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Last Thursday was the deadline to introduce legislation to be guaranteed a hearing date, one of the rules that governs the legislative process at the state level that helps us function.  I am the primary sponsor of 12 pieces of legislation, many of which I have discussed in prior emails. Since my last update, I introduced two bills.
The Maryland Rail Investment Act (HB 1324) would create a new, independent authority to build and manage rail projects in Maryland, funded by existing tolls on roads, bridges, and tunnels similar to the approach in several other states. The Children With Disabilities-Costs of Teacher Salaries bill (HB 1301) builds on work Senator Zucker and I did last year to ensure that teachers at special needs schools, which are dominated by students placed there by the public school system, are adequately compensated. As always, you can keep up with what I am doing by following me at @mkorman on Twitter or by clicking "Like" on Delegate Marc Korman on Facebook. Subcommittee Update As chair of the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations, I get to oversee several state agencies involved in transportation and environmental issues. Our non-partisan budget staff, the Department of Legislative Services, prepares a brief on each agency before we consider their budget. Last week, the Subcommittee heard several budgets including the budget for Maryland's contribution to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). You can watch that hearing here starting at minute 17 and read the Department of Legislative Services analysis here. My subcommittee also held an oversight briefing on the Purple Line, a project I support but that has been deeply troubled. You can watch that hearing here. One of the reasons I appreciate serving on the Appropriations Committee is because it offers a real opportunity for legislative oversight of the executive branch. Legislative Update Since my last newsletter, several pieces of legislation I sponsored had hearings. Before the Environment and Transportation Committee, I presented a bill brought to me by a constituent--the Motor Vehicle Registration Clarification Act (HB 368) that clarifies the timing of when the Motor Vehicle Administration can issue penalties for turned in licensed plates with canceled insurance. You can watch the hearing here. During a Ways & Means Committee hearing on an employee-owned business tax bill (HB 403), I was stuck in a budget hearing but my aide, Joseph Swit, pinch hit for me and did a great job. You can watch that hearing here. Finally, before the Ways & Means Committee, I presented the Young Readers Program Expansion Act (HB 383), a bill to expand a non-profit program that sends a book a month to kids under 5. Watch that hearing here. ----- On Monday, the Maryland Transit Caucus heard from the head of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the head of the Maryland Transit Administration. You can watch that briefing here on the Caucus' YouTube page. ----- A few weeks ago, I mentioned some of the broader priorities for the Maryland General Assembly in 2022. One of those was expanding access to affordable childcare and you can watch a press briefing on the package of bills to support that effort here. Election Update As is to now be expected, the recent Congressional and legislative redistricting has led to a round of litigation. As a result, the Maryland Court of Appeals has delayed the candidate filing deadline from February 22 to March 22. ----- I am pleased to announce that my re-election has been endorsed by two advocacy groups. The Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) and CASA In Action both recently announced that they would support me for another term. Community Events
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January 2025
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