​The 2026 Maryland Legislative session has now concluded. It is an incredible privilege to represent you alongside the rest of the District 16 Delegation: Senator Sara Love, Delegate Sarah Wolek, and Delegate Teresa Woorman. Below is my end of session letter. Going forward, these updates will switch to a monthly format.

There have been significant changes in Annapolis and your state legislature since last year’s legislative session. Now-Speaker Emerita Adrienne Jones shared in December that she was stepping down from her role. I was proud to serve under Speaker Emerita Jones’ leadership over the years, first as Majority Leader, and then as chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, my current position. I learned a lot from the former Speaker, and I try to lead by her example by being prepared and maintaining a diligent focus on our work. 
In December, the House of Delegates held a special session to elect Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk. She represents a district in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties and previously served as the chair of the former Health and Government Operations Committee. The House Chamber in Annapolis is lined with portraits of the most recent Speakers, all of whom have been white men up until Speaker Jones. Some day, many years from now, the person at the rostrum will have a portrait of Speaker Jones, the first African American and woman to serve as Speaker, over one shoulder and Speaker Peña-Melnyk, the first Afro-Latina to serve as Speaker, over the other. And the members who serve in the House, school children who visit, and others who enter will see a broader reflection of Maryland in those portraits. 
I am honored to continue my service under Speaker Peña-Melnyk’s leadership as chair of the House Environment & Transportation Committee, one of seven standing committees in the House of Delegates. The committee has jurisdiction over the topics in the committee name, as well as agriculture, aquaculture, natural resources, and two new policy areas. This year, Speaker Peña-Melnyk charged the Environment and Transportation Committee with energy policy and utilities. My committee no longer oversees housing policy, which was transferred to the Economic Matters Committee, as well as local government and ethics, which were transferred to the newly-created Government, Labor, and Elections Committee. 
The theme of our legislative agenda for this session was affordability, accountability, and opportunity. The General Assembly put in the work to equip the state and its citizens with the tools they need to grow and thrive. Below is a synopsis of some key legislation from the past few months. We work on thousands of bills each session, so if an issue you care about is not addressed here, please email me with any questions at [email protected]. 

2026 State Budget 
The only piece of legislation that is constitutionally required to pass each year is a balanced budget. This year, when we convened, the state faced a large projected shortfall, and the problem has grown more severe as the federal government has unpredictably cut direct assistance and implemented changes that are particularly impactful in Maryland, where we have so many federal employees, contractors, and agencies.
Despite these fiscal challenges, the General Assembly passed a comprehensive and balanced budget that funds our shared priorities. It is never easy to make cuts to vital programs, but that is what is needed to meet our requirements and set Maryland up for financial success in the future.
The Maryland Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, among other initiatives, includes support for:
-Education & Childcare
$10.2 billion for K-12 education, including over $1 billion for Montgomery County Public Schools and $229 million for the Free and Reduced Lunch program 
$2.5 billion for higher education institutions
$20 million to expand access to and shorten the waitlist for the Child Care Scholarship, allowing 3,700 families to receive affordable child care 
$450,000 for the Young Readers Grant Program that I helped to expand in previous years

-Transportation & Infrastructure
Over $1 billion as part of Maryland’s share of our regional transit system, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA), or Metro
$500 million for bike and pedestrian connectivity to expand transportation options
$463 million for safety improvements under the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
$9.5 million for flood/natural disaster mitigation programs and infrastructure 

-Health & Social Services
$14 billion for Medicaid and the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP)
$1.7 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
$384 million to support low-income housing solutions 
Cost containment measures for the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) resulted in reductions from the original proposed $150 million to $126.9 million. As this was one of our most difficult actions this year, I will describe it in further detail:

The DDA has seen extraordinary funding growth in the past few years. State tax dollar support for DDA was a proposed $1.7 billion in 2025, up from $667 million in 2021. This type of growth means we are providing necessary services for people who need them. But no other budget item has seen that scale of increase in such a short time.

This growth threatens the State’s Medicaid waiver that keeps 19,000 Marylanders out of institutional care. In the context of federal rules, the State must demonstrate that the cost of independent living services is less than the cost of institutionalization. Failure to do so could potentially result in the revocation of billions in federal funding. This reduction is incredibly difficult to make, but it is necessary in order for the state to maintain a balanced budget while staying in compliance with applicable federal rules. 

The State’s capital (construction) budget also makes significant investments, such as $54 million for Montgomery County Public Schools construction and allocations for local District 16 projects, including:
-Schools and Educational Institutions 
$400,000 for The Diener School
$700,000 for Carderock Springs Elementary School highway sound barrier 

-Healthcare Centers
$1.5 million for the Suburban Hospital Emergency Department
$50,000 for the Children’s Inn at the National Institute of Health Medical Isolation Wing

-Recreation and Transportation
$500,000 this year, and a $2.5 million commitment for each of the next two years, for the new North Bethesda Metro Station entrance
$250,000 for Maplewood-Alta Vista Local Park in Bethesda
$150,000 for culvert restoration in C&O Canal National Historical Park
$100,000 to study a Downtown Bethesda recreational center

-Cultural and Community Centers 
$1.5 million for the Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom
$50,000 for Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo
$240,000  for Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 cemetery

Each year, we need to balance the state budget. Some years are more challenging than others and, this year, we were able to deliver a budget with no tax or fee increases.

Energy

In 2026, the Environment and Transportation Committee worked diligently on a package of bills aimed at advancing energy affordability and sustainability. The Utility Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families (RELIEF) Act (HB 1532) was introduced by Speaker Peña-Melnyk. There is no single cause of high energy prices, but the RELIEF Act addresses short, medium, and long-term energy challenges. Provisions of the bill include: 
-Limits gas and electric utilities’ ability to recover supervisor salaries from ratepayers, instead requiring it to come from corporate profits
-Bans the use of a utility rate setting method called forecast test years and requires the Public Service Commission to study the method
-Authorizes the use of certain portable solar energy generation devices
-Requires the state to support additional utility-scale solar and other renewables
-Alters requirements for data centers, including requiring smaller data centers to comply with a large load tariff so they cover more of their costs, establishing a data center registry, and creating prioritization tiers for data centers that bring their own clean energy and pay prevailing wage
-Temporarily reducing the EmPOWER Maryland electric energy efficiency program to reduce costs while maintaining our environmental commitments
-Expands access to energy assistance programs and supports a new low-income cost mechanism
-Provides support for nonprofits to transition to green energy and other renewable energy programs
-Requires utilities to submit for review underground transmission lines, similar to the current requirements for overhead transmission lines
-Mandates that utilities look at grid-enhancing technologies and advanced transmission technologies instead of building costly new lines

The General Assembly had to make difficult decisions on energy policy this session. This type of legislation is nonetheless essential to the well-being of our state residents.

