Dear Friend: Happy first day back to school for all of the Montgomery County Public School students, including my daughter who started second grade at Bethesda Elementary this morning. Time flies! Every year I knock on doors in District 16--although during the height of COVID I just left constituent service guides on doorsteps. Occasionally, a social media troll barks that this is a waste of time and voters won't remember I was at the door the next time that I am on the ballot. But I am not just knocking on your doors to earn votes--although I will take them! This year, I am sharing information about Angela Alsobrooks--my candidate for Maryland's next U.S. Senator--and ballot question 1, which will place reproductive health protections in the state constitution. But I also knock on doors to hear directly from you about what issues you care about and want to see the Maryland General Assembly working on. So if you see me at your door, please open up and say hello! LEGISLATIVE UPDATEDistrict 16 has a new state legislator. State Delegate Teresa Woorman has been sworn in as my new colleague. Watch her swearing-in here. PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE There has been some recent coverage of shoplifting trends in Downtown Bethesda. Overall, our area is very safe and has low crime but there has definitely been a post-COVID change that requires our attention and vigilance. I wrote about some of these public safety trends in a recent social media post and plan to update these statistics going forward. You can read the post here. Our community also celebrated National Night Out last week and my thanks to local law enforcement, county government, and the Bethesda Urban Partnership for a successful event. Dear Friend:
Happy first day back to school for all of the Montgomery County Public School students, including my daughter who started second grade at Bethesda Elementary this morning. Time flies! Every year I knock on doors in District 16--although during the height of COVID I just left constituent service guides on doorsteps. Occasionally, a social media troll barks that this is a waste of time and voters won't remember I was at the door the next time that I am on the ballot. But I am not just knocking on your doors to earn votes--although I will take them! This year, I am sharing information about Angela Alsobrooks--my candidate for Maryland's next U.S. Senator--and ballot question 1, which will place reproductive health protections in the state constitution. But I also knock on doors to hear directly from you about what issues you care about and want to see the Maryland General Assembly working on. So if you see me at your door, please open up and say hello! LEGISLATIVE UPDATE District 16 has a new state legislator. State Delegate Teresa Woorman has been sworn in as my new colleague. Watch her swearing-in here. PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE There has been some recent coverage of shoplifting trends in Downtown Bethesda. Overall, our area is very safe and has low crime but there has definitely been a post-COVID change that requires our attention and vigilance. I wrote about some of these public safety trends in a recent social media post and plan to update these statistics going forward. You can read the post here. Our community also celebrated National Night Out last week and my thanks to local law enforcement, county government, and the Bethesda Urban Partnership for a successful event. COMMUNITY EVENTS -On Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30pm, Montgomery County Department of Transportation will host an online forum related to improvements at Bradley Boulevard and Wilson Lane. You can register here. -Montgomery County Planning is continuing their work on the Bethesda Downtown Plan Minor Master Plan Amendment. As a reminder, the County's 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan required a "check-in" when the area got to 30 million square feet of development--approaching a cap of 32.4 million square feet. The Planning Board recently approved the scope of work for that check-in (known as a Minor Master Plan Amendment). Another series of meetings is coming up on that process: Wednesday, September 11, at 7 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Connie Morella Library (7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD) Tuesday, September 17, at 7 p.m. (Virtual). RVSPs are required to receive a meeting link. Saturday, September 21, at 11 a.m. at Chevy Chase Town Hall (4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD) -The Montgomery County Council is taking up Planning Board recommended Attainable Housing Strategies. You can read more about the proposals here. The Council is holding a series of listening sessions on this plan, including one in our area on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD – Wisconsin Room). COMMUNITY NEWS -Congratulations to our State Senator, Sara Love, on being named a Maryland League of Conservation Voters Changemaker. -The Friendship Heights Alliance has issued its 2024 Market Report. Learn about all of the action and activity in Friendship Heights here. -Congratulations to District 16 Democratic stalwarts Gene Granof and Eliot Greenwald on being named the Montgomery County Democratic Party's Jack Dean and Helen Peacock Precinct Officials of the Year and Devang Shah on being named the Democrat of the Year. -Congratulations to Vivian Bass on winning the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award for her decades of volunteer and philanthropic work in the Jewish community. Read more here. -Congratulations to District 16's Deb Miller on being appointed by the Maryland Attorney General to the Maryland Hate Crimes Commission. -District 16's Chris Palmer has published a new book: Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life. Learn more and pre-order a copy here. Dear Friend: My last update was on June 24th and a lot has happened since then in our politics. First, the former president faced an