The 2024 Maryland legislative session has now concluded. The legislative session was a challenging yet productive one marked by some substantial budget challenges and the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge because of a vessel collision. I also took on a new role as Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, one of just six standing committees in the House of Delegates. In this position, I had the opportunity to work closely with my seatmate, Delegate Sara Love, who is a member of the committee. The newest member of the District 16 team, Delegate Sarah Wolek, completed her first full legislative session, representing our constituents well on the Appropriations Committee. There will also be some changes to the District 16 Delegation over the interim. State Senator Ariana Kelly announced that she will be leaving the legislature in May for an exciting new opportunity at the Maryland Commission for Women. Thank you to Senator Kelly for her years of service to District 16. Below is a synopsis of some key highlights from the legislative session. We work on thousands of bills each legislative session so if an issue you care about is not addressed here, please email me about it at marc.korman@house.state.md.us. You can also attend the District 16 virtual town hall on May 19th by registering here: bit.ly/D16-05-19-24 Education Ensuring Maryland students receive a quality education has remained one of my top priorities, and this session, the Maryland General Assembly took additional steps to improve our education system. As described below, the annual state budget fully funds our education formulas to support pre-K through 12 education in Montgomery County. I was also pleased to sponsor the Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act (HB 475), a grant program that works to support organizations who provide free open-source phonics materials that adults can use to tutor children. This legislation aims to address the state’s literacy rates and reading comprehension that continue to linger below pre-pandemic levels. Education equips young Marylanders with the tools they need to understand and engage with the world around them. To achieve this goal, it is critical that students have access to a diverse range of authors and literary perspectives, especially those that are often marginalized. I proudly supported the Freedom to Read Act (HB 785), which prohibits the exclusion of reading materials in public schools and libraries based on the views of the author, or due to differences in partisan, ideological, or religious beliefs. Access to diverse educational materials is only part of the solution. In these turbulent times, it is important that our educators understand the complexity and diversity of our community. That is why I supported HB 1386, which requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to develop guidelines for an anti-bias training program for our school systems, including training on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Firearm and Public Safety With the continued prevalence of gun violence, I am proud to have supported many efforts this session to improve firearm safety in Maryland. I voted to establish a new organization under the Maryland Department of Health, the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention (HB 583). The Center will take an innovative public health approach towards reducing firearm violence, harm from firearm violence, and the misuse of firearms in the state. I also supported the Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024 (HB 947) to create consequences for negligent conduct by the firearm industry that creates significant public safety concerns. Outside of measures to reduce gun violence, the General Assembly advanced legislation (HB 575) to support victims of crime by expanding the eligibility for, amount of, and types of awards that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is authorized to make. I also supported the Juvenile Law Reform (HB 814), which alters procedures relating to juvenile arrests, complaints, probation and detention. We want to ensure we are treating juveniles fairly while also addressing juvenile criminal activity. Finally, I was proud to support HB 195, which creates a Purple Alert program to disseminate information to assist in locating a missing person who has a cognitive impairment, mental disorder, or intellectual or developmental disability. Budget Highlights The one piece of legislation that we are constitutionally required to pass each year is a balanced budget. I was a member of the conference committee appointed to settle differences between the House and Senate budget proposals. This year’s budget includes: Full funding for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education, including $1.1 billion in state support for Montgomery County Public Schools and advance funding of our public education reform program (the Blueprint for Maryland’s future) for the next several years. $330 million in transportation funding to reduce the budget deficit and support our transportation system, including road maintenance, transit services, and funding to address the impacts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. $105 million in additional funding for Maryland’s trauma centers. $90 million allocated towards the implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Sufficient funding to maintain the state Rainy Day Fund at 7.5% of General Fund revenue. The full actuarially required contribution to the state pension. In District 16 and across Montgomery County, the capital–or construction–budget as passed includes: $3 Million — New Entrance to the North Bethesda Metro Station $150,000 — Renovation of Merrimac Neighborhood Park $150,000 — Glen Echo Stormwater Restoration $100,000 — Jewish Social Services Agency Mobile Mental Health Unit $150,000 — Restoration of Bethesda Meeting House $3 Million — Institute for Health Computing in North Bethesda $440,000 — Disabilities Access for Diener School $2.7 million for Walt Whitman High School upgrades. Environment, Energy, and Climate Change
In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Climate Solutions Now Act, which sets ambitious goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Meeting these goals is one of the major undertakings of my committee. We took a step forward this year through the passage of HB 990, which expands greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements to the cement sector and narrows exemptions for other manufacturers. The manufacturing sector accounts for 10% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions, with cement production being the single largest contributor within that. Through the hard work of my seatmate Delegate Sara Love, the Department of Natural Resources is bolstered in their efforts to protect and improve the quality of state waterways. The Whole Watershed Act (HB 1165) establishes a fund and partnership program to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays by providing grants and technical assistance for integrated efforts to address watershed pollution. With the passage of the Clean Water Justice Act of 2024 (HB 1101), we are also working to protect our waterways by establishing legal standing in state courts for private actors to sue for the violation of clean water laws. This measure restores waterway protections that were removed at the federal level due to the Supreme Court’s decision to narrow the applicability of the federal Clean Water Act. I am also proud to have sponsored and supported efforts making it easier for individuals to transition to an electric vehicle. Along with Senator Kelly, I introduced the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 (HB 159) which builds on my previous work to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residents of common ownership communities and co-ops. In order for the state to meet our climate goals, we will need to improve energy efficiency and accelerate the transition to clean energy sources for buildings throughout the state. This transition necessitates a deliberate, multi-faceted approach, which is why I supported revisions to the state’s EmPOWER program for low-income households to require electric companies, gas companies, and the state Department of Housing and Community Development to develop energy efficiency, conservation, demand response, and beneficial electrification measures that will enable them to meet their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals (HB 864). The Environment and Transportation Committee also passed legislation to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle recharging equipment, solar energy equipment, and energy storage systems for condominium common elements (HB 216). We also need to ensure that Maryland’s electric companies are operating in the state’s best interest. The legislature invested in the transition to renewable energy sources through bills that establish funding opportunities for thermal energy network system pilot programs (HB 397), modify and expand our offshore wind energy program (HB 1296), and restructure solar energy incentives to optimize investment (SB 783). Transportation Investment, Safety, and Accessibility The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)–our local Metro system–is facing an operating funding short-fall. This not only impacts Metro riders but our entire transportation system and