Transportation 
Investing in and maintaining our State’s transportation network is a significant focus of mine. The legislation we worked on centers around keeping Maryland’s highways and public transit systems safe and accessible for all. 

Out of State Plates - Improper Registration (SB 111) seeks to address the ongoing issue with improper vehicle registration by authorizing the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to take possession of registration cards and plates issued by other states but used by Maryland residents who should have Maryland plates. It also prohibits title agencies from selling non-Maryland registration cards and plates within the State. HB 212 gives the MVA the authority to enforce our State’s registration laws and collect the fees it needs to fund other important initiatives.  

I sponsored the Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 386) this year. The bill would have increased Maryland’s funding for our regional transit system (WMATA/Metro) contingent upon DC and Virginia passing similar legislation to ensure that the task of maintaining the Metro is shared among the jurisdictions that use and benefit from it. While the bill unfortunately did not pass this year, I remain committed to securing adequate funding for Metro and WMATA to keep public transit safe and accessible. 

The Clear Before You Drive Act (HB 474) requires Maryland drivers to clear accumulated precipitation off their vehicles before operating them. Eight-year-old District 16 resident Lucy testified in favor of the bill, in which she recalled driving on I-270 with her father, when they narrowly avoided a chunk of snow that flew off a vehicle in front of them. Lucy learned that there was no pertinent Maryland legislation and thus decided to take action. We thank Lucy for her activism and concern for her community. 

Another safety program is the Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program (HB 107), which follows Virginia’s lead in having habitual traffic law violators use speed governors to follow the speed limit, similar to the ignition interlock program for drivers charged with driving under the influence.  

The governing body of the State’s transit landscape is improved in various ways under the Maryland Transit Reform Act (HB 1081). This bill resulted from last year’s Work Group on the Organization of the Maryland Transit Administration. It implements numerous board and personnel changes within MTA. Significantly for our community, it adds an advisory board for the commuter rail (MARC Rail) service, requires increased personnel focusing on commuter rail issues, and requires an expert study on a passenger rail authority, a structure Virginia already has. This reorganization will allow for better delegation of work within MTA and increase the efficiency of the administration’s services. We also passed Economic Development - Horse Racing Facilities, Prince George's County Blue Line Corridor Facilities, and Bus Rapid Transit - Alterations (HB 1581), which adds additional funding for bus rapid transit for Montgomery County.  

The Honorable Anne Healey Pedestrian Safety Act of 2026 (HB 1504), named in honor of a long-time state delegate and member of my committee, furthers Maryland’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to end roadway injuries and fatalities. The Act requires the State Highway Administration to prioritize sidewalk and bicycle pathway projects that are adjacent to highways or similarly busy roads to protect pedestrians and encourage non-vehicular modes of transportation.  

Environment & Natural Resources

The environmental efforts we worked on this session deal with preserving our State’s natural resources and open spaces for generations of Marylanders to come. 

On January 19, a section of the 54-mile Potomac Interceptor (PI) sewer line collapsed along Clara Barton Parkway, resulting in a significant overflow into the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Our office immediately began engaging with DC Water, which owns the line, and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to ensure residents had the most up-to-date information on the situation, to get answers to your questions, and push for more testing and faster action. DC Water and MDE are currently working on remedial work to ensure that the long-term impacts of the overflow are addressed. Our office has an email list for regular updates. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact us. One of the subcommittees of the Environment & Transportation Committee was also the first public body in the region to hold an oversight hearing on the break. 

I am the primary sponsor of the Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act (HB 870). This bill requires counties and municipalities to notify MDE within 10 days of the approval of permits for new buildings over 35,000 square feet. It also includes a provision that informs MDE of the planned energy sources of these buildings. HB 870 encourages State enterprises to pursue sustainable infrastructure and makes sure that MDE and large building owners have the information needed to avoid costly energy retrofitting in the future to comply with our state’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) requirements. 
District 16’s State Senator, Sara Love, sponsored the Senate version of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - Regulation (HB 925), which requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to regulate the amount of PFAS (Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances) that can be used in biosolids that are applied on agricultural land. This bill is critical for protecting not only the health of our agricultural community and the environment, but also for every Marylander. I am grateful to Senator Love for her work on this important matter.  

Endangered and Threatened Species and Migratory Birds - Regulations, Lists, Petitions, Essential Habitats and Takings (HB 578) reflects an effort to protect Maryland’s endangered species and migratory birds. It instructs the Secretary of Natural Resources to update regulations related to the Irreplaceable Natural Areas Program and the list of endangered and threatened animal species at least every 10 years. In a time when federal conservation regulations are being rolled back, our state must defend native animal and plant populations, and this legislation essentially locks in federal requirements as they currently exist. 
Understanding the impact of federal changes is a main focus of Federal Environmental Policy - Reporting (HB 663). This legislation requires the Maryland Department of Environment to compose a report on any changes in federal environmental policy every six months so that Maryland can keep up with federal actions and respond accordingly, either with litigation or our own policy changes. 

On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program (HB 429) sets up a new farm-based waste diversion program. Less farm-based waste in our landfills and other waste streams is positive for all Marylanders. 

The Board of Public Works Climate Transparency Act (HB 1161) was proposed legislation to require state contracts submitted to our Board of Public Works–which reviews all state contracts–to account for state climate sustainability goals. The BPW agreed to implement this without legislation, and therefore, I withdrew the bill. 

Ensuring environmental sustainability is a key priority for me as your state Delegate, and we will continue our work towards a cleaner and greener Maryland.

Economic Development 

Speaker Peña-Melnyk introduced Maryland’s Future Board (HB 1473), which establishes a new board under the Department of Commerce to develop and carry out plans for the State’s economic future. Her vision affirms that economic growth and diversification are vital for the well-being of our State and its citizens, and the following bills show that this can be achieved in a variety of ways, including housing and community development, support for business owners, and consumer protections.  
The Maryland Housing Certainty Act (HB 548) deals with permitting for housing developments and allows for the simplification of certain bureaucratic processes. Keeping housing affordable and the process for construction reliable is important for our state’s economic success. The Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act (HB 894) was introduced on behalf of the Governor. It focuses on transit-oriented developments (TODs), which are communities centered around public transit systems. TODs are effective in reducing traffic congestion by encouraging public transit use. HB 894 advocates for the designation of TODs as enterprise zones, allowing for expanded access to affordable housing and resources dedicated to economic development. Such development is crucial in these areas, as TODs are home to many individuals who rely on public transit to get to and from work and other obligations. Frankly, it is something District 16 is very familiar with, given the presence of Downtown Bethesda and Friendship Heights, and the rest of the state should follow our lead.  

