Governed by a one-party government and a one-party media, Maryland will be a much different place four years from now. Whether becoming another Massachusetts is good or bad depends on your taste. But here are some likely changes:

Gay marriage
In 2005, a Baltimore judge ruled that Maryland’s ban on gay marriage violates the state constitution. Maryland’s highest court has yet to rule. If the court confirms the lower court thus legalizing gay marriage, then a corrective constitutional amendment is necessary. But it’s unlikely that such a ban has sufficient support in the state legislature.

Death penalty

Maryland now has a de facto death penalty moratorium because the Court of Appeals recently ruled that the state’s lethal injection procedure never underwent the proper bureaucratic approvals. It’s only a technicality, but Gov. Martin O’Malley and lawmakers can delay approval forever, resulting in a permanent moratorium. Meanwhile, outright repeal of the death penalty is pending in the legislature.

Statewide smoking ban

A statewide ban on indoor smoking, including bars and restaurants, is about to become law.

California emissions standards

A requirement that all cars and trucks sold after 2010 meet California emissions standards is also about to become law, adding an extra $1,000 to $3,000 per vehicle. Even vehicles purchased outside Maryland must conform, and the new law subjects Maryland to future emissions standards that California enacts.

Voting

Also certain are constitutional amendments allowing early voting and voting at any polling place you wish without ID. And, there’s legislative interest in taxpayer-funded political campaigns for state legislative candidates. House candidates get $80,000 each, Senate candidates get $100,000 each — with more if their opponents don’t join the program.

Illegal immigrants

There’s strong support for allowing Maryland’s estimated 400 illegal immigrants who currently pay out-of-state tuition at Maryland’s universities and colleges to pay in-state tuitions instead. No one knows how many additional illegals will take advantage of the new, reduced rates. Gov. Bob Ehrlich vetoed this measure, Gov. O’Malley supports it.

Health care for uninsured

Lawmakers’ top priority this year is expanding health insurance to the uninsured. The costs of competing legislative proposals range from $2.5 billion a year to $200 million a year.

Pro-labor unions

Gov. Ehrlich vetoed a ‘‘living wage” bill that makes anyone with a state contract worth over $100,000 pay their employees at least $11.95 per hour. No one knows the fiscal impact; however, Gov. O’Malley supports the bill. He also supports an ‘‘agency fee” requiring the 60 percent of state employees who don’t belong to unions to, nevertheless, pay some union fees.

African Americans

A host of measures placate blacks who feel shortchanged by the last election: death penalty repeal, full voting rights for ex-felons, ending mandatory sentences for some drug offenders, state apology for slavery and expanding Black History Month to January as well as February. Also, Attorney General Doug Gansler has created a civil rights ‘‘cold case” unit to prosecute unsolved race-based crimes.

New taxes

The only questions are, ‘‘How many?” and ‘‘How high?” Hiking the gas tax is a certainty, probably as a percentage tax rather than a per-gallon tax. This way, when gas prices go up, so does your tax automatically. Meanwhile, the state’s 5 percent sales tax will likely go up to 6 percent or be extended from a tax on goods (current law) to a tax on services, as well. Only lawyers will be exempted.

A new Save the Bay fund will be financed by a new $2 per square foot impact fee on construction outside ‘‘smart growth” zones, 25 cents per square foot inside. And a new Affordable Housing Fund will be financed by adding 2 cents to the state property tax. There’s also a push to add higher brackets to Maryland’s income tax.

Senate President Mike Miller warns that none of these tax measures will pass without legalizing slots so add slot machines to our ‘‘New Maryland.” And, of course, all these new state taxes are in addition to likely local tax increases, Metro fare hikes and that 50 percent BG&E increase due in July.

So fasten your seat belt, hide your wallet and get ready for a wild ride.

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