Less Than A Week To Go: Weekly Update

There is less than a week to go in the 2019 legislative session.  During these final days, we have fewer committee hearings and meetings but stay on the House floor for much longer periods of time as we debate legislation.  Many bills also require "conference committees," where House and Senate members must come together to resolve differences.

If you would like to know the results of all this work, please join the District 16 Team on Tuesday, April 30th at 7pm at Bethesda Elementary School for our post-session town hall.

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.

Legislative News

Last week, the Governor vetoed the Fight for Fifteen/Minimum Wage Increase (HB 166) and the Community Control of School Calendars Act (SB 128).  You can read the Governor's veto message on the minimum wage legislation here and the school start date legislation here.  The General Assembly overrode both vetoes and the bills will now become law.
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The Maryland General Assembly has passed the fiscal year 2020 capital budget.  The capital budget represents the state's investment and construction budget and some of the highlights for District 16 include:

• $500 million in school construction funding, including a special appropriation for Montgomery County to ensure we continue to address school capacity issues;
• State support for Cornerstone Montgomery, the County's leading provider of behavioral health services;
• Funding for the County's Josiah Henson Park in North Bethesda, which is currently constructing a museum and visitor's center to help tel the story of Josiah Henson, the slave who helped inspire the book Uncle Tom's Cabin;
• Assistance for several non-profit endeavors already receiving County governmental assistance including Imagination Stage, Bethesda Chevy Chase YMCA, and KID Museum.

Administration News

In a prior newsletter, I shared the letter I sent to the Department of Information Technology regarding the Department's failure to update the state's Information Security Policy since 2013.  The Office of Legislative Audits recently flagged the same issue at the Department and has required action to ensure appropriate updates of the state's policy.

Community News

• Congratulations to Angie Zeidenberg, Director of Bannockburn Nursery School, who was honored with the 2019 Award for Devoted Service in Early Childhood Education from the Potomac Association of Cooperative Preschool Teachers (PACT).

Community Events

• On April 5th and 6th, the Bethesda Urban Partnership will host the annual Bethesda Film Fest.  Details are at https://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/bethesda-film-fest.
• On Saturday, April 13, the State Highway Administration will be holding a meeting regarding the I-495/I-270 widening proposal.  The meeting will be held at Pyle Middle School (NOTE: THIS WAS INCLUDED IN A PAST NEWSLETTER WITH AN INCORRECT LOCATION).  The meeting time is 10am to 12pm.  Note: In a prior newsletter, the date of the meeting was misstated.
• On Monday, April 15th at 7:30am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from my seatmate, Delegate Sara Love, along with Delegates Emily Shetty and Jared Solomon.  The meetings are at the Original Pancake House in downtown Bethesda.
• Saturday, April 27th is Wonderpalooza from 11am to 3pm at the Rock Creek Mansion (5417 West Cedar Lane).  The event is a family-friendly community festival and you can learn more about it here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wonderspalooza-tickets-56349259151
• On Sunday, May 5th, the new Bethesda Historical Society will host a kick-off book talk with Steve Roberts, author of the 2016 book Bethesda & Chevy Chase.  The event will be at 3pm at the Battery Park Community Clubhouse (7908 Glenbrook Road in Bethesda) and is co-hosted by the Bethesda Metro Area Village.
• On Monday, May 6th at 7:30am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Sheriff Darren Popkin.  The meetings are at the Original Pancake House in downtown Bethesda.
• On Monday, June 3rd at 8:00am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Attorney General Brian Frosh.  The meetings are at the Original Pancake House in downtown Bethesda.

​If you know of a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences or an upcoming event, please email [email protected].