This year, I sponsored the Franchise Reform Act (HB 730), which supports our state economy by improving the annual renewal process for franchise applicants. It codifies a program that expedites this process and protects the rights of franchisees by extending the statute of limitations for certain legal actions. The Franchise Reform Act supports Maryland’s broader business landscape by easing an administrative burden for franchisees. The Governor’s Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (HB 898), also known as The DECADE Act, alters and extends certain State economic development programs, incentivizing growth within Maryland. This sort of growth is key to our state’s economy. 
 
The Protection from Predatory Pricing Act (HB 895) prohibits food retailers, including third-party delivery services, from using customer data to implement variable pricing and certain targeted advertising. The bill deems these actions unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices, and seeks to hold retailers accountable for predatory behaviors. Following the discontinuation of the penny, the General Assembly passed Rounding Cash Transactions - Authorization (HB 1026), which allows merchants to round the amount of certain cash transactions and cash wages for greater convenience.  

To best benefit our State, economic development should promote equity and sustainability. The legislation discussed above demonstrates how these initiatives can be achieved through mindful policymaking.

Immigration and Other Federal Responses

Maryland is feeling the impacts of the current Presidential administration's irresponsible decisions. The actions of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continue to pose a threat to the safety and unity of our communities. The General Assembly has taken actions to mitigate the harm ICE is causing. Constitutional Rights - Violations and Digital Unmasking (HB 351) authorizes “digital unmasking” of federal agents. In the case of a grievance against a judicial officer, for instance, an ICE agent, this bill allows authorities to collect information about their digital activity. Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement Agreements - Prohibition (HB 444) was signed by Governor Wes Moore on February 17. This emergency bill bans 287(g) agreements–which are formal agreements between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials–effectively ending formal cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement agencies. The Data Privacy Act (HB 711) prevents companies that legally collect sensitive data from sharing said data with ICE and cooperating agencies. Immigration detention facilities are regulated under Correctional Services - Private Immigration Detention Facilities - Zoning Requirement (HB 1017) requires any such facilities operated in the State to meet the appropriate zoning and human welfare standards. The Maryland Values Act of 2026 (SB 810) extends “sensitive location” protections to public schools and food distribution centers to keep our students and other vulnerable populations safe. I am a proud advocate for these bills. Diversity and compassion are among our State’s many strengths – it is for this reason that we must work to keep federal agencies in check.
 
We also passed the No Kings Act (SB 346), which creates a private right of action against federal officials who violate constitutional rights, similar to an existing federal law that does the same for state officials. In addition, we passed the Federal Obligations Enforcement Act (SB 828), which gives the state additional tools to obtain lawfully appropriated and illegally withheld federal dollars. There are, unfortunately, several current examples of federal funds that courts have found are being improperly withheld by federal offices. 

Public Safety & Criminal Justice

The House Judiciary Committee heard numerous bills on the subjects in the title of this section. These bills aim to keep our communities safe and our justice system fair. Family Law - Child Care Providers - Criminal Background Investigations (HB 281) strengthens background check and criminal record investigation requirements for childcare providers to ensure the safety of our youngest Marylanders. Under current law, the State’s juvenile courts do not have jurisdiction over cases alleging a crime punishable by a life sentence; the Youth Charging Reform Act (SB 323) changes that. The Youth Charging Reform Act repeals certain provisions that act as barriers to justice for juvenile offenders. Criminal Law - Machine Gun Convertible Pistols (SB 334), sponsored by Senator Sara Love, arose from national concern regarding the use of machine gun convertible pistols, or “DIY guns” – firearms altered with a small device allowing them to fire automatically. The manufacture, sale, and distribution of these weapons is banned under the bill. The safety of our State is paramount to our role as legislators, which is evidenced by the above-mentioned bills.  

Health

While the federal government continues to implement policies that neglect the health and safety of the American people, the General Assembly has passed numerous pieces of legislation that protect Marylanders. Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures (HB 372) ensures that Maryland law clearly protects access to emergency medical care for patients experiencing pregnancy-related emergencies, including when an abortion is necessary to save a patient’s life or prevent serious and permanent harm. At a time when the Supreme Court is making decisions that limit access to healthcare, legislation like this is critical. The Vax Act (HB 637) separates Maryland’s vaccine authority from the federal government. This builds on the work of the Moore-Miller Administration and the General Assembly to provide safeguards for broad vaccine access. The Safe Staffing Act of 2026 (HB 624) requires certain Maryland hospitals to establish staffing committees to create and implement staffing plans. This will help to ensure that our State’s healthcare facilities are adequately staffed and that healthcare workers are properly supported in the workplace. 

Transparency & Accountability

I believe that transparency helps to build trust between public officials and their constituents and ensures
that the government is working for the people that it is meant to serve. The Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154) follows in the footsteps of work I have done in prior legislative sessions to increase transparency for government operations. The Act would have required all boards of education to live-stream and archive video recordings of their public meetings. Unfortunately, the bill did not make it over the finish line but I will try again. Another piece of legislation I was the primary sponsor of was Special Taxing Districts - Village of Drummond - Authority and Organization (HB 1623), which updated the Village of Drummond’s charter. This bill puts the community’s current wants and needs into the state code properly. I was happy to work with the village Mayor on this effort. 

Following similar legislation in states like Texas and California, the House of Delegates introduced its own mid-decade redistricting bill: Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (HB 488). This is not something that we wanted to do, but we believed that we had to after the President unjustly asked Texas to provide him with more seats in their Congressional delegation. The House of Delegates felt that we could not sit on the sidelines and play by a different set of rules; ultimately, the Senate did not agree. State governments and administrations can better fulfill their obligations to the citizens of Maryland when they are open to feedback and oversight. This year’s work in government transparency and accountability legislation affirms this fact.  

Outside of the Legislative Session

​While the Maryland General Assembly only meets for 90 days each year in Annapolis, I am working for you 365 days a year. As we progress through the year, my office will continue to be a resource to help connect you to your officials. If you have any comments about the material in this letter, questions about the recently concluded legislative session, ideas regarding policy issues, problems with a State agency that require constituent services, or are interested in a legislative scholarship, please contact me anytime. 
My office can be reached year-round by phone at (410) 841-3649 or by email at [email protected] (or by clicking reply). Thank you for reaching out to me during the legislative session. I strongly value the input of my constituents on the issues before the General Assembly, and it is individuals like you who make me proud to represent District 16.