assassination attempt. No clear motive has been assigned yet--and recall that both President Reagan and Congresswoman Giffords were shot for apolitical reasons (although we do not know what happened here yet)--but violence is never the answer in the United States to any political disagreements. Second, President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him. The events are still unfolding, but as a political history nerd, the 24 hours that followed President Biden's announcement brought to mind events from 1956 for me. At that year's Democratic Convention, the nominee Adlai Stevenson announced that he was throwing the choice of Vice President to the convention delegates. What followed was 24 hours of hectic organizing and whipping by the aspirants including John F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Al Gore, Sr. and, the eventual winner, Estes Kefauver. Vice President Harris probably had the most exciting 24 hours of organizing in presidential politics since then. And closer to home, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee selected Teresa Woorman to succeed Sara Love as a District 16 Delegate. Her name is now awaiting action by Governor Moore. You can read about her selection here. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE A large number of the bills passed each legislative session become effective on July 1st (also the start of the fiscal year). You can see a list of such laws here. TRANSPORTATION UPDATE Last week, the Transportation Planning Board (a regional board on which I serve) awarded $1.2 million in federal Carbon Reduction Program funds for preliminary engineering of River Road improvements in the area where Sarah Langenkamp was killed in a bike lane. Below is the scope of that work from the State Highway Administration (SHA). Scope of Work for Preliminary Engineering (MD 190 between Brookside Drive and Little Falls Parkway) Near-Term Improvements Potential improvement options throughout Segment 2 target improvements at intersections, including upgrading pavement markings, improving signal timings for vehicular and pedestrian safety, and improving awareness of bicyclists with signing installation. These potential signal timing improvements include lengthening the allotted time for pedestrians to cross MD 190 and lengthening the timing for vehicles to clear through the intersection after the light turns green. At the time of this analysis, the intersection of MD 190 at Brookside Drive was a three-legged intersection with the south leg closed due to the construction of Westbard Avenue. The intersection contains high volumes of pedestrians and bicyclists and will need to be evaluated once the south leg is reopened to traffic. Potential segment improvements include separating parked vehicles at businesses by providing a separating system, such as flex posts, at key locations where turning conflicts are present. To keep bicycle lanes clear, restricting vehicles from parking on the roadway to load/unload may be considered. Mid-Term Improvements The intersection of MD 190 at Kenwood Station is a pedestrian generator with direct access to the shopping center on the north leg. To protect non-motorists, potential treatment options include restricting right turns on red from the shopping center to avoid conflicts with pedestrians within the crosswalk, modifying signal timings to allow more crossing time for pedestrians, and installing a hardened centerline to slow down turning vehicles into the shopping center. All potential improvements shall be studied further prior to implementation. There are opportunities for mid-term improvements at the uncontrolled crosswalk under the Capital Crescent Trail bridge, including realigning the crosswalk and providing a median refuge to create a shorter crossing distance and providing pushbuttons and pedestrian hybrid beacons to provide a protected crossing. Challenges for the development of this mid-term improvement include utility conflicts and maintaining driveway access for businesses. Several improvement options could be implemented throughout the whole segment, including relocating obstructions within the sidewalk to maximize sidewalk width for pedestrian comfort, modifying the existing bicycle lane to a buffered bicycle lane (connecting to Segment 1) by reducing lane widths and providing space between vehicular traffic and bicycle traffic, and reducing the speed limit within the segment and further east to slow down vehicles thereby improving safety for all road users. ----- As a result of language in the state budget, the Maryland Transit Administration submits a bimonthly progress report on the Purple Line. The summary charts are below and there has been no change to the milestone schedule since the last report. The full report is available here. BUDGET UPDATE
When the General Assembly is not in session, the Board of Public Works (Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer) have limited authority to make budget reductions. A few weeks ago, $150 million in reductions were posted and then voted on seven days later. You can review the changes here. These budget reductions used to occur in the dark and the public would not know what the cuts were until after they were made. But bills I sponsored made this process transparent with seven day notice and line item detail of the reductions proposed. Many of the programs facing reductions are ones I support, like housing vouchers. But we must maintain a balanced budget in Maryland which means difficult choices and setting priorities. In this case, we found that Medicaid (healthcare for those in need) and childcare programs were oversubscribed, so these cuts were made to shift the money to support these programs. COMMUNITY NEWS The County's 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan required a "check-in" when the area got to 30 million square feet of development--approaching a cap of 32.4 million square feet. The Planning Board recently approved the scope of work for that check-in (known as a Minor