Out and About - October Update

It's been a busy month traveling around the state for site visits related to my work on the Environment and Transportation Committee including an overnight visit to Rocky Gap State Park in Western Maryland, an all day transit tour in Baltimore City, a visit to six farms on the Eastern Shore, and a visit to an innovative scrap facility in Prince George's County.  But the best event of the month was the annual Potomac Day parade where my colleagues and I get to give candy and shake hands with our Potomac-area constituents.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
October 1st is the effective date of many bills passed by the Maryland General Assembly. A complete list is here.
Some highlights are changes to firearm safety laws--some of which were placed on hold by a court; repealing the Statute of Limitation on certain child abuse claims; altering the process for counting votes by mail; and requiring certain notifications of rent increases.
BUDGET UPDATE
In late September, the state's Board of Revenue Estimates met to update the current budget year forecasts and update the first forecast for the next budget year.
There is a $14m write down for the current year, a relatively minor amount out of a general fund budget of $24.5 billion. Year-over-year growth is projected at 3.8% the current year and 2.1% next year. The corporate income tax changes are due to the surprisingly strong returns lately and the projection is those will drop.
The big takeaways:
This is a fairly steady estimate assuming modest growth continues and we are at the end of a strong sugar rush from critical Covid relief funds.
Read the full deck here.
Watch the meeting here.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS
For those of you who read my write-up of the proposed state transportation program in last month's newsletter and want to hear more, I did a deep dive on transportation a few weeks ago with the "I Hate Politics" Podcast.  Listen here.
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Last week was the Purple Line Community Advisory Team meeting for Bethesda-Chevy Chase.  If you missed the event, you can review the presentation here. 
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Did you miss the State Highway Administration's virtual public meeting on River Road/MD-190 safety issues last month? You can watch the meeting online here.


COMMUNITY NEWS
The Montgomery County Planning Board recently reviewed its biennial report for the North Bethesda (White Flint) sector plan.  You can review it here.
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There is ongoing construction work on Old Georgetown Road between Auburn Avenue and Battery Lane from 9am to 3pm weekdays until December 15th.  Be prepared for potential delays in this area.
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Congratulations to the following District 16 residents recently appointed to local boards and commissions:
-Constance Mordecai, Commission on Children and Youth
-Angela Wu, Commission on Children and Youth
-Joyce Dubow, Commission on Aging
-Rene Eicher, Commission on Aging
-Kathleen McGuinness, Commission on Aging
-Tricia Umeh, Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
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Congratulations to District 16's Melissa Bender on receiving the Montgomery County Young Democrats Outstanding Leader Award.
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A big shout-out to Diana Conway, winner of the Montgomery County Democratic Party's 2023 Kelsey Cooke Volunteer of the Year Award.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Each year the Montgomery County Delegation to Annapolis holds a series of pre-session meetings. More information about each will be available at www.montgomerycountydelegation.com.
On October 26 at 7pm, the Delegation will hear from the Maryland Department of Transportation about the Consolidated Transportation Program (described further above).  The meeting will be at the Montgomery County Council building.
On November 14 at 7pm, the Delegation will host its annual Joint House & Senate Priorities Hearing where anybody can share their views on what should be working on.  Sign-up is through the delegation website referenced above.
On November 27 at 7pm (virtual) and December 4 at 7pm (at the County Council building), bill hearings will be heard on local legislation introduced for the 2024 legislative session.  The bills, what night they will be heard, and testimony sign-up will be at the delegation website.