​Dear Friend:
There are just a handful of days left during this legislative session and my next email will be a comprehensive summary of everything that has taken place. Over the next few days, we will work to address energy and other environmental legislation, finalize gun safety and criminal justice bills, and pass hundreds of other bills on numerous issues.
Every year during this last minute crush of activity, I am often asked if it would make more sense to have a longer annual session or even a full time legislature. And as I have written to you before, it is a complicated question and there are pros and cons. But I do think attention is focused and compromise is hatched when a deadline hangs over you. If we had a 100 day legislative session, I believe we would still have this crush of last minute activity but it would be close to the 100th day and not the 90th.
 
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 
A lot of my time this legislative session has been focused on energy issues. Negotiations continue between the House and Senate on comprehensive energy reform. But I am also the primary sponsor of a number of bills and want to share their status.
Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154): The House and Senate bills have a minor difference on this bill to improve access to our local boards of education that will hopefully be worked out this week.
Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 386): The bill to support our regional transit system is pending in the State Senate, where I will continue to make every effort to pass it.
Franchise Reform Act (HB 730): Identical versions of the bill have passed both chambers and the opposite chambers should act this week. The bill is helpful for economic development in Maryland.
Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act (HB 870): The legislation--to ensure the Maryland Department of Environment is helping developers of large buildings comply with Maryland's environmental laws--is pending in the state senate.
Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act (HB 1081): Bipartisan legislation to strengthen and improve our statewide transit agency has some House/Senate differences that we are still working to resolve.
Village of Drummond Reforms (HB 1623): Reforms to the Village of Drummond charter have passed both the House and Senate and are awaiting action by the Governor.

SCHOLARSHIP
In Maryland, state legislators are able to offer legislative scholarships for those seeking higher education in Maryland or outside of Maryland for unique majors only. Learn more here.

​POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
On Friday, my office participated in a site visit of the Potomac Interceptor breech with DC Water, Maryland Department of Environment, concerned community members, and others. The purpose of the meeting was to continue to discuss clean-up and testing needs for the community.
As a reminder, my office sends more detailed Potomac Interceptor-specific updates throughout the week. If you would like to be added to those updates, please just reply to this message.

​COMMUNITY NEWS
 
Thank you to departing Town of Glen Echo Councilmember Dawn Tanner for her service.
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Congratulations to Wendi and Danny Abramowitz, recipients of JSSA's Joseph Ottenstein Award.
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The NIH Community Orchestra and Chorus will present a concert highlighting the theme of "home" on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 3pm at Richard Montgomery High School. More information can be found here.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 
Each week, I have profiled a non-Montgomery County legislator in the House of Delegates. I hope this has given you some insight into my colleagues around the state and from both parties. What I recognized shortly after I was elected is that each of my colleagues is here for a reason. I may not always agree with, like, or understand the reason, but they each have a sense of purpose that they bring to this work. So today, let me lift up all 140 of my colleagues in the Maryland House of Delegates.

I spend a lot more time updating you on the House than the Senate, for obvious reasons. But this time of the legislative session, I tend to think a lot about the Senate. First, there are dozens of Senate bills now sitting in my committee and this week the Senate sponsors are visiting to testify in support of their bills. Second, I am visiting the Senate committee chairs to discuss the bills from my committee--Environment and Transportation--pending in their committees and vice versa. Third, I am testifying in support of a few bills I sponsored that are currently pending in the Senate. Fourth and finally, I am preparing for a conference committee with the Senate on energy affordability and sustainability legislation.
Our State Senate has 47 members, largely representing the same districts as their three House members, although there are a few Senate districts with subdistricts for the House members. We are led by a Speaker in the House. The Senate has a President elected from their members, currently Bill Ferguson who represents a district in Baltimore (and was my law school classmate). The House has seven standing committees, the Senate has four: Judicial Proceedings (which our Senator, Sara Love, serves on); Budget & Taxation; Finance; and Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee.
 
PODCASTS
I had the opportunity to participate in two podcasts this week.
First, I recorded a "post-crossover" episode of I Hate Politics. Listen here.
Second, I was interviewed for the Beyond the Hyphen podcast, which is the podcast of a Howard County high school junior, Mark Li. Listen here.
 
BUDGET UPDATE
I gave the highlights of the operating budgets last week as it passed the House. The House and Senate have both now adopted the conference committee report, which contained only a few changes from what the House passed. You can read the conference committee report here and a summary here.
The House is also working on the capital budget this week. The capital budget is the state's construction budget, where we advocate for our community's needs. These are typically one-time or temporary costs and do not impact the operating budget. I will provide further details but the capital budget increases school construction funds for Montgomery County; finishes the state contribution to rehabilitating the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park; funds culvert restoration in the District 16 portion of the C&O Canal National Historical Park; contributes to Suburban Hospital's Emergency Department modernization; supports updating Adventure Theatre; further funds upgrades for Maplewood-Alta Vista Park; provides funds the Children's Inn at NIH; continues our contribution to the North Bethesda Metrorail second entrance; and funds a sound barrier for Carderock Springs Elementary School.
 
POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
The C&O Canal was acting as a bypass pending repair of the pipe. Now that the pipe is operating again, DC Water is removing sludge from the canal and doing other remediation. Soil removal and treatment will also be taking place. We are also working with DC Water and the Maryland Department of Environment on future testing. As a reminder, we send out a Potomac Interceptor-specific email multiple times a week. If you would like to be added, please just reply here.
 
COMMUNITY NEWS
Voyage Maryland profiled Bethesda Historical Society founder and head Wendy Kaufman. Read it here.
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District 16 resident Whitney Ellenby wrote candidly about raising a son with autism. Read it here.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

​MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 
Each week, I am profiling a non-Montgomery County legislator. This week, I am spotlighting the House's minority party leadership team: Minority Leader Jason Buckel and Minority Whip Jesse Pippy. Both delegates are, like me, attorneys and we all graduated from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Delegate Buckel entered the House in 2015 and represents a Western Maryland district, specifically Allegany County. Delegate Pippy entered the House in 2019 and represents a Frederick County district. Both delegates do their job as leaders of the minority party, working against many things that I think are important. But they do it in a respectful and collaborative way. They do not oppose everything just for the sake of doing so, but actually engage on the issues and bills to represent their party and constituents.

