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Expanding Energy Storage in Maryland

2/28/2017

One of my major initiatives since being elected to the legislature has been expanding energy storage in the state of Maryland. Energy storage, which includes technology such as batteries, has many beneficial uses including serving as back-up power, providing frequency regulation to the electric grid, and allowing for micro-grids totally disconnected from our legacy electric system. But the most exciting benefit of electric storage to me is pairing storage with intermittent renewables, which will allow us to use more wind and solar for electricity generation. Last week, the Economic Matters Committee held a hearing on my legislation, the Energy Storage Study Act.

Making a Change Without Passing a Bill (Redux)

2/21/2017

Almost exactly a year ago, I was able to send a weekly update entitled "Making a Change Without Passing a Bill." I am pleased to be able to do so again. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Office of Health Care Quality has agreed to institute the requirements of the Assisted Living Transparency Act (HB 387) by regulation. The new regulation will require assisted living facilities to post their disclosure statements on their websites. These disclosure statements, which they are already required by the state to fill out, include basic information about their services, accepted payments sources, and so on.

Bill Introduction Deadline

2/14/2017

February 10 was the bill introduction deadline in the Maryland House of Delegates, the date by which a bill must be introduced in order to be guaranteed a hearing. 1,526 bills and nine resolutions were introduced in the House by the deadline. Bills introduced after the deadline require a vote of the House to be filed and then are referred to the Rules Committee, which must vote them out and into the normal legislative process. Late-filed bills have great difficulty moving towards passage.

Pages and Scholarships

2/7/2017

Each week, a few high school seniors from around the state come to Annapolis to serve as House Pages. In addition to learning the inner workings of the legislative branch, these Pages help run the House floor. Last week we were joined by Michael Blakeslee from Walter Johnson High School.

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Expanding Energy Storage in Maryland

Making a Change Without Passing a Bill (Redux)

Bill Introduction Deadline

Pages and Scholarships

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