Master Plan Amendment). You can read the full document here. You can watch the presentation and Planning Board consideration here (starts at 5:15:13). A series of community meetings are also being held: Tuesday, July 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the Connie Morella Library (7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD). Wednesday, August 14, at 7 p.m. (Virtual). RVSPs are required to receive a meeting link. Saturday, August 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chevy Chase Town Hall (4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD). ----- Long-time Democratic Precinct Official--and, personally, one of my earliest supporters--Jon Weintraub recently passed away. Jon had a long career in the federal government both on Capitol Hill and at the Department of Education. Learn more about Jon here. ----- Congratulations to District 16's Kavita Mohan and James Montgomery on their appointment and re-appointment to the Montgomery County Library Board. ----- And congratulations to former County Councilmember and Bethesda resident Bruce Adams on winning the Montgomery Serves Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award. Learn more about it here. The most exciting news in District 16 this summer is that we have a new State Senator, Sara Love. Under the state constitution, legislative vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment based on the recommendation of the local political party committee of the vacating legislator (in our case, Ariana Kelly). Sara has been a terrific partner in the House of Delegates and--this past year--on the Environment and Transportation Committee. I look forward to seeing her thrive as our new State Senator. You can watch her swearing-in here. Of course, now that Sara Love is in the Senate, we need a third Delegate to join Delegate Sarah Wolek and me in the House. That process is set out by the Montgomery County Democratic Party here. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The Governor has completed his actions on legislation from the 2024 legislative session with his veto decisions. He vetoed 3 substantive bills (and 1 duplicative). He let one one substantive bill (but both House and Senate versions) become law without his signature. As a reminder, you can view the complete list of bills the Governor signed into law here. TRANSPORTATION UPDATE As regular readers know, we spent a lot of time this recent legislative session addressing transportation funding. It is not easy to raise taxes and fees, but in this case I viewed it as critical to ensure our transportation network (roads, bridges, transit, and more) can be built and maintained. Moreover, part of the fees support the Maryland trauma system, which hopefully most of us will never need to take advantage of. The Motor Vehicle Administration announced the new registration rates here. I want to provide tangible evidence that these fees--while not fun to pay--have a valuable impact. Instead of eliminating all commuter bus service--as was proposed last year by the Department of Transportation--all routes will be maintained. In addition, exciting progress is coming to the Brunswick line, a MARC commuter rail line along the I-270 corridor. First, additional mid-day trains will be announced shortly. Second, Maryland has local match funding available to support its federal grant application to improve Brunswick line infrastructure and service, which you can read about here. ----- Last month, I shared information about Metro's proposed Better Bus Network. Below are the District 16 Metrobus stops slated for consolidation into other nearby stops. If you feel strongly about any, share your input: https://betterbus.wmata.com/share BUDGET UPDATE The Treasurer recently announced that the major rating agencies reaffirmed Maryland's AAA bond rating. One of the agencies, Moody's, did give Maryland a negative credit outlook. We will have to respond accordingly to ensure our strong record of fiscal management continues and the outlook be put back to stable, as happened during the Great Recession. As I write every time these are released, in many ways, the bond rating agencies make us bow at false gods, but it does allow the state to borrow for construction projects at more favorable rates. I always recommend reading these reports for insight into our fiscal management. They can be found here. ----- These bond ratings were tied to a bond sale, which was very successful. Based on the bond sales and the premium the bonds were sold at, debt service will be $150 million less than anticipated next year. Read the Department of Legislative Services summary here. ALTERNATIVE MEDIA I recently had some fun and different media appearances. First, C-SPAN aired my interview with McKay Coppins, author of Romney: A Reckoning, at the Gaithersburg Book Festival. You can watch it here. Second, I participated in East Bethesda resident Eric Nerenberg's movie and TV podcast that he does with his cousin: Ben and Eric's Podcast. You can listen here if you are curious for my thoughts on the recent Netflix movie Hit Man and the HBO show Hacks. COMMUNITY NEWS