economic health. The Moore Administration has stepped up with additional funds but this requires a change to our state law that currently caps the operating fund increases to Metro. I sponsored the Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 (HB 198), which temporarily lifts the operating cap to allow for the necessary funding increases. I also supported legislation that will study how to improve the Maryland Transit Administration’s paratransit service to ensure that transit is accessible for those with disabilities (HB 1199). Maintaining safety on the roads is one of my top priorities, as it is for many of you. I was proud to support the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act (HB 337), cyclist safety legislation sponsored by Delegate Love in response to the death of Sarah Langenkamp on River Road. The Maryland Road Worker Protection Act (HB 513) protects roadway construction and maintenance workers and improves safety around work zones through the increased use of speed cameras and traffic enforcement. SB 345 establishes the Vision Zero Advisory Commission to study and advise the Department of Transportation on best practices to eliminate road deaths. This session, we also addressed the proliferation of dangerous and disruptive behavior on our roadways by establishing increased penalties for street racing and banning exhibition driving statewide (HB 601). Finally, noise pollution substantially impacts quality of life for many residents near major roadways. In response to concerns from constituents, the Montgomery and Prince George’s county delegations supported legislation authorizing the counties to establish a pilot program for noise abatement monitoring systems (HB 212). Access to Health Care Expanding access to health care has been a main focus for the Maryland General Assembly. This session, the legislature passed the Access to Care Act (HB 728), which allows those who do not have current legal residency status to purchase unsubsidized health care plans on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. This policy will reduce the uninsured population in the state and help to stabilize insurance premiums. It will also reduce the strain on hospitals by minimizing emergency room visits. The legislature also increased access to preventative care through HB 1259, which requires insurers to cover breast and lung cancer screening appointments. At a time in which access to reproductive health care is under attack across the country, the legislature took action with HB 367 to require that community colleges implement a plan to provide access to over-the-counter contraceptives for students. Finally, while Maryland has made progress in improving access to preventative care, we need to invest in our urgent care system as well. HB 1143 establishes a commission to review the state’s emergency department wait times, which are some of the highest in the nation, and recommend solutions. I was proud to support the Miriam Kelty Aging and Senior Social Connection Hub and Spoke Pilot Program (HB 1103), sponsored by Delegate Sarah Wolek, to support seniors who choose to age in place by providing funding for the Montgomery County Village Consortium, which fosters social connections and coordinates neighbor-to-neighbor support. Housing My committee spent a significant amount of time this year on Governor Moore’s housing package. The Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act (HB 693) creates the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, establishes a Tenants’ Bill of Rights, and increases the eviction filing fee to fund vital renter related programs, among other provisions. The Housing and Community Financing Act (HB 599) establishes the Maryland Community Investment Corporation as an independent unit in order to facilitate increased state investment in new housing and commercial property. Finally, the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB 538) provides density bonuses for more housing for certain types of projects in areas that have received significant state investment, such as areas close to mass transit and state-owned campuses, and projects run by nonprofits. The House carefully refined this bill to ensure that it was narrowly targeted and would incentivize market-based projects from private developers and not just government-owned or subsidized projects. We also worked to limit the impact on single family home communities. Workforce Development and Consumer Protection This session, the General Assembly remained committed to expanding protections for Maryland’s workforce. I proudly supported HB 649, which builds upon existing pay equity policy by requiring employers to disclose certain salary information to improve wage transparency. The legislature also passed a measure to expand the information an employer must give to an employee for each pay period (HB 385). Finally, I supported efforts to strengthen anti-discrimination in employment by including protections based on sexual orientation (HB 602). Just as we strive to protect our workers, the legislature is also taking steps to protect consumers. In our digitized era, private information is becoming exceptionally vulnerable and personal data is in need of another layer of defense. I was proud to support the Maryland Data Privacy Act of 2024 (HB 567), sponsored by Delegate Love, which establishes certain requirements or obligations for data processors to protect against the infringement of consumer privacy laws. I also supported the Maryland Kids Code (HB 603) to establish enhanced privacy protections for children, specifically within the online applications they are most likely to use. The legislature also took steps to improve transparency in commercial interactions. In response to reports about deceptive business practices by retail energy companies, SB 1 puts guardrails around the energy industry’s sales and marketing operations. The Gas Price Clarity Act (HB 882) improves price transparency by requiring retail service station signage to display the credit and debit price, especially if higher than the cash price. Francis Scott Key Bridge The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo vessel collided with it has shaken the state. We mourn the loss of six construction workers and thank the brave first responders, including the Maryland Transportation Authority police that managed to minimize the loss of life by closing the bridge quickly. State and federal agencies are working around the clock to remove the bridge debris and vessel so the channel can be cleared and the Port of Baltimore can reopen for business. Every day it is closed is an economic body blow on a macro scale but also results in unemployed dock workers. The legislature responded with the Maryland Port Act (HB 1526) which provides temporary relief programs for port employees and related businesses. Even when the port reopens, the region will face the reality of having lost a bridge that moved over 30,000 vehicles per day. Efforts are being undertaken to minimize the local traffic impacts. Going forward, Maryland will work to reconstruct the bridge and we appreciate the promised federal support for this effort, the details of which are still being worked out. My Office Outside of Session My newsletter will now revert to its out of session monthly format. I strongly value the input of my constituents on the issues before the General Assembly. While the state legislature only meets for 90 days each year in Annapolis, I am working for you 365 days a year. As we progress throughout the year, my office will continue to be a resource to help connect you to state and local officials. If you have any questions about the material in this letter, other questions about the recently concluded legislative session, ideas regarding policy issues, issues with a state agency that require constituent services, or are interested in my office’s legislative scholarship, please contact me any time. I can be reached by phone at 301-858-3649, or by email at marc.korman@house.state.md.us. The 90 day legislative session is scheduled to conclude this coming Monday. We are in the final stretch as we finalize next year's budget and work to progress our policy priorities. I am serving on the budget conference committee--specifically for a component of the budget called the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA)--and we continue to deliberate, specifically over whether we want to address long-term transportation funding challenges. You can watch one of our recent conference meetings here. And you can hear all about it at the District 16 post-legislative session town hall on Sunday, May 19th at 6:30pm. RSVP here: bit.ly/D16-05-19-24 SENATE UPDATEMy legislation continues to make progress in the State Senate. Last week, the Senate gave final approval to the Maryland Metro Funding Act, my bill that allows Maryland's additional support for our local Metro system to flow. The Senate also passed the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act but with an amendment that the House will have to consider. The amendment adds information about certified equipment installers and I support it. Earlier this week, the Senate gave final approval to the port renaming bill I have written about previously. And I have worked with the Maryland State Department of Education on amendments to the Open-Phonics Matching Grant Program Act which I hope will smooth the way for Senate passage.