This past Monday night, we passed the "crossover deadline" in Annapolis, the date by which bills passed from one chamber to the next are automatically referred to the other body's committee of jurisdiction. That means this week is a little calmer as we begin to take up Senate bills currently in the House. The state budget is also on the floor this week. Here is a brief update on legislation that I am the primary sponsor of. That said, the House considered hundreds of bills before crossover related to vaccinations, economic development, housing, public safety, childcare, and much more. And one bill that did not move forward that many of you have asked about is the Starter and Silver Homes Act related to housing.
The Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154): This legislation requires video streaming of local board of education meetings and other transparency measures has passed the House. Its Senate version, sponsored by Senator Cheryl Kagan, has passed that chamber as well.
Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 386): A re-commitment to Maryland's share of our regional Metro system's funding has passed the House. The Senate sponsor is Senator Malcolm Augustine.
Co-Op and Condo Energy Refund Equity Act (HB 702): This legislation seeks to correct an issue with last year's energy rebates that left master metered residents out of the program. Broader energy legislation has language to support master metered residents as part of other energy relief. Senator Sara Love has championed the Senate version.
Franchise Reform Act (HB 730): The bill reforms our state oversight of the business concept of franchising. The Senate bill--sponsored by Senator Pam Beidle--has passed that chamber and the bill has also passed the House.
Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act (HB 870): Maryland has an existing law for large buildings to reduce emissions. In order to make certain new buildings follow the law, the amended version of this bill ensures that the Maryland Department of the Environment gets early notice about such buildings and it has passed the House.
Land Transfer Accountability Act (HB 1009): Alongside Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, the bill attempted to bring some accountability to threatened federal land and building sales but needs significant work to be found constitutional.
Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act (HB 1081): The outcome of a work group, this bill provides several reforms to improve operations of the Maryland Transit Administration. The bill passed the House. The Senate bill--which passed but after the crossover deadline--is sponsored by Senator Cory McCray.
The Board of Public Works Climate Transparency Act (HB 1161): Sponsored by Senator Shelly Hettleman in the Senate, the bill would have required additional climate information related to contracts at the Board of Public Works. As I explained in this video, the goal of the bill was accomplished without legislation.
Villager of Drummonds Reforms (HB 1623): On behalf of the District 16 legislators, I introduced this local bill to update the charter of the Village of Drummond. The bill has passed the House.

BUDGET UPDATE
 
The House version of the fiscal year 2027 state budget is on the floor this week. The budget contains no tax or fee increases, but does "decouple" some state taxes from federal changes that have taken place (so existing law continues in Maryland). The general fund balance (surplus) is projected at almost $300 million, and the Rainy Day Fund remains at $2.2 billion. The toughest part of the budget is the cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). That agency has seen tremendous growth over the past few years with state tax dollars for DDA rising from $667 million in 2021 to $1.7 billion today. I think that increased investment is a good thing, but the federal government places limits on non-institutional care costs (known as cost neutrality) and if the state violates that limit then it could mean a significant loss of federal funding. Work on this issue will need to continue in the future. A summary report of the House version of the budget is available here and the full committee report can be found here.

POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
DC Water held a public meeting in Bethesda last week on the Potomac Interceptor. You can watch that meeting here. As a reminder, we send out a Potomac Interceptor-specific email multiple times a week. If you would like to be added, please just reply here.

COMMUNITY NEWS
My condolences to the family and friends of L. Mark Winston, particularly his wife Bonnie and daughter Blair. I first got to know Mark and his family when he ran for Delegate in our district in 2010. We then worked closely together on a transit task force under County Executive Leggett. Mark was always generous in sharing his experience in running for local office, knowledge of transportation, and love of baseball. A celebration of life will be held on April 11th at 2pm at the Chevy Chase Women's Club.
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Congratulations to District 16 resident--and my neighbor--Reid Detchon on his reappointment to the Montgomery County Climate, Energy, and Air Quality Advisory Committee.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTEach week, I am profiling a non-Montgomery County legislator. This week, I want to highlight Delegate Anne Healey. Delegate Healey has served in the House since 1991 and currently sits on the Environment & Transportation Committee with me. She represents a district in Prince George's County. Anne is retiring at the end of this term and, as a tribute to her, we renamed a pedestrian safety bill--an issue she has been a dogged advocate on--in her honor.

​Dear Friend:
We are just a few days from the "crossover deadline" in Annapolis, the date by which bills passed from one chamber to the next are automatically referred to the other body's committee of jurisdiction. After crossover, bills that pass the House go to the Senate Rules Committee and vice versa. Many significant bills are moving through the process including those related to the budget; childcare; juvenile justice; and much more. But I will focus here on my own legislative agenda.
The Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154): This legislation requires video streaming of local board of education meetings and other transparency measures has already passed the House. Its Senate version, sponsored by Senator Cheryl Kagan, has passed that chamber as well.
Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 386): A re-commitment to Maryland's share of our regional Metro system's funding has passed the House. The Senate sponsor is Senator Malcolm Augustine.
Co-Op and Condo Energy Refund Equity Act (HB 702): This legislation seeks to correct an issue with last year's energy rebates that left master metered residents out of the program. Broader energy legislation has language to support master metered residents as part of other energy relief. Senator Sara Love has championed the Senate version.
Franchise Reform Act (HB 730): The bill reforms our state oversight of the business concept of franchising. The Senate bill--sponsored by Senator Pam Beidle--has passed that chamber and I am cautiously optimistic the House version will proceed.
Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act (HB 870): Maryland has an existing law for large buildings to reduce emissions. In order to make certain new buildings follow the law, the amended version of this bill--now moving through committee--ensures that the Maryland Department of the Environment gets early notice about such buildings.
Land Transfer Accountability Act (HB 1009): Alongside Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, the bill attempted to bring some accountability to threatened federal land and building sales but needs significant work to be found constitutional.
Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act (HB 1041): The outcome of a work group, this bill provides several reforms to improve operations of the Maryland Transit Administration. The House bill will be on the floor this coming week. The Senate bill is sponsored by Senator Cory McCray.
The Board of Public Works Climate Transparency Act (HB 1161): Sponsored by Senator Shelly Hettleman in the Senate, the bill would have required additional climate information related to contracts at the Board of Public Works. As I explained in this video, the goal of the bill was accomplished without legislation.
 
