Happy Holidays - December Update

Dear Friend:
The Maryland General Assembly will convene for the annual 90-day legislative session on January 10th. My newsletter will transition to its weekly format during the legislative session.
Sometimes I am asked about this newsletter. Do I write it myself? I do but I have two helpful proofreaders in my aide and my mother (thanks Conor and mom!). When do I find time to write it? I regularly drop material in an email draft during the month (for the nine months the General Assembly is not in session) or week (for the 12 or so weeks the General Assembly is in session) to make it easier to assemble. Have I ever missed a month or week? I don't think so but it could happen anytime. Although I started the newsletter prior to getting elected, it is actually inspired by former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan's constituent newsletter which he wrote himself and did not start doing until two years into his first term. For a while, he addressed those letters "Dear Yorker" using a 19th century term. If anyone knows of an equivalent historic Maryland term I should use every once in a while, let me know.
In any event, my family and I wish you all happy and healthy holidays!

DISTRICT 16 MEETING
​On Saturday, January 4th at 4pm, we will participate in an in-person legislative send-off with the District 16 Democratic Club at the Carderock Springs Swim & Tennis Club. I hope to see you there.

BUDGET UPDATE
The Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) recently met to update their budget projections. These figures set up fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026) budget negotiations next year. The estimate was a conservative one, with a small increase in income tax revenue this fiscal year based on year-to-date reporting but mostly holding next year steady because of the uncertainty of the impacts on our local economy from federal government changes by the incoming administration. Even with this write-up in revenue, a large budget deficit is expected for the next fiscal year that will need to be balanced.
You can watch the meeting here. And you can read the presentation here.
In part based on the work of the BRE, the General Assembly's Spending Affordability Committee has met to set the parameters for the budget. That meeting can be watched here and the presentation reviewed here. The major recommendations include balancing the structural budget deficit for the coming fiscal year, getting ahead on the future structural deficits, flat funding the capital (construction) budget unless certain conditions are met, and increasing transportation system preservation funding beyond what is currently planned.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
For bills that affect only Montgomery County or Montgomery and Prince George's County, we hold fall bill hearings. I am the sponsor of the WSSC Reform and Transparency Act to bring some sunshine and changes to our water utility. You can watch my local hearing testimony here and more information about the bill is available here.
The complete bill hearings held over two nights can be watched here and here.
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​In 2023, I sponsored legislation to review the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority and whether it should continue. The legislation developed out of a bipartisan commission formed by then-Governor Hogan to review quasi-governmental entities. You can read the sunset review report from the Department of Legislative Service's Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability here.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATE 
Last legislative session, the House Environment & Transportation Committee worked on a bill that became law from Senator Jeff Waldstreicher and Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr to bring some much-needed accountability to our state’s work on Vision Zero, our goal to reduce auto traffic related fatalities and protect drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians.
The bill requires public meetings of the state’s Vision Zero Committee and has the committee review and vote to accept the infrastructure reviews conducted after fatalities.
You can watch the first public meeting here. And you can learn more about the legislation setting this up here.
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A provision of the state budget requires bimonthly reports from the Maryland Transit Administration on the Purple Line’s progress. The November report is here. The key charts showing progress by component and the milestone schedule are unchanged from the last report

COMMUNITY NEWS
Congratulations to Judge Catherine McQueen, a new Montgomery
​County Circuit Court Judge.

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Congratulations to Bethesda's Michelle Buteau on being appointed to the Montgomery County Commission on Women.
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David Schardt of Bethesda has been appointed to the Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee. Congratulations David!
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Congratulations to Stacey Band and Matt Gordon on being reappointed to the Downtown Bethesda Implementation Advisory Committee.
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District 16 residents Connie Morella--a former Member of Congress, Ambassador, and state Delegate--and Gareth Murray--also a former state Delegate--have been selected for the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame. Learn more here.