----- The Senate has also passed the annual capital (construction) budget. In addition to important statewide funding for school construction, hospitals, parks, and more, it also includes important funding for District 16 projects including: -$2.5 million for the University System of Maryland Institute of Health Computing to be located in North Bethesda; -$3 million for the second entrance of the North Bethesda Metro station, part of a multi-year funding effort to position the entrance for federal funds; -$220,000 to support disabilities access at the new Diener school building on Old Georgetown Road; -$150,000 for the Town of Glen Echo stormwater restoration project; and -$150,000 for the Merrimac Neighborhood Park refresh. The House of Delegates should take up its version of the capital budget next week. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE With just a few days to go in the legislative session we are approaching the finish line for a number of major bills. I have previously shared information about the Governor's housing package, which my committee spent a significant amount of time on this year. Each of these bills (the Renters Rights and Stabilization Act, the Housing and Community Financing Act, and the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act) has each passed the House and is pending in the Senate. The one I have been asked the most about is the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act, which provides density bonuses above county zoning for certain types of projects in certain areas. The House carefully refined this bill to ensure that it was narrowly targeted and would incentivize market-based projects from private developers and not just government owned or subsidized projects. Efforts were also taken to limit the impact on single family home communities. The House and Senate also continue to work through differences on a juvenile reform and justice bill to ensure that we are treating juveniles fairly but also disincentivizing juvenile crime. Last week, the House also passed legislation to further regulate the state's retail energy market. As you are aware, you can choose a competitive supplier of gas or electricity in Maryland--while the monopoly utilities (Washington Gas and Pepco in our case)--continue to deliver the energy. The bill seeks to place some guardrails on these third party suppliers who often prey on consumers with low teaser rates that balloon quickly. There are over 2700 bills in the Maryland General Assembly this year and I am confident you care about something I have not discussed. If you have questions about a bill I have not covered, please click reply and I will provide an update. KEY BRIDGE UPDATE I briefly discussed the vessel collision and Key Bridge collapse in last week's email. We mourn the loss of six construction workers and thank the brave first responders, including the Maryland Transportation Authority police that managed to minimize the loss of life by closing the bridge quickly. State and federal agencies are working around the clock to remove the bridge debris and vessel so the channel can be cleared and the Port of Baltimore can reopen for business. Every day it is closed is an economic body blow on a macro scale but also means unemployed dock workers. The Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act seeks to minimize the impact by providing temporary relief programs for port employees and related businesses. Even when the port reopens, the region will make the reality of losing a bridge that moved over 30,000 vehicles per day and efforts are being undertaken to minimize the local traffic impacts. Going forward, Maryland will work to reconstruct the bridge and we appreciate the promised federal support for this effort, the details of which are still being worked out. I am part of a daily briefing regarding the Key Bridge and my committee will also be involved in the ongoing oversight of the recovery and reconstruction effort. COMMUNITY NEWS The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting will be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com. ----- Congratulations Leslie Richin on her appointment to the Advisory Board for the Montgomery Cares Program and congratulations to Andrew Garza on his appointment to the Commission on Veterans Affairs. BOOK CORNER With the Key Bridge in the news, the city of Baltimore is on the minds of many. Matthew Crenson's Baltimore: A Political History, is a great reference and resource on about 250 years of Baltimore history starting with its tobacco town roots in the 1700s. Thank You Ariana, Sara Love for Senate, and We Still Have A Legislative Session - Weekly Update3/27/2024
State Senator Ariana Kelly announced her plans to vacate her Senate seat after the legislative session for an exciting new opportunity at the Maryland Commission for Women. Ariana has been my colleague for ten years and has always been a passionate advocate for the causes she believes in. I congratulate her on this new opportunity but she will be missed. Under our state constitution, vacancies are filled by the local party committee of the vacating legislator submitting a name or names to the Governor for appointment. I support my colleague, Delegate Sara Love, in her efforts to be appointed. There is a lot I can say about Delegate Love but having spent this legislative session serving on the same committee as her, I have really seen up close how she navigates bills to passage and brings together different stakeholders. I think she will be a great senator in the model of many past District 16 legislators. If you are interested in the process going forward, keep an eye on www.mcdcc.org where further details will be announced. P.S. As this email was in process, the tragedy at the Francis Scott Key Bridge occurred. My thoughts are with the individuals directly impacted on the bridge and I also want to thank the incredible first responders who were immediately on the scene. We are in the immediate aftermath of this event but there will be a lot more to say about the impact to the port, effect on surrounding neighborhoods, and reconstruction in the future. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE This week I have one hearing in the State Senate on the Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Funding Act, which will help parents, teachers, and others access free reading education materials. Many other bills I sponsored that had versions pass both chambers do not require additional hearings. ----- As chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, I have spent a significant amount of time on issues related to climate change and housing this year. As I have shared before, we have aggressive climate goals in the state of Maryland as we aim to be a net zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2045. I view part of my job as supporting policies to help us get there. I will admit, we were not able to advance every bill I would like in this regard this session (I guess that's why the people give us four year terms) but the Committee has advanced bills in three important buckets related to climate change that I wanted to share. First, we worked to make it easier to deploy clean energy equipment and charging equipment with bills such as Delegate Charkoudian's bill on condos having clean energy devices and my Electric Vehicle Recharging Act which makes it easier to have vehicle charging equipment in condos, HOA communities, and co-ops. Second, we advanced greener transportation with bills such as the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act to alter how our state makes transportation investment decisions and Delegate Fraser Hidalgo's bill to convert our zero emission vehicle tax credit into a point of sale rebate (immediate dollars off of the purchase price). Third and finally, we modernized the regulatory framework for greenhouse gas regulation and our clean energy transition with bills such as Delegate Stein's proposal to place manufacturers under our greenhouse gas emissions regulatory regime for the first time. These bills still need to get through the State Senate but are all helpful to meeting our climate goals. As for housing, which is in my committee's jurisdiction as well, we have been advancing the Governor's bills on housing financing, renter protections, and housing production. This past week, my committee spent a good deal of time on that last proposal, the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act. We