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
I was included on a recent podcast discussing transit issues in the state of Maryland. Listen here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/45db90a0
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As part of the state budget, we get a bimonthly report on Purple Line progress. The main charts are below. The report has a few key developments:
1. The report explains that "[a]lthough substantial construction completion is anticipated by late 2026, the system will undergo rigorous testing for more than one year beyond the construction completion date." This has always been the case, just not obvious from the reports.
2. The Capital Crescent Trail reopening has shifted to fall of 2026 (from summer of 2026 most recently). They are citing its use for construction access.
3. Much more detail is given on the dispute with the vendor regarding overhead utilities issues. The vendor is now citing a February 26, 2028 revenue service date. The state's milestones still have it in 2027.
The full report is here.

ENERGY UPDATE 
Last year, the new Speaker of the House moved energy issues over to the Environment & Transportation Committee. This occurred at a time of rising and challenging energy prices. After almost two months of digging into the issues, the committee has voted out a comprehensive bill that takes on the short, medium, and long term rate pressures on our bills. If you want to dig into the details, the first subcommittee meeting on the combined bill is available here. The second subcommittee meeting is available here. The full committee discussion is here. My comments at the press conference announcing that the House, Senate, and Governor all support the bill begin here.
 
BUDGET UPDATE
​The Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates met recently to update their state government revenue forecasts. Income taxes are coming in relatively strong and there was an unexpected estate tax revenue increase, which will not recur. Federal tax changes are expected to impact corporate income taxes, so the state is being cautious there.
The main report is below and you can watch the presentation here.

DELEGATION UPDATE
 On most Fridays during the legislative session, the Montgomery County Delegation meets to go over local legislation. This past Friday, we were joined by Comptroller Brooke Lierman. The Delegation also passed a District 16 bill related to reforms for the Village of Drummond. You can watch the meeting here.
 
POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS 
As a reminder, we send out a Potomac Interceptor-specific email multiple times a week. If you would like to be added, please just reply here. DC Water is holding another public meeting tonight at Whitman High School at 6:30pm. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments also held an updated briefing, which you can watch here.

COMMUNITY NEWSCongratulations to District 16's River Paganini on being named the student member of the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTEach week, I am spotlighting a non-Montgomery County colleague in the House of Delegates. This week, I am spotlighting Delegate Robbyn Lewis. Robbyn serves on the Environment & Transportation Committee with me, where she currently chairs the Transportation Subcommittee (last year she chaired the Land Use and Ethics Subcommittee). She represents a district in Baltimore and is known as one of our two "car free" members of the House of Delegates. I am considered a fairly avid advocate for transit in our state, but Robbyn gives me a run for my money.

​Ever since I first ran, oversight of--and investment in--our regional Metro system (the Washington Metropolitan Transit Administration or WMATA) has been a major priority. So I was thrilled that last week the House of Delegates passed Maryland's part of a regional Metro funding agreement on a bipartisan basis. The legislation now awaits action in the State Senate. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 
A few of my other bills are working their way through the legislative process. The Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act has been voted out of subcommittee and will be before the full House Environment & Transportation Committee this week. And the Senate version of the Franchise Reform Act was voted out of committee on a bipartisan basis. Finally, my late legislation to reform the Village of Drummond's charter has passed out of the local Montgomery County committee and will be before the full Montgomery County Delegation on Friday. Because the bill was late, it also needed to be voted out of the House Rules Committee which occurred earlier this week.
 
BUDGET UPDATE
The Governor has released his first supplemental budget. The good news is that he corrected some issues in his original budget, specifically those related to behavioral health. Unfortunately, it compounded an issue with a phonics reading program I worked with a constituent to create. I am advocating with my colleagues in the General Assembly to fund the program.
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One of the biggest issues we are trying to address in the Governor's budget is funding for some of our most vulnerable Marylanders through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). The budget analysis for DDA is now available and can be found here.
 
DELEGATION UPDATE
On most Fridays during the legislative session, the Montgomery County Delegation meets to go over local legislation. This past Friday, we were joined by Montgomery County Public Schools. You can watch the meeting here.
 
POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
As a reminder, we send out a Potomac Interceptor-specific email multiple times a week. If you would like to be added, please just reply here. One good piece of news this past week is that DC Water added two testing sites in response to community advocacy (and advocacy from elected officials) at Sycamore Island and the Feeder Channel at Lock 6.

 COMMUNITY NEWS
 
Congratulations to District 16's Susie Turnbull on being named to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.
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Congratulations to Jack Deutsch and Bobby Pestronk on their volunteer recognition from the Little Falls Watershed Alliance.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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This summer, the Red Line will be shut down between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights stations for significant maintenance and Purple Line work at Bethesda. Metro is working with state and local officials to create a bus bridge between the stations and the County held a briefing on the plan which you can read about here.
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women's History Month and I want to recognize the incredible women leaders who have represented District 16.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 
Each week this legislative session, I am profiling non-Montgomery County legislators. This week, in honor of Women's History Month, I am highlighting Delegate Dana Jones. Dana is chair of our legislative Women's Caucus and represents Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. She joined the General Assembly during the height of COVID. We also have a shared love of books and libraries.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Last week, I had five bill hearings on the Co-Op and Condo Energy Refund Equity Act, the Franchise Reform Act, Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act, the Land Transfer Accountability Act, and the Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act. These bills cover a range of topics including affordability, economic development, the environment, pushing back on what the federal government is doing, and transportation. And I will note that several of these proposals were developed with the assistance of constituents.
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Working with the rest of the District 16 Delegation, I have also gotten an additional bill introduced on behalf of the Village of Drummond to update their out of date charter. The bill will have a virtual hearing before the Montgomery County Delegation later this week.

DELEGATION UPDATE
On most Fridays during the legislative session, the Montgomery County Delegation meets to go over local legislation. This past Friday, we were joined by Senator Chris Van Hollen. You can watch the meeting here.
DISTRICT 16 NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS
The District 16 Delegation is hosting District 16 Night in Annapolis on this upcoming Monday, March 9th, starting at 6:00pm in the Lowe House Office Building. If you are interested in attending, just click reply to this email.

POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
DC Water, WSSC, Maryland Department of the Environment and others held a public meeting last week regarding the Potomac Interceptor. You can watch the public meeting here.
As a reminder, we send out a Potomac Interceptor-specific email multiple times a week. If you would like to be added, please just reply here.