Congratulations to Christian Navvaro and Jennifer Berzok on their appointment to the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities. ----- The C&O Canal National Historical Park is a treasure in District 16 (and beyond). Hear more about it on this recent Preservation Maryland podcast. The 2024 session was my first as chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, one of just six standing committees in the House of Delegates. Click here to watch some short highlights. There is a lot more information below wrapping up the 2024 legislative session. And you can watch last week's full District 16 town hall here. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Governor Moore has finished bill signings for legislation passed in the 2024 session. You can review the complete list of bills he signed into law here: https://governor.maryland.gov/news/Pages/bill-signings.aspx I am pleased that the signed bills included the following legislation of which I was the primary author: Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 to clarify the rules for vehicle charging equipment in condo, homeowners association, and co-op communities. Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 to allow Maryland to contribute more to our area Metro system as part of a regional agreement. The Washington Suburban Transit Commission Reform Act to reform the bi-county agency that oversees and works with the Metro. Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act to establish a small grant program that will allow parents, tutors, and others to access free reading education materials. Port of Baltimore Renaming renaming--in state law--the Port of Baltimore after its champion, Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley. I worked on many other successful pieces of legislation during the 2024 legislative session, but these are the bills that I primarily sponsored which are now law. I am also pleased that among the bills Governor Moore signed, 228 were within the jurisdiction of the Environment and Transportation Committee that I chair. Here are some highlights of the committee's work. For a more comprehensive look at our work, each year the Department of Legislative Services releases a 90 Day Report summarizing the legislative session. The 2024 version is now available here. Part of my work as a state Delegate is to serve in my county's legislative delegation, which I used to chair. So I am proud to highlight some of our Montgomery County Delegation highlights for 2024 including new continuous funding for the Institute of Health Computing in North Bethesda. The Joint Chairs Report summarizes the General Assembly’s work on the state budget. It is also an important oversight tool as it allows us to require the executive agencies and departments to provide information and reports. You can read the complete “JCR” here. This year, my committee and I worked with our Appropriations Committee colleagues to maintain the bimonthly Purple Line progress reports, track our zero emission vehicle goals, make sure our toll authority has bike and pedestrian options, address out of state license plates, and much more. Over the past two years, I have worked with Senator Cory McCray and others to establish the Young Readers Program to get books into the hands of children five and under (and their parents). The first recipients of the program were announced including Imagination Library in Montgomery County. POLITICAL UPDATE Since my last email, Maryland held its primary election. I spent the day traveling to 32 polling places around District 16 and it was great to see so any advocates and activists working the polls and many residents going into vote, even as early voting and vote by mail has diverted many election day participants. Congratulations to all of those going on to the November election. ----- If you were unable to attend my annual fundraiser with Governor Moore and Speaker Jones, you can see some of the Governor's remarks here and some of my comments here. Thank you to so many supporters who attended. You can always support my political efforts online. TRANSPORTATION UPDATE Metro is redesigning their bus network, which has around 440,000 boardings per weekday right now. These changes do not impact the RideOn bus service in the county but do implicate MetroBus, which is any bus that starts with a letter like the J2 or T2 (the two MetroBus routes I typically hear about from constituents). If you are a rider or are otherwise interested, be sure to check out the informative webpage and provide feedback: https://betterbus.wmata.com/ The J2 essentially stays intact as the new M70 (routes are being re-designated and the M stands for Maryland). The T2 (renamed M82) will look different: It will still connect Friendship Heights to Potomac but instead of running all the way to the Rockville Metro, its end point will be the Twinbrook Metro. And note that there are bus stops slated for elimination/consolidation under Metro's guidelines. These stops should all have other stops nearby that will be served but check out the changes here. ----- Thanks to a provision in the state budget, every other month we receive a report from the Maryland Transit Administration on the Purple Line's progress. The most recent report is available here and a progress chart is below. COMMUNITY NEWS
Several District 16 residents have been named to County Boards and Commissions since my last update, including: -Mark Rittenberg, Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board -Mary Anne Keeffe, Rodrigo Figueroa, and Jeffrey Slavin, Committee Evaluation and Review Board -Cherian Thomas, Bethesda Urban Partnership -Barbara Hoover, Rustic Roads Advisory Committee -Ronald Aizer, Revenue Authority ----- Congratulations to the Montgomery County Council of PTAs President of the Year, Janelle Mizera, for her work as president of the Luxmanor Elementary PTA. ----- The Sulam Ambassdor Award went to Marcy and David Sussman. Congratulations! ----- If you know of a District 16 resident who deserves recognition, please let me know by clicking reply. The 2024 Maryland legislative session has now concluded. The legislative session was a challenging yet productive one marked by some substantial budget challenges and the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge because of a vessel collision. I also took on a new role as Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, one of just six standing committees in the House of Delegates. In this position, I had the opportunity to work closely with my seatmate, Delegate Sara Love, who is a member of the committee. The newest member of the District 16 team, Delegate Sarah Wolek, completed her first full legislative session, representing our constituents well on the Appropriations Committee. There will also be some changes to the District 16 Delegation over the interim. State Senator Ariana Kelly announced that