heavily amended the bill and, if you are interested in the topic, I would recommend watching the subcommittee chair's description of the changes. The bill will be on the House floor next week. BUDGET UPDATE As previewed in last week's email, the House has now passed its budget including an accompanying bill called the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA). We had significant discussion and debate on the budget over two days which you can watch here and here if you are interested. The budget now goes to a conference committee between the two chambers to resolve differences. The most significant difference is the action the House took to try and address long term challenges to our public schools' budget and immediate and medium term shortfalls in transportation funding. COMMUNITY NEWS The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting will be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com. Last week, the passing of former state legislator Laurence Levitan was announced. Larry was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1970 and the State Senate in 1974. When he first took office, his district (District 15) comprised most of what is District 16 today. Senator Levitan's first Senate campaign was also the first time Maryland had House and Senate districts that were based on population, representing a shift from the prior system of one Senator per county and some subsequent changes resulting from Supreme Court litigation. BOOK CORNER
Speaking of the passing of significant Marylanders, Baltimore's Peter Angelos recently passed away. Angelos is best known for owning the Baltimore Orioles for the past 30 years and was also a renowned trial attorney with success in asbestos claims. He also had a political career, serving a term on the Baltimore City Council and running unsuccessful campaigns for Baltimore City Council President and Mayor. He was a contemporary of Wiliam Donald Schaeffer and C. Fraser Smith's biography of Schaeffer contains an amusing story of Angelos being deployed by then-Governor Schaeffer to meet with Washington football team own Jack Kent Cooke about moving the team from RFK Stadium in DC to the Maryland suburbs. It eventually worked out. As I explained last week, this past Monday was the "crossover" date, the date by which a bill is supposed to pass one chamber in order to be guaranteed a hearing in the other. That meant a long week, a Saturday in session, and a full day of House floor sessions on Monday. A lot got done and most of the next few weeks will be taken up with discussion of the budget and sorting out differences on various bills with the State Senate. Some scenes from our Saturday session, including all of the notebooks containing bill reports for the Environment and Transportation Committee I chair. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE With crossover behind us, here is an update on the seven pieces of legislation I am sponsoring. As I always like to point out, the bills I sponsor represent just a small part of my work in the House of Delegates and that has never been more true than this year, when I am chairing a committee. That said, here is where each bill I sponsored now stands. Legislation renaming the Port of Baltimore has passed both the House and the Senate version has passed that chamber. The Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago. The Senate version--sponsored by our State Senator Ariana Kelly--has also passed the Senate. The bill makes it easier to access vehicle charging in Homeowners Association, Condo, and Co-op buildings and communities. The Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago and the Senate version has passed that chamber. The bill eases the operating subsidy cap for our regional Metro system, in coordination with Washington, D.C. and Virginia, so that we can provide the system necessary funding. The Open Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act I sponsored has passed out of the House of Delegates. The bill makes it easier for families, teachers, and others to access reading materials. The Washington Suburban Transit Commission Reform Act is a local bill I sponsored to make a few tweaks to the entity that oversees the Metro in Maryland. It has passed the House of Delegates. The Maryland Toll Rate Reform Act helps to fund our transportation network and is part of a broader package of policies designed to address our transportation funding shortfall. It has passed the House and I discuss it further below. The Transportation Funding Act has had part of it adopted into a component of the state budget to help address our transportation funding shortfall. The piece moving forward is a statewide $0.75 fee on Transportation Network Company (ride-hail vehicles like Uber or Lyft) trips. Again, see below for some further discussion. BUDGET UPDATE The budget for the state of Maryland has been on the House floor this week. For the first time since I was elected to the House of Delegates, I am not serving on the Appropriations Committee that primarily handles the budget. But like every year, the budget is balanced. It fully funds our pre-K through 12 public education. It maintains a healthy Rainy Day Fund while making the actuarially required contribution to our state pension. It restores some of the funds proposed for cuts to our community colleges. And much more. But beyond addressing the budget for the next fiscal year (fiscal year 2025), the House is proposing to tackle both the transportation budget shortfall--which we are already feeling with proposed cuts today--and future shortfalls in our fund that contributes to public education. Here are the components of the House budget plan. Transportation: -Toll Rate Reform: As discussed above, the House has passed legislation to leverage our state toll facilities to contribute $75 million a year to our broader transportation needs. -Electric Vehicle Surcharge: We proposed a $125/year annual surcharge for electric vehicles. We want to incentivize going electric--and $125/year is still approximately half of what an average Maryland driver pays in gas taxes--and many pro zero emission vehicle states have such fees. -Weight-based Vehicle Registration: We proposed to increase vehicle registration based on weight--which is appropriate given that heavier vehicles put more wear and tear on roads. The increases are $10 to $90 a year depending on the type and weight of the vehicle. -Rideshare Fee: As noted above, we proposed a statewide $0.75 fee on rideshare or ride-hail trips. -Excise Tax: We proposed an increase of the vehicle excise tax from 6% to 6.5%. -Trade-in Exemption: We proposed eliminating the vehicle trade-in exemption except for zero emission purchases. -Work Zone Safety: We proposed allocating some fines for automated enforcement at work zones to roadway system preservation projects. These are not easy actions, but I view them as necessary to pay for the infrastructure Marylanders want and need. You can see a portion of my remarks at a leadership press conference on these issues. Education: For public education, we proposed to adopt a method of corporate taxation called combined reporting used in 28 states ranging from Nebraska and Texas to California and Massachusetts. We also proposed putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot to let Marylanders decide if they want to adopt i-gaming, which would legalize online casino games in Maryland. My predecessors first put gaming on the ballot to fund public education approximately 17 years ago and Marylanders have continuously supported expanding the types of permissible gaming. Trauma: In addition to transportation and public education, the House budget plan also addresses a shortfall in our state's trauma system, primarily via a registration surcharge and a tax on guns and ammo. COMMUNITY NEWS Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is TONIGHT (Wednesday), March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting with be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com. BOOK CORNER