APPOINTMENTS NEWS
District 16 has two appointees to the Montgomery County Building Performance Improvement Board. Kevin Walton has been reappointed and Bill Bien has been appointed to the board.
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The Governor sent down his "green bag" appointments last week. These are his appointments to multiple state boards and commissions. District 16 appointments include:
-WIlliam Zeid, Architectural Review
-Aslim Abdullah, Dental Examiners
-Cedric (Henry) Watson, Elevator Safety Review
-Robert Bajefsky Hangun Roster
-Paula Collins, St. Mary's College Board
-Ryan Frederic TEDCO Board of Directors
-Bei Ma Venture Fund Authority Nichelle Schoultz Commission for Women 

COMMUNITY NEWS
​The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
​Each week this legislative session, I am profiling non-Montgomery County legislators. This week is a two-for-one because these two members work closely together as Chair and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and the Environment: Courtney Watson and Mark Edelson.
Delegate Watson is from Howard County and previously served on their County Council. She served as my Vice Chair when I was chair of what is now her subcommittee. Delegate Edelson is from Baltimore City and we actually know each other from law school predating our service together. Together, these two Delegates have been leaders in the House on transportation funding and oversight--with the occasional assist from me.

​Dear Friend:
I always describe the job of a state legislator as having three components: legislating, as in writing and passing new laws; constituent service, which is helping anyone who reaches out to us navigate a problem; and oversight, to ensure the government is operating properly. But even just on the first component, legislating, there are different ways to achieve a goal. This year, Senator Shelly Hettleman and I had introduced the Board of Public Works (BPW) Climate Transparency Act (HB 1161), to ensure that the BPW--made up of the Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer--has information regarding the impact of state contracts on our ambitious climate and sustainability goals. But last week, without the House bill even having a hearing, the BPW adopted an advisory implementing the law, which you can read starting on page 42 here. With our mission accomplished, Senator Hettleman and I plan to withdraw the bill. Watch my short video on this topic here.
I also recently had the chance to participate in an interview with Professor John Dedie about the legislative session. You can watch it here.
 
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The Ways and Means Committee voted the Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154) to the floor unanimously. It will pass the full House of Delegates later this week.
Last week, I had no bill hearings on my legislation. But this week, I am in the midst of hearings on five bills I have sponsored in three separate committees. It is a busy week!
In the Environment and Transportation Committee last week, we had testimony from two District 16 residents.
Burning Tree Elementary School student Lucy Goldband traveled to Annapolis to testify in support of the Clear Before You Drive Act. The bill would follow the practice in other states of requiring drivers to clear their car roofs and hoods of snow and ice before driving. You can watch her testimony here.
And Donna Berry testified virtually in support of HB 646, legislation to improve the Motor Vehicle Administration process for dealing with certain medical conditions.
I am a cosponsor of both of these bills and have worked with the sponsors and constituents to advance them.

BUDGET UPDATE
The budget committees in the House and Senate are in the midst of their detailed work hearing the budgets of individual state agencies. Before each hearing, the Department of Legislative Services prepares an analysis of the agency's budget. If there is an area of government that is of particular interest to you, you can find the analyses here. Analyses continued to be added as the hearing date for that agency approaches.
 
DISTRICT 16 NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS
The District 16 Delegation is hosting District 16 Night in Annapolis on Monday, March 9th starting at 6:00pm in the Lowe House Office Building. If you are interested in attending, just click reply to this email.

​POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
 
Despite a sharp uptick in political rhetoric around the Potomac Interceptor break, real progress continues to be made. As I write this, there have been no overflow events since Super Bowl Sunday. DC Water--which owns and controls the pipe--expects to return full flow to the pipe (and out of the canal) by mid-March. DC Water is working with the National Park Service on plans to clean and fix the canal once that occurs. There are also odor mitigation efforts underway. As noted previously, DC Water has a landing page on the situation which you can access here. My office continues to email regular updates on the situation and you can just reply if you would like to be added to the list. Those updates are more thorough than this weekly check-in.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments held a briefing on the situation earlier this week. You can watch it here.
In addition, DC Water--which owns the pipe--will be holding a public meeting on Thursday (February 26th) at 7pm at Whitman High School to discuss the situation.
 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWS
As many of you know, Montgomery County Public Schools has been undertaking a boundary study, in part to account for the soon to reopen Woodward High School. The opening of Woodward is a positive development to ease crowding at Walter Johnson High School, but any new lines have pluses and minuses. You can read more about the Superintendent's recommendations here. Remember, you have an independently elected school board and if you have feedback on the recommendations, you should advocate to them.
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One thing related to MCPS we are dealing with at the state level is the requirement for schools to have a minimum of 180 school days and 1,080 school hours. The long closure from snow and ice earlier this year and the crunch of various holidays is putting significant pressure on the school calendar. Although I agree that the school system needs to get better at mitigating impacts from weather events, I am supporting legislation to give Montgomery County some flexibility. The bill is on the House floor this week.

 COMMUNITY NEWS
Each year, the county's planning staff releases a monitoring report on the Downtown Bethesda sector plan. This year's report is now available online and it will be presented to the Planning Board tomorrow. A few highlights:
-The County’s Commuter Survey Report for the AM peak period (7-9am) in the Bethesda Transportation Management District indicates an Employee Non-Auto Driver Mode Share (NADMS) of 51.4% and a Residential NADMS of 65.2%, resulting in a Blended NADMS of 54.2%, which is just below the Blended NADMS Goal of 55%.
-In the 2030-2031 school year, the cluster-wide utilization rate is expected to drop to 80.8%, which is barely within the 80 to 100 percent utilization rate range that MCPS considers efficient for an individual school to be operating at.
-However, as my Bethesda Elementary (BE) Third Grader knows, there is one school in the cluster that remains over capacity and that is BE. 
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

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The Greater Bethesda Chamber was in Annapolis last week and we honored their 100th birthday with a floor resolution.

​MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Each week during the legislative session, I plan to spotlight a non-Montgomery County Delegate colleague. This week, I want to highlight Delegate Scott Phillips from Baltimore County. Delegate Phillips is an attorney who previously chaired the Baltimore County Planning Board and now serves on the Judiciary Committee. But as we observe Black History Month, I want to lift up Delegate Phillips' role as chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, the largest state black caucus in the country.

Dear Friend:
According to the House rules, the 31st day of the legislative session is known as the "Introduction Date." Bills introduced after that date are referred to the Rules Committee--instead of their committee of jurisdiction--and are not guaranteed a hearing. With the Introduction Date now passed for both chambers, there are 960 Senate bills and 1,585 House bills (many duplicate each other). 251 of the House bills are pending in the Environment and Transportation Committee. Eight of the bills are ones I have introduced as the primary sponsor and can be viewed here.
Since my last update, I introduced one bill: The Board of Public Works Climate Transparency Act (HB 1161). The legislation ensures that when our state agencies are bringing contracts to the Board of Public Works, they will be consistent with our state's climate and environmental policies.
 