she will be leaving the legislature in May for an exciting new opportunity at the Maryland Commission for Women. Thank you to Senator Kelly for her years of service to District 16. Below is a synopsis of some key highlights from the legislative session. We work on thousands of bills each legislative session so if an issue you care about is not addressed here, please email me about it at [email protected]. You can also attend the District 16 virtual town hall on May 19th by registering here: bit.ly/D16-05-19-24 Education Ensuring Maryland students receive a quality education has remained one of my top priorities, and this session, the Maryland General Assembly took additional steps to improve our education system. As described below, the annual state budget fully funds our education formulas to support pre-K through 12 education in Montgomery County. I was also pleased to sponsor the Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act (HB 475), a grant program that works to support organizations who provide free open-source phonics materials that adults can use to tutor children. This legislation aims to address the state’s literacy rates and reading comprehension that continue to linger below pre-pandemic levels. Education equips young Marylanders with the tools they need to understand and engage with the world around them. To achieve this goal, it is critical that students have access to a diverse range of authors and literary perspectives, especially those that are often marginalized. I proudly supported the Freedom to Read Act (HB 785), which prohibits the exclusion of reading materials in public schools and libraries based on the views of the author, or due to differences in partisan, ideological, or religious beliefs. Access to diverse educational materials is only part of the solution. In these turbulent times, it is important that our educators understand the complexity and diversity of our community. That is why I supported HB 1386, which requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to develop guidelines for an anti-bias training program for our school systems, including training on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Firearm and Public Safety With the continued prevalence of gun violence, I am proud to have supported many efforts this session to improve firearm safety in Maryland. I voted to establish a new organization under the Maryland Department of Health, the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention (HB 583). The Center will take an innovative public health approach towards reducing firearm violence, harm from firearm violence, and the misuse of firearms in the state. I also supported the Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024 (HB 947) to create consequences for negligent conduct by the firearm industry that creates significant public safety concerns. Outside of measures to reduce gun violence, the General Assembly advanced legislation (HB 575) to support victims of crime by expanding the eligibility for, amount of, and types of awards that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is authorized to make. I also supported the Juvenile Law Reform (HB 814), which alters procedures relating to juvenile arrests, complaints, probation and detention. We want to ensure we are treating juveniles fairly while also addressing juvenile criminal activity. Finally, I was proud to support HB 195, which creates a Purple Alert program to disseminate information to assist in locating a missing person who has a cognitive impairment, mental disorder, or intellectual or developmental disability. Budget Highlights The one piece of legislation that we are constitutionally required to pass each year is a balanced budget. I was a member of the conference committee appointed to settle differences between the House and Senate budget proposals. This year’s budget includes: Full funding for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education, including $1.1 billion in state support for Montgomery County Public Schools and advance funding of our public education reform program (the Blueprint for Maryland’s future) for the next several years. $330 million in transportation funding to reduce the budget deficit and support our transportation system, including road maintenance, transit services, and funding to address the impacts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. $105 million in additional funding for Maryland’s trauma centers. $90 million allocated towards the implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Sufficient funding to maintain the state Rainy Day Fund at 7.5% of General Fund revenue. The full actuarially required contribution to the state pension. In District 16 and across Montgomery County, the capital–or construction–budget as passed includes: $3 Million — New Entrance to the North Bethesda Metro Station $150,000 — Renovation of Merrimac Neighborhood Park $150,000 — Glen Echo Stormwater Restoration $100,000 — Jewish Social Services Agency Mobile Mental Health Unit $150,000 — Restoration of Bethesda Meeting House $3 Million — Institute for Health Computing in North Bethesda $440,000 — Disabilities Access for Diener School $2.7 million for Walt Whitman High School upgrades. Environment, Energy, and Climate Change