March is Women's History Month and a great time to mention Rachel Carson, one of the central figures in Douglas Brinkley's Silent Spring Revolution, part of his multi-volume history on the modern conservation and environmental movements. Carson was a marine biologist who wrote a popular trilogy on the ocean and followed it up with Silent Spring, a book about the dangers caused by pesticides. Carson herself died of cancer (in Silver Spring). Monday will mark the "crossover" date for the 2024 legislative session. This is the date by which a bill is supposed to pass one chamber in order to be guaranteed a hearing in the other. Bills that move later still have a chance to make it to the Governor's desk, but the best position for a bill to be in on Monday is through one chamber. That means the next few days will be extremely busy in the House of Delegates, including our typical Saturday before crossover session. Some of the significant action we might see over the next few days include:
-Movement on the budget, which the Senate is taking up first this year and is on the Senate floor this week. As a reminder, unlike our federal partners down the street we are required to have a balanced budget every year. -Progress on the Governor's housing legislation. I have shared information about the Governor's three housing bills previously but they are complex pieces of legislation related to housing supply, tenant rights, and financing. -Advancement of a "good cause" law to protect tenants. This proposal has been kicking around the General Assembly for seven years but the Environment and Transportation Committee has crafted a heavily amended compromise to move this bill forward. -Dozens of local bills--including many that affect just Montgomery County--like legislation to allow Montgomery County to deploy automated speed enforcement in more high risk locations and improve the County's development review process. -Legislation related to the climate, including a bill to place the manufacturing sector under our greenhouse gas reduction laws for the first time. -More elements of the Speaker's Decency Agenda, including the Freedom to Read Act and training in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination for our school workforce. -Cyclist safety Legislation sponsored by my seatmate, Delegate Sara Love, in response to the death of Sarah Langenkamp on River Road. -And MUCH MUCH more. I often get replies noting my failure to include some particular issue and I welcome such feedback. If you have a question about a bill or issue, please just click reply. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Among the bills working their way through the legislative process are the ones I am sponsoring. Legislation renaming the Port of Baltimore was on both the House and Senate floor this week. The Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago. The Senate version--sponsored by our State Senator Ariana Kelly--has also passed the Senate. The Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago and the Senate version is on the Senate floor this week. The Open Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act I sponsored is also on the House floor this week. ----- And a big shout-out to my seatmate, Delegate Sarah Wolek, on passage through the House of her first bills: three on the same day! The three bills relate to financial well being, eligibility for House and Senate scholarships, and villages for those aging in place. ----- Unfortunately, one piece of legislation apparently not moving this year is the End of Life Options Act--sometimes referred to as Death With Dignity. The Senate has indicated that they will not bring the bill--which has previously passed the House--up for a vote. SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE If you or someone you know is a District 16 resident pursuing a higher education, remember we have scholarships available through our office. To be eligible for a Delegate Scholarship, you must plan to attend a Maryland college or university, or a private career school. Private career schools must have the Maryland Higher Education Commission's approval to operate and be accredited by a national accrediting association approved by the U.S. Department of Education. You may also attend a nursing school if the Commission approves the curriculum. Students may attend full or part-time. If your major is not offered at a Maryland institution of higher education, you may apply for a unique major designation that would allow you to use our Delegate Scholarship funds for an out-of-state school. Learn more at https://www.marckorman.com/scholarship.html COMMUNITY NEWS Congratulations to several District 16 residents on their appointment to Montgomery County Boards and Commissions: Betty Romero and Margaret Rajnic, Montgomery County Commission for Women Marian Block, Bethesda Urban Partnership Board of Directors Rodrigo Figueroa, Montgomery County Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection ----- Bethesda Big Train is looking for applicants for the Alexander DiMisa High School Leadership Fellowship program this summer. Learn more and apply here. ----- Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting with be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com BOOK CORNER I was in the news quite a bit all around the state last week for my efforts to fund our transportation infrastructure. So this is a good week to recommend Moving Maryland Forward: A Century of Modern Road Building by Harold J. Counihan. This is a bit of a propaganda piece by the State Highway Administration to celebrate the centennial of its founding as the State Road Commission in 1908. Its a chronological review of Maryland's increasing investments in transportation, which has only continued since publication in 2008. I have loved all ten of my legislative sessions as a District 16 Delegate, but serving as a committee chair this legislative session is a very different experience than the nine that came before. As I have been telling people, it is the same sport but a totally different style of play. If you're a baseball person, think about going from the dead ball era of hitting to the late 1990s home run bonanza in a year. In addition to my own legislative agenda, I now feel responsible for the 387 pieces of legislation (and rising) in my committee's hands. I am learning a lot about the legislative process from this seat that I never fully understood before, including the limits of time and staff capacity. The committees are staffed by legislative counsel from the Department of Legislative Services. The three counsel on my committee are excellent and experienced. For two of them, I am their third chair as they have worked on the committee for decades. But with almost 400 bills to work through, we need to triage and prioritize what can reasonably be worked on by three people. We are a week and a half from crossover--the day bills are supposed to pass one chamber to get a hearing in the other--and we are feeling the ticking clock as we work to perfect the bills before us. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Last week I had three bill hearings on legislation I am sponsoring. The simplest of the three was legislation renaming the Port of Baltimore. Former Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich and Hogan-era Transportation Secretary Jim Ports testified in support of the bill, which I must say is not my usual witness panel! More challenging were the hearings I had for bills to help our transportation funding challenge. Right now we are facing an approximately $3 billion shortfall for transportation over six years which means no new construction, fewer Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) office hours, reduced road and transit aid for the counties, less mowing and cleaning along state highways and other cuts. And that is all before we try to do major projects people are asking for like the American Legion Bridge or significant MARC Brunswick line improvements. Why the shortfall? There are many factors but inflation and reduced motor fuel/gas tax revenue because of improved fuel efficiency--combined with adoption of zero emission vehicles--are both major contributors. Part of my mission this legislative session has been to offer up ideas for transportation funding and two of those ideas had hearings last week. I do not relish needing to introduce bills and policies such as these, but I believe they are necessary at this stage to have the type of transportation network many of you have expressed support for. The Toll Rate Reform Act would follow the lead of states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia and leverage our toll facilities for broader transportation needs. You can watch the hearing here. If this sounds familiar, it is because I have proposed something similar before to fund transit projects. The Transportation Funding Act of 2024 would use two