today’s bill signing ceremony live: https://t.co/DlPCCEdY57

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 18, 2021

The legislation was created in honor of Jordan McNair, an 19-year-old offensive lineman for the Maryland Terrapins football team who died after suffering a heat stroke during a team practice in 2018. 

McNair’s father, Marty, told ESPN on Tuesday that it’s a fitting way to honor his son’s legacy.

“This is a victorious day for Tonya and I, as Jordan’s legacy continues to save lives as well as empower student-athletes’ health and well-being at the higher-level educational institutions in the state of Maryland,” Mcnair told ESPN. “I sincerely hope other states will follow suit to protect all of their student-athletes at the collegiate level of competition.”