Blog Archives

Presentment and Vaccinations

3/30/2021

We are in the midst of "presentment week" in Annapolis. Under the Maryland Constitution, the Governor has six days to veto or sign bills passed by the General Assembly during the legislative session, otherwise they become law without his signature. That means in order to be able to override a Gubernatorial veto before the next time the legislature convenes, the bill needs to be presented to the Governor this week. If a bill is presented later than this week, the Governor will have 30 days after presentment to act on the bill. Much of our work in Annapolis is bipartisan and collaborative, but we typically expect the majority Democratic legislature to have some disagreements with the Republican Governor. Therefore, some bills will be passed and presented this week so the General Assembly can override any vetoes it chooses to.

Vaccinations and Legislative Process

3/23/2021

The Governor announced the path forward on vaccine eligibility late last week. By April 27, all Marylanders 16 years of age and older will be eligible for the vaccine.

The Governor also formally announced the state-supported mass vaccination site in Montgomery County that we have known was coming since last week. It will be located in Germantown and will open in early April.

Even as vaccine supply shipments from the federal government increase, the broad groups becoming eligible for the vaccine will constrain our supply and capacity. Here are a few tips:

Crossover and Vaccinations

3/16/2021

Monday is the "crossover" deadline, the date by which legislation is supposed to pass from one chamber to the other for further consideration. It will be a busy few days for the legislature, including weekend sessions, as committees move legislation. The annual operating budget is also headed to the House floor.

Budget Decisions, Vaccinations, and Police Reform

3/10/2021

Later today, the Appropriations Subcommittee I chair (Transportation & Environment) will meet to make our final budget decisions, as will the other subcommittees that cover different areas of the state budget. You can find a link to the meeting here. Following that series of votes, we will report our decisions for adoption by the full Appropriations Committee and then the annual budget will head to the House floor.

Reflecting and Vaccinations

3/2/2021

As Black History Month was winding down in February, I took a few moments to reflect at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis. For those of you who visit Annapolis, you know Lawyers Mall as the area in front of the State House that is often a public gathering spot for protesters and field trips. I traverse it almost every day I am in Annapolis. Since 1996, the area has been adorned by a statute of one of Maryland's premiere lawyers, Thurgood Marshall. Because of COVID-19, we are unable to have our usual February historical presentations by Black Caucus members that are always informative and moving.

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Presentment and Vaccinations

Vaccinations and Legislative Process

Crossover and Vaccinations

Budget Decisions, Vaccinations, and Police Reform

Reflecting and Vaccinations

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