fees to fund transportation. One is a statewide 50 cent fee on Transportation Network Company (ride-hailing company) trips, which would be in addition to the local 25 cent fee already levied in Montgomery County. The other is a 50 cent fee on e-commerce deliveries. Each of these policies have been undertaken in other states. You can watch that hearing here. PURPLE LINE UPDATE On March 13, the Board of Public Works will consider another change order on the Purple Line. The project cost is going up by $425 million over five years and the opening date is being delayed from summer 2027 to late 2027. Why is this occurring? It goes back to a few years ago when the project was between contractors and the state agreed to undertake utility work, most of which did not occur when it was supposed to. This change order puts that issue behind the project. You can read more starting on page 75 of the BPW agenda. COMMUNITY NEWS Tomorrow (March 7), the Planning Board will be briefed on the results of the Friendship Heights Urban Design Study. You can read the study here. ----- The B-CC High School annual used book sale is Saturday, March 9th, 10am-5pm and Sunday, March 10th, 10am-3pm. ----- Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com: BOOK CORNER Since I used a baseball reference above and we are deep into Spring Training, I will venture away from my usual political recommendations and tell you about Where They Ain't by Burt Solomon. Long before the current Baltimore Orioles came to town in 1954, there was a professional Baltimore Orioles from 1882-1899 and again from 1901-1902 (the team ultimately became the Yankees). The old Orioles had some true titans of baseball past including John McGraw and Wee Willie Keeler. This is a fun book for local baseball fans about that long ago team which was fairly dominant in those pre-World Series days. We are now more than halfway through the 2024 legislative session and 19 days from "crossover," the date by which bills are supposed to pass one chamber in order to be guaranteed a hearing in the other. Most--but not all--legislation with a chance of becoming law will pass one chamber by that date. As we get deeper into the legislative session, we are on the House floor for longer periods of time debating legislation. As a committee chair, I usually leave it to my subcommittee chairs to debate and defend legislation we are advancing out of committee. However, this past week I was briefly up on the House floor to help clarify pro-environmental legislation called the Paint Stewardship Act. You can watch it here. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 that I sponsored passed the House with bipartisan support. The legislation temporarily eases Maryland's operating funding limit for Metro/WMATA in line with the Governor's budget and regional negotiations regarding Metro funding. ----- You may recall that I proposed local legislation to require Montgomery County Public Schools teachers to undergo training in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious discrimination. However, as part of the Decency Agenda the House is passing this year that I mentioned last week, there is a statewide bill to accomplish this goal for every school system. Therefore, I have withdrawn the local bill. ----- HB 1300 is another local bill I have received numerous questions about. The bill would void restrictions in deeds, covenants, or common ownership community organization documents that restrict land use beyond what the county's zoning regulations state for that area. There have been a lot of questions about the bill. We discussed this bill in the Montgomery County Delegation meeting last week and you can see that discussion here. ADMINISTRATION UPDATE Governor Moore was back in the Environment and Transportation Committee this week to discuss his housing agenda, which includes three pieces of legislation related to zoning and where housing can be built, protections and support for renters, and a new community development enterprise to access federal tax credit financing for development. You can watch his explanation here and read about each bill in detail below: Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024 Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 Housing and Community Development Financing Act of 2024 PEPCO UPDATE For those of you with solar panels on your roof, Pepco recently sent an email regarding implementation of the Net Metering Flexibility Act in Maryland. I authored this legislation with Senator Brian Feldman--inspired by a conversation with a constituent in his driveway when going door-to-door--and it allows those who generate electricity more flexibility in how they use net metering credits for electricity they sell to the grid. If you have questions about this policy, you can call Pepco customer care center at 1-800-424-8028. COMMUNITY NEWS
Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club has a series of upcoming meetings. To obtain links for any of the below, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com: -March 4, at 7:30am: Lisa Taylor, Chair of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate/Violence -April 10, at 7:30am: District 18 state legislators ----- Congratulations to Daniel Ahr on joining the Friendship Heights Village Council. ----- Two Montgomery County constituents are being confirmed to County Boards and Commissions this week: Nick Magliato to the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board and Jordan Kaplan to the Interagency Coordinating Board for Community Use of Public Facilities. BOOK CORNER With Larry Hogan back in Maryland politics and not just on the Sunday shows, this is a good time to highlight Blue-State Republican by Mileah Kromer. She explores Hogan's political success and popularity during his gubernatorial years as a Republican in a Democratic-leaning state. I was probably too close to this overall topic--the political time period, not Governor Hogan--to have an unbiased opinion of the book but I particularly appreciated her discussion of Hogan's specific political tactics that helped him maintain his popularity and win a second term. With the bill deadline behind us and "crossover"--the date by which bills must pass one chamber without requiring a special vote of the Rules Committee--less than a month away, we are in the real legislative grind of the session. My committee (Environment and Transportation) is now holding bill hearings four days a week. After bill hearings, our six subcommittees hold detailed work sessions on the various bills moving forward. Committees are also reporting out more bills so the daily floor sessions are also getting longer as the full House considers each committee's work product. Below I will provide an update on the bills I am sponsoring and some other issues of particular note. P.S. As President's Day just passed, I wanted to share my 2018 address to the House of Delegates in honor of Washington's birthday. Every year the Speaker of the House has a Delegate make such an address (and there is a similar tradition for Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther KIng, Jr.). You can listen to the address (which predates video streaming in the chamber) here. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 (HB 159) passed the full House with a bipartisan vote last week. The bill updates a law we passed several years ago on access to electric vehicle charging equipment in buildings governed by homeowners associations and condo boards. The Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 (HB 198) passed the House Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support and will be on the House floor next week. As you may know, our local Metro system is facing an operating funding short-fall. The Moore Administration has stepped up with additional funds but this requires a change to our state law capping the operating fund increases to Metro. The bill has already had its hearing in the Appropriations Committee. The Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act (HB 475) had its hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee this week. This legislation came from my work with a constituent and will put some state support into free reading materials to help support literacy in and out of schools. You can watch the hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r-2njs8-9E&t=447s ----- I am regularly asked about the End-Of-Life Option Act, a bill which would allow those with terminal conditions