In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Climate Solutions Now Act, which sets ambitious goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Meeting these goals is one of the major undertakings of my committee. We took a step forward this year through the passage of HB 990, which expands greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements to the cement sector and narrows exemptions for other manufacturers. The manufacturing sector accounts for 10% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions, with cement production being the single largest contributor within that. Through the hard work of my seatmate Delegate Sara Love, the Department of Natural Resources is bolstered in their efforts to protect and improve the quality of state waterways. The Whole Watershed Act (HB 1165) establishes a fund and partnership program to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays by providing grants and technical assistance for integrated efforts to address watershed pollution. With the passage of the Clean Water Justice Act of 2024 (HB 1101), we are also working to protect our waterways by establishing legal standing in state courts for private actors to sue for the violation of clean water laws. This measure restores waterway protections that were removed at the federal level due to the Supreme Court’s decision to narrow the applicability of the federal Clean Water Act. I am also proud to have sponsored and supported efforts making it easier for individuals to transition to an electric vehicle. Along with Senator Kelly, I introduced the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 (HB 159) which builds on my previous work to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residents of common ownership communities and co-ops. In order for the state to meet our climate goals, we will need to improve energy efficiency and accelerate the transition to clean energy sources for buildings throughout the state. This transition necessitates a deliberate, multi-faceted approach, which is why I supported revisions to the state’s EmPOWER program for low-income households to require electric companies, gas companies, and the state Department of Housing and Community Development to develop energy efficiency, conservation, demand response, and beneficial electrification measures that will enable them to meet their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals (HB 864). The Environment and Transportation Committee also passed legislation to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle recharging equipment, solar energy equipment, and energy storage systems for condominium common elements (HB 216). We also need to ensure that Maryland’s electric companies are operating in the state’s best interest. The legislature invested in the transition to renewable energy sources through bills that establish funding opportunities for thermal energy network system pilot programs (HB 397), modify and expand our offshore wind energy program (HB 1296), and restructure solar energy incentives to optimize investment (SB 783). Transportation Investment, Safety, and Accessibility The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)–our local Metro system–is facing an operating funding short-fall. This not only impacts Metro riders but our entire transportation system and economic health. The Moore Administration has stepped up with additional funds but this requires a change to our state law that currently caps the operating fund increases to Metro. I sponsored the Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 (HB 198), which temporarily lifts the operating cap to allow for the necessary funding increases. I also supported legislation that will study how to improve the Maryland Transit Administration’s paratransit service to ensure that transit is accessible for those with disabilities (HB 1199). Maintaining safety on the roads is one of my top priorities, as it is for many of you. I was proud to support the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act (HB 337), cyclist safety legislation sponsored by Delegate Love in response to the death of Sarah Langenkamp on River Road. The Maryland Road Worker Protection Act (HB 513) protects roadway construction and maintenance workers and improves safety around work zones through the increased use of speed cameras and traffic enforcement. SB 345 establishes the Vision Zero Advisory Commission to study and advise the Department of Transportation on best practices to eliminate road deaths. This session, we also addressed the proliferation of dangerous and disruptive behavior on our roadways by establishing increased penalties for street racing and banning exhibition driving statewide (HB 601). Finally, noise pollution substantially impacts quality of life for many residents near major roadways. In response to concerns from constituents, the Montgomery and Prince George’s county delegations supported legislation authorizing the counties to establish a pilot program for noise abatement monitoring systems (HB 212). Access to Health Care Expanding access to health care has been a main focus for the Maryland General Assembly. This session, the legislature passed the Access to Care Act (HB 728), which allows those who do not have current legal residency status to purchase unsubsidized health care plans on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. This policy will reduce the uninsured population in the state and help to stabilize insurance premiums. It will also reduce the strain on hospitals by minimizing emergency room visits. The legislature also increased access to preventative care through HB 1259, which requires insurers to cover breast and lung cancer screening appointments. At a time in which access to reproductive health care is under attack across the country, the legislature took action with HB 367 to require that community colleges implement a plan to provide access to over-the-counter contraceptives for students. Finally, while Maryland has made progress in improving access to preventative care, we need to invest in our urgent care system as well. HB 1143 establishes a commission to review the state’s emergency department wait times, which are some of the highest in the nation, and recommend solutions. I was proud to support the Miriam Kelty Aging and Senior Social Connection Hub and Spoke Pilot Program (HB 1103), sponsored by Delegate Sarah Wolek, to support seniors who choose to age in place by providing funding for the Montgomery County Village Consortium, which fosters social connections and coordinates neighbor-to-neighbor support. Housing My committee spent a significant amount of time this year on Governor Moore’s housing package. The Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act (HB 693) creates the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, establishes a Tenants’ Bill of Rights, and increases the eviction filing fee to fund vital renter related programs, among other provisions. The Housing and Community Financing Act (HB 599) establishes the Maryland Community Investment Corporation as an independent unit in order to facilitate increased state investment in new housing and commercial property. Finally, the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB 538) provides density bonuses for more housing for certain types of projects in areas that have received significant state investment, such as areas close to mass transit and state-owned campuses, and projects run by nonprofits. The House carefully refined this bill to ensure that it was narrowly targeted and would incentivize market-based projects from private developers and not just government-owned or subsidized projects. We also worked to limit the impact on single family home communities. Workforce Development and Consumer Protection This session, the General Assembly remained committed to expanding protections for Maryland’s workforce. I proudly supported HB 649, which builds upon existing pay equity policy by requiring employers to disclose certain salary information to improve wage transparency. The legislature also passed a measure to expand the information an employer must give to an employee for each pay period (HB 385). Finally, I supported efforts to strengthen anti-discrimination in employment by including protections based on sexual orientation (HB 602). Just as we strive to protect our workers, the legislature is also taking steps to protect consumers. In our digitized era, private information is becoming exceptionally vulnerable and personal data is in need of another layer of defense. I was proud to support the Maryland Data Privacy Act of 2024 (HB 567), sponsored by Delegate Love, which establishes certain requirements or obligations for data processors to protect against the infringement of consumer privacy laws. I also supported the Maryland Kids Code (HB 603) to establish enhanced privacy protections for children, specifically within the online applications they are most likely to use. The legislature also took steps to improve transparency in commercial interactions. In response to reports about deceptive business practices by retail energy companies, SB 1 puts guardrails around the energy industry’s sales and marketing operations. The Gas Price Clarity Act (HB 882) improves price transparency by requiring retail service station signage to display the credit and debit price, especially if higher than the cash price. Francis Scott Key Bridge The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo vessel collided with it has shaken the state. We mourn the loss of six construction workers and thank the brave first responders, including the Maryland Transportation Authority police that managed to minimize the loss of life by closing the bridge quickly. State and federal agencies are working around the clock to remove the bridge debris and vessel so the channel can be cleared and the Port of Baltimore can reopen for business. Every day it is closed is an economic body blow on a macro scale but also results in unemployed dock workers. The legislature responded with the Maryland Port Act (HB 1526) which provides temporary relief programs for port employees and related businesses. Even when the port reopens, the region will face the reality of having lost a bridge that moved over 30,000 vehicles per day. Efforts are being undertaken to minimize the local traffic impacts. Going forward, Maryland will work to reconstruct the bridge and we appreciate the promised federal support for this effort, the details of which are still being worked out. My Office Outside of Session My newsletter will now revert to its out of session monthly format. I strongly value the input of my constituents on the issues before the General Assembly. While the state legislature only meets for 90 days each year in Annapolis, I am working for you 365 days a year. As we progress throughout the year, my office will continue to be a resource to help connect you to state and local officials. If you have any questions about the material in this letter, other questions about the recently concluded legislative session, ideas regarding policy issues, issues with a state agency that require constituent services, or are interested in my office’s legislative scholarship, please contact me any time. I can be reached by phone at 301-858-3649, or by email at [email protected]. The 90 day legislative session is scheduled to conclude this coming Monday. We are in the final stretch as we finalize next year's budget and work to progress our policy priorities. I am serving on the budget conference committee--specifically for a component of the budget called the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA)--and we continue to deliberate, specifically over whether we want to address long-term transportation funding challenges. You can watch one of our recent conference meetings here. And you can hear all about it at the District 16 post-legislative session town hall on Sunday, May 19th at 6:30pm. RSVP here: bit.ly/D16-05-19-24 SENATE UPDATEMy legislation continues to make progress in the State Senate. Last week, the Senate gave final approval to the Maryland Metro Funding Act, my bill that allows Maryland's additional support for our local Metro system to flow. The Senate also passed the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act but with an amendment that the House will have to consider. The amendment adds information about certified equipment installers and I support it. Earlier this week, the Senate gave final approval to the port renaming bill I have written about previously. And I have worked with the Maryland State Department of Education on amendments to the Open-Phonics Matching Grant Program Act which I hope will smooth the way for Senate passage.
