Crossover Week - Weekly Update

This week in the General Assembly is known as crossover week. That is because bills that do not pass either the House of Delegates or State Senate by the end of the day on Monday (the 69th day of the legislative session)--meaning they have not "crossed over"--will go to the opposite chamber's rules committee if they do eventually pass. Generally, bills that have not passed one chamber by the crossover have great difficulty making their way through the legislative process.
Practically speaking, that means committees and subcommittees will be working long hours to amend and vote out bills, we will have multiple floor sessions several days during the week, and we will be both in our committees and on the floor on Saturday.

BUDGET UPDATE
​The Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) held its regular March meeting last week to update its revenue projections for the state. Given the actions by the federal administration, it is no surprise to see an impact on Maryland's economy and, therefore, revenue projections. No matter how you voted in the presidential election, the actions of the White House and its DOGE attack dogs are bad for Maryland. Based on these new realities, BRE has reduced its revenue projections for the current and next fiscal year by a combined $347 million. Note that they are not anticipating an actual reduction in income and sales tax revenue at this time, they are just predicting a lower growth rate.
You can watch the BRE meeting here and review the meeting presentation here.

FEDERAL UPDATE
​Speaking of the changes being brought by the federal administration, I was proud to join so many area residents to protest the cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many years ago, I personally received treatment at NIH because an expert on a medical condition I have worked there. More recently, my colleagues and I have helped secure state support for the Children's Inn, a facility on NIH's campus where families stay with their children receiving treatment. And, of course, we have all benefited from NIH-funded research. The slash and burn approach of cuts and grant freezes is a bad idea and deserves to be protested.

LEGISLATION UPDATE
​Two of my bills are on the House floor this week. Legislation (HB 932) related to conflicts of interest, blind trusts, and non-participation agreements for Governors was unanimously passed by my committee. The Affordable Housing Payment In Lieu of Taxes Expansion Act (HB 390) was also passed on a bipartisan basis.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women's History Month and I want to recognize all the women who are currently--or have previously--served District 16 in the Maryland General Assembly. It is an impressive array of leaders.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
The Comptroller of Maryland launched a new series of research papers on state spending with a look at lessons learned so far from the Purple Line, an in progress but much troubled light rail Public Private Partnership. You can read it here.

COMMUNITY NEWS
Congratulations to Harold Hill on his appointment to the Montgomery County Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission.

OFFICE CORNER
​As part of women's history month, the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame inducted several new members this week including former Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, my colleague Chair Joseline Peña-Melnyk, and my former committee chair, Maggie McIntosh. I keep a few different photos in my office including one of my old committee when it was chaired by Delegate McIntosh, as well as a Montgomery County Delegation photo from when I chaired that group.