in Maryland to request aide in dying. It can be a sensitive and personal topic, although the majority of constituents I hear from about it support the bill. Last week, two House Committees held a joint hearing on the bill which you can watch here. Several years ago, this legislation passed the House of Delegates but not the State Senate. ----- Another impactful bill moving through the committee process is the Access to Care Act . The bill has controversial headlines, but at its core it allows the undocumented to buy into plans on the state health insurance exchange with no access to subsidies or other government or taxpayer funded benefits if the federal government grants Maryland a waiver to do so. This represents an opportunity to expand healthcare access to the 6% of Marylanders who are uninsured (down from 13% before the passage of Obamacare). ----- The House leadership announced the Decency Agenda this week. It contains five important bills including the Freedom to Read Act--which establishes a set of state standards for libraries to avoid banning books--a school employee training requirement for anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. You may recall that I have a local (Montgomery County) bill on this issue, which statewide legislation would obviate the need for. Here is the complete Decency Agenda: HB785 – Freedom to Read Act: -Establishes a set of State Standards for Libraries to ensure that libraries cannot: Exclude materials from their catalogs because of the origin, background, or views of the person who create the materials; Proscribe or remove materials from their catalogs because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. -Protects school and public library workers by preventing punitive actions being taken against them for their adherence to the State Standards for Libraries. HB602 – Employment Discrimination – Sexual Orientation -Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in response to a recent Maryland Supreme Court ruling that said state law grants certain job protections to workers on the basis of their sex and their gender identity but not based on their sexual orientation. HB1386 – Education - Employee Training and Holocaust Education Study – Requirements -Implements anti-bias teacher training focused on combating anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. -Requires MSDE to conduct a third-party evaluation on the implementation of Holocaust curriculum standards. HB1287 – State and County Superintendents of Schools - Employment Contracts - School Leadership Course or Program -Requires all incoming County Superintendents & the State Superintendent to complete a school leadership course or program. HB333 – Election Law - Election Disinformation on Large Social Media Platforms and Influence Related to Voting -Combats voter suppression by defining “influence” in the law to apply to deceptive tactics intentionally used for voter suppression. -Creates a voter action line within the State Board of Elections (SBE) to collect potential misinformation and refer them to the proper prosecution authority if necessary. -Requires SBE to report voter suppression efforts found on social media platforms to the platform, request false information is removed, and issue corrective information to ensure the public knows the facts. ADMINISTRATION UPDATE In the Environment and Transportation Committee this week, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller presented one of the Administration's priority bills: The Maryland Road Worker Protection Act of 2024. In 2020, construction worker Michael O'Connor was killed on Old Georgetown Road--a state highway--in District 16. We worked with Mr. O'Connor's widow to require the State Highway Administration to provide a report on worker safety which you can read here . The basic thrust of State Highway's response then was that no additional measures needed to be taken. So after a tragic incident on the Baltimore Beltway killed six highway workers, I was relieved to see the Moore-Miller Administration respond in force with a Lieutenant Governor-led work group followed by legislation. The bill would increase the automated enforcement penalties for work zone violations, make it easier to place automated enforcement equipment, and dedicate more funds to work zone safety. BUDGET UPDATE In prior emails, I noted that the Moore Administration set aside $90 million in unspecified funding for implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act, Maryland's ambitious legislation to make the state a net zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2045. The Governor has now announced his intention for the funds, although how they are used will ultimately be up to the General Assembly. Under the Governor's proposal, the funds will be allocated as follows: $17 million for grants to purchase and lease electric school buses to serve Maryland public school students; $23 million for grants to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in low and moderate income communities; and $50 million for grants to electrify hospitals, schools, multi-family housing, and other community buildings. COMMUNITY NEWS Maryland Matters recently ran a story on District 16 resident Joy Hakim and her work to improve school textbooks. You can read the story here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club has a series of upcoming meetings. To obtain links for any of the below, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com: -March 4, at 7:30am: Lisa Taylor, Chair of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate/Violence -April 10, at 7:30am: District 18 state legislators ----- Each year, the Governor delivers his "Green Bag" appointments to state boards and commissions to the State Senate. The name comes from the ceremonial bag the hard copy is delivered in. Among this year's Green Bag appointees is District 16's Dr. Phyllis G. Scalettar, who has been nominated to reappointment to the board of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. BOOK CORNER I have already twice included books in this section by author John Frece, a scribe of Maryland's 20th century political history. I had the opportunity to meet him earlier this month so this is a good time to mention another of his books, this one his most recent: Self-Destruction: The rise, fall, and redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster. Senator Brewster also served in the state legislature and the House of Representatives before representing the state in the United States Senate from 1963 to 1969. He is perhaps best known for serving as Lyndon Johnson's proxy in the 1964 Maryland Democratic Primary where Brewster squared off--on LBJ's behalf--against George Wallace. For those interested in Maryland history, this is a terrific read. The Maryland General Assembly runs on a tight schedule with strict deadlines. One of the most significant is the bill introduction date, the date by which bills must be introduced to be guaranteed a hearing. For the House of Delegates, that deadline was last Thursday (it was last Monday for the State Senate). As of now, there are over 1,400 bills in the House, with 341 assigned to the Environment and Transportation Committee--the most of any House Committee. LEGISLATIVE UPDATEHere is the complete list of bills I am sponsoring. Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 (HB 159): Senator Ariana Kelly is cross-filing this bill, which updates a law we passed several years ago on access to electric vehicle charging equipment in buildings governed by homeowners associations and condo boards. Specifically, the bill adds co-ops to the existing law, expands the definition of vehicles to include charging equipment for e-bikes, and puts in place a process for the state's Department of Housing and Community Development to implement the law and serve as a point of contact for individuals who need assistance with the law. The bill is on the House floor for consideration this week. Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 (HB 198): I am working on this bill with Senator Brian Feldman, as well as Senator Malcolm Augustine and Delegate Jazz Lewis and it is part of a regional negotiation over Metro. As you may know, our local Metro system is facing an operating funding short-fall. The Moore Administration has stepped up with additional funds but this requires a change to our state law capping the operating fund increases to Metro. The bill has already had its hearing in the Appropriations Committee. The Washington Suburban Transit Commission Reform Act (HB 1023): This is a local bill already introduced for which the local hearings were previously held. The bill reforms the Montgomery and Prince George's bi-county commission that oversees our state's Metro commitment by clarifying how the state Transportation Secretary's designee can serve on the Metro board, revises how the other Metro board seat can shift back and forth, and alters what budgetary actions the commission can take independently. The Montgomery and Prince George's County House Delegations have already voted to support the bill. The Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act (HB 475): This legislation came from my work with a constituent and will put some state support into free reading materials to help support literacy in and out of schools. The Transportation Funding Act of 2024 (HB 1215): Through my work on a state transportation revenue and investment commission (more on that below) and the Administration's recently announced transportation cuts (which I have discussed in prior emails), it is clear that more support is needed for the type of infrastructure I often hear constituents want: less trash on the roads, fewer potholes, well-functioning mass transit, roadway improvements, and so on. Given the federal government's current historic investment in infrastructure, it is also an important time for our state to step up. For that reason, I am sponsoring a bill to increase revenue for transportation infrastructure by charging low fees on transportation network company (Uber, Lyft, etc.) trips and certain home deliveries. I do not do this lightly and will explain more of my thinking in future newsletters, but safe, reliable, and efficient infrastructure costs money. Maryland Toll Rate Reform Act of 2024 (HB 1070): As with the prior bill, this legislation is designed to address the severe transportation budget challenges. It would follow the pattern of other states such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York to use toll revenue not just for the toll facility but for our broader transportation challenges. Montgomery County Public Schools - School Personnel Training - Religious Discrimination Prevention (HB 1379): This is another local bill I am working on which would mandate training related to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination for Montgomery County Public Schools personnel. Port of Baltimore - Renaming (HB 375): I am sponsoring a bill to place in statute the current name of the Port of Baltimore (Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore). When the Port was named after former Congresswoman Delich Bentley it was done via an executive order and not in law. ADMINISTRATION UPDATEGovernor Moore recently released a state plan. The plan sets out ten areas of focus for the state along with objectives, core strategies, and key performance indicators. ----- A week ago the Governor was in the chamber of the House of Delegates to deliver the State of the State address. You can read a transcript of his speech here. BUDGET UPDATEI no longer serve on the Appropriations Committee but for those interested in state government, I still recommend the annual budget hearings and budget analysis for each state agency. You can see them all as they occur here.
COMMUNITY NEWSThe Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club has a series of upcoming meetings. To obtain links for any of the below, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com: -March 4, at 7:30am: Lisa Taylor, Chair of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate/Violence -April 10, at 7:30am: District 18 state legislators BOOK CORNERAs February is Black History Month, I will mention a book my colleague Senator Cory McCray recommended to me years ago: They Call Me Little Willie: The Life Story of William L. Adams by Mark R. Cheshire. Adams was a civic and political force in Baltimore City but also ran a significant illegal gambling operation. He was involved in many de-segregation efforts in the city and state. Later today, Governor Moore will come to the chamber of the Maryland House of Delegates to deliver the annual State of the State address. You will be able to watch it on YouTube. And by the way, you can watch the House or Senate proceedings daily via the Maryland General Assembly website. The floor sessions start slowly each year as we wait for committees to report out bills but this week we will have legislation on the House floor for the first time in 2024. You can see what the full House and Senate are taking up each day here. Later this week, you can see that the committee I chair--Environment & Transportation--will report out its first set of bills for consideration on the floor.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATELast Friday, a local bill I introduced had its hearing--which you can watch here--before the Montgomery County Delegation. The bill would require Montgomery County Public Schools to conduct mandatory training for personnel on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious discrimination. And yesterday, the Environment and Transportation Committee held a hearing on legislation I authored, the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024. The proposal tightens up the rules for installing charging equipment in Homeowners Association and Condo Board governed areas. You can learn more and watch the hearing here. ----- Last week, the Governor joined House and Senate leadership to unveil legislation related to our juvenile justice system. The legislation requires law enforcement to use the Child in Need of Supervision process and extends how long probation can be for juveniles, among other provisions. You can read the complete bill here. BUDGET UPDATEFor obvious reasons, I tend to focus on legislation and the legislative process in these weekly emails. However, it might be of interest to know what happens after the legislature's work is done. For example, over the past few years I have written many times about the Montgomery County Delegation's efforts to obtain transportation funding from the state. We have had great success, including setting up a new program that automatically routes lottery revenue to the county for its Bus Rapid Transit system on a continuous basis and one time money to procure zero emission buses for the county's bus system (RideOn). When the legislature takes those actions, the state Board of Public Works (BPW) still must approve the final contracts/agreements. Last week, BPW approved tens of millions of dollars for these programs and projects and others for the county. You can read more from the BPW agenda, starting on page 67. TRANSPORTATION UPDATEI continue to be involved in regional discussions related to our local Metro system. As Maryland, Virginia, and DC have all signaled their intent to provide additional funding, the Metro General Manager has revised his budget proposal. The proposal does not impose turnbacks--where half the trains used to turn back into DC at Grosvenor and other locations--or station closures. There are still targeted service reductions, proposed fare increases, and cost containment. You can read the current proposal here. COMMUNITY NEWSThe Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club has a series of upcoming meetings. To obtain links for any of the below, please email keller.johnw@gmail.com: -March 4, at 7:30am: Lisa Taylor, Chair of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate/Violence -April 10, at 7:30am: District 18 state legislators ---- Congratulations to District 16's David Rubenstein, the new owner of the Baltimore Orioles (once Major League Baseball approves the deal). ----- Thank you and congratulations to District 16's Zayn Bandukwalla and Alan Trachtenberg on their appointments to the County's Alcohol and Other Drug Advisory Council. BOOK CORNERAbove I referenced the Maryland Board of Public Works, a unique entity made up of the Governor, State Treasurer, and Comptroller that approves all state contracts valued over $200,000 and has other powers it has been granted over the years. In the early 1980s, Alan Wilner wrote The Maryland Board of Public Works: A History which describes the then-150 year history of this unique Maryland institution. You can access the book through the Maryland Archive. |
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April 2024
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