GOVERNOR'S HOUSING PACKAGE UPDATE
I have received many questions regarding the Governor's housing package and its potential impacts on District 16. The Governor has described three different bills as part of his housing package:
1. The Maryland Housing Certainty Act is actually sponsored by members (not formally by request of the Governor) and focuses on what is called "early vesting," as well as impact fees. Early vesting relates to when the existing set of rules and regulations apply to a project. The hearing for the bill is on February 19th.
2. The Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act focused on transit-oriented development in Maryland. A version of this bill passed the House last year and my own view is the that impact on Montgomery County is fairly limited, as we have already prioritized transit-oriented development around our fixed rail transit stations. That is something that has not happened all across the state. The hearing for the bill is on February 26th.
3. The Silver and Starter Homes Act is--in my view--by far the most controversial and far reaching. The bill would preempt a good deal of local rules about set backs, minimum lot size, and where town houses can be placed. As I have shared with those who have asked, I think the proposal is extremely aggressive and would need a lot of work to earn my support. Although the state has occasionally preempted certain local zoning to prioritize specific types of growth, this proposal is far reaching with a one size fits all structure. But I know the committee of jurisdiction will be working on the bill in the weeks ahead. You can watch the bill hearing online.
 
GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
The Governor delivered his annual State of the State Address one week ago. You can watch the speech here.

​DISTRICT 16 NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS
The District 16 Delegation is hosting District 16 Night in Annapolis on Monday, March 9th starting at 6:00pm in the Lowe House Office Building. If you are interested in attending, just click reply to this email.

POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
 
Work continues to mitigate further leaks from the Potomac Interceptor sewage leak. As noted last week, DC Water has a landing page on the situation which you can access here. My office continues to email regular updates on the situation and you can just reply if you would like to be added to the list. The sewage is no longer regularly leaking into the Potomac River but when bypass pumps go offline or other variables occur, some spillage may occur.
The Utilities Subcommittee of the Environment and Transportation Committee held a briefing on the breach with DC Water, Maryland Department of the Environment, Potomac Riverkeepers, and others last week. You can watch that here.

 COMMUNITY NEWS
The National Park Service is seeking public input on potential changes at Glen Echo Park. Learn more and comment here.
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A community meeting about the potential project on the Friendship Heights GEICO property will be held on Thursday, February 19th at 7 pm, in the Westland Middle School cafeteria (5511 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD). RSVP at [email protected]. 
 
PRESIDENTS DAY
This past Monday was Presidents Day. Each year, the House of Delegates hears an address from a Republican member in honor of President Lincoln and a Democratic member in honor of President Washington. Back in 2018, I had the opportunity to deliver the Washington Day address. You can hear that old speech--it predates video streaming on the House floor--here.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Every week during the legislative session, I plan to spotlight a non-Montgomery County Delegate colleague. This week, I want to highlight Delegate Ashanti Martinez, the House Majority Whip. Prior to becoming a Delegate, Ashanti had a long history of working in local government and on local campaigns--including on the Congressional campaign of our current House of Delegates Speaker. The online Maryland Manual--the state's historic compendium of government--starts listing a Majority Whip for the Maryland House of Delegates about 50 years ago in the 1970s (the first one listed is a Calvert County Democrat named Thomas Rymer). In all of that time, Delegate Martinez is the first to rise to that post in his first term (and the first Afro-Latino). And, importantly for me, Delegate Martinez's mom works at Metro!

Every bill introduced by a certain date is guaranteed a hearing in the appropriate committee of the House of Delegates. Right now, the committee I chair--Environment & Transportation--is holding bill hearings every Tuesday through Thursday (soon to be every Tuesday through Friday). Two of my bills have also had bill hearings already, the Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154) and the Metro Funding Modification Act of 2026 (HB 386). 

​LEGISLATION UPDATE
 
Since my last update, I have introduced two more bills.
The Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act (HB 870) would ensure that buildings that will need to comply with Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) in the future are built to comply today. BEPS is our state policy to reduce emissions from buildings. It makes no sense for a building built today to not comply with standards that will apply in the future under current law.

​The Land Transfer Accountability Act (HB 1009) sets guardrails around the federal government's ability to own land and buildings it owns in the state. Recall that the current Administration has sought to dispose of federal office buildings and preserved natural resources.

The Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act (HB 1081) would reform the Maryland Transit Administration--which runs Baltimore-area transit as well as statewide commuter rail and commuter bus service--by creating two new boards to oversee these functions and makes other changes to improve MTA's functions. 
 
ENERGY UPDATE
I had the opportunity to discuss energy issues--which is new to the jurisdiction of my committee--with the Maryland Energy Talk Podcast. You can listen to it here.
 
DISTRICT 16 NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS
 The District 16 Delegation is hosting District 16 Night in Annapolis on Monday, March 9th starting at 6:00pm in the Lowe House Office Building. If you are interested in attending, just click reply to this email.

POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
 This past weekend, I visited the site of the Potomac Interceptor breach. You can get there by parking at Lockhouse 9 and walking towards Lockhouse 10 where you will see an active work site and sewage being pumped from the breached pipe, through the canal, and then pumped back into the pipe. Just a warning that if you do go, the tow path has not been plowed and there is quite an odor.
DC Water now has a landing page on the situation which you can access here. My office continues to email regular updates on the situation and you can just reply if you would like to be added to the list.
The Utilities Subcommittee of the Environment and Transportation Committee will hold a briefing on the breach with DC Water, Maryland Department of the Environment, Potomac Riverkeepers, and others on Friday afternoon.
 
COMMUNITY NEWS
This week's Montgomery County Planning Board is taking up two issues of interest for District 16.
First, the planning staff has released the biennial monitoring report on the implementation of what was called the White Flint Sector Plan. You can review the report here.
Second, the planning staff has provided initial recommendations regarding their update of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan. You can review those recommendations here.
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WSSC has a Customer Notification System that you can sign up for to stay up to date with WSSC issues that may affect you, including leaks and breaks.
 
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 This week's member spotlight is Delegate Ryan Nawrocki. Ryan is a member of the Environment & Transportation Committee that I chair and represents Baltimore County. I would say that my relationship with Ryan encapsulates the old adage that you can disagree without being disagreeable. Ryan is a member of the Freedom Caucus so there is a lot we disagree on. But we are similar ages, have similar senses of humor, and both have young families--although his is much larger than mine--so we can disagree in a friendly and respectful way. Which is one of the nice things about Maryland's political culture. You can watch us discuss and debate energy issues on Baltimore's local news here.