----- The Senate has also passed the annual capital (construction) budget. In addition to important statewide funding for school construction, hospitals, parks, and more, it also includes important funding for District 16 projects including: -$2.5 million for the University System of Maryland Institute of Health Computing to be located in North Bethesda; -$3 million for the second entrance of the North Bethesda Metro station, part of a multi-year funding effort to position the entrance for federal funds; -$220,000 to support disabilities access at the new Diener school building on Old Georgetown Road; -$150,000 for the Town of Glen Echo stormwater restoration project; and -$150,000 for the Merrimac Neighborhood Park refresh. The House of Delegates should take up its version of the capital budget next week. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE With just a few days to go in the legislative session we are approaching the finish line for a number of major bills. I have previously shared information about the Governor's housing package, which my committee spent a significant amount of time on this year. Each of these bills (the Renters Rights and Stabilization Act, the Housing and Community Financing Act, and the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act) has each passed the House and is pending in the Senate. The one I have been asked the most about is the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act, which provides density bonuses above county zoning for certain types of projects in certain areas. The House carefully refined this bill to ensure that it was narrowly targeted and would incentivize market-based projects from private developers and not just government owned or subsidized projects. Efforts were also taken to limit the impact on single family home communities. The House and Senate also continue to work through differences on a juvenile reform and justice bill to ensure that we are treating juveniles fairly but also disincentivizing juvenile crime. Last week, the House also passed legislation to further regulate the state's retail energy market. As you are aware, you can choose a competitive supplier of gas or electricity in Maryland--while the monopoly utilities (Washington Gas and Pepco in our case)--continue to deliver the energy. The bill seeks to place some guardrails on these third party suppliers who often prey on consumers with low teaser rates that balloon quickly. There are over 2700 bills in the Maryland General Assembly this year and I am confident you care about something I have not discussed. If you have questions about a bill I have not covered, please click reply and I will provide an update. KEY BRIDGE UPDATE I briefly discussed the vessel collision and Key Bridge collapse in last week's email. We mourn the loss of six construction workers and thank the brave first responders, including the Maryland Transportation Authority police that managed to minimize the loss of life by closing the bridge quickly. State and federal agencies are working around the clock to remove the bridge debris and vessel so the channel can be cleared and the Port of Baltimore can reopen for business. Every day it is closed is an economic body blow on a macro scale but also means unemployed dock workers. The Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act seeks to minimize the impact by providing temporary relief programs for port employees and related businesses. Even when the port reopens, the region will make the reality of losing a bridge that moved over 30,000 vehicles per day and efforts are being undertaken to minimize the local traffic impacts. Going forward, Maryland will work to reconstruct the bridge and we appreciate the promised federal support for this effort, the details of which are still being worked out. I am part of a daily briefing regarding the Key Bridge and my committee will also be involved in the ongoing oversight of the recovery and reconstruction effort. COMMUNITY NEWS The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting will be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email [email protected]. ----- Congratulations Leslie Richin on her appointment to the Advisory Board for the Montgomery Cares Program and congratulations to Andrew Garza on his appointment to the Commission on Veterans Affairs. BOOK CORNER With the Key Bridge in the news, the city of Baltimore is on the minds of many. Matthew Crenson's Baltimore: A Political History, is a great reference and resource on about 250 years of Baltimore history starting with its tobacco town roots in the 1700s. Thank You Ariana, Sara Love for Senate, and We Still Have A Legislative Session - Weekly Update3/27/2024
State Senator Ariana Kelly announced her plans to vacate her Senate seat after the legislative session for an exciting new opportunity at the Maryland Commission for Women. Ariana has been my colleague for ten years and has always been a passionate advocate for the causes she believes in. I congratulate her on this new opportunity but she will be missed. Under our state constitution, vacancies are filled by the local party committee of the vacating legislator submitting a name or names to the Governor for appointment. I support my colleague, Delegate Sara Love, in her efforts to be appointed. There is a lot I can say about Delegate Love but having spent this legislative session serving on the same committee as her, I have really seen up close how she navigates bills to passage and brings together different stakeholders. I think she will be a great senator in the model of many past District 16 legislators. If you are interested in the process going forward, keep an eye on www.mcdcc.org where further details will be announced. P.S. As this email was in process, the tragedy at the Francis Scott Key Bridge occurred. My thoughts are with the individuals directly impacted on the bridge and I also want to thank the incredible first responders who were immediately on the scene. We are in the immediate aftermath of this event but there will be a lot more to say about the impact to the port, effect on surrounding neighborhoods, and reconstruction in the future. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE This week I have one hearing in the State Senate on the Open-Source Phonics Matching Grant Funding Act, which will help parents, teachers, and others access free reading education materials. Many other bills I sponsored that had versions pass both chambers do not require additional hearings. ----- As chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, I have spent a significant amount of time on issues related to climate change and housing this year. As I have shared before, we have aggressive climate goals in the state of Maryland as we aim to be a net zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2045. I view part of my job as supporting policies to help us get there. I will admit, we were not able to advance every bill I would like in this regard this session (I guess that's why the people give us four year terms) but the Committee has advanced bills in three important buckets related to climate change that I wanted to share. First, we worked to make it easier to deploy clean energy equipment and charging equipment with bills such as Delegate Charkoudian's bill on condos having clean energy devices and my Electric Vehicle Recharging Act which makes it easier to have vehicle charging equipment in condos, HOA communities, and co-ops. Second, we advanced greener transportation with bills such as the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act to alter how our state makes transportation investment decisions and Delegate Fraser Hidalgo's bill to convert our zero emission vehicle tax credit into a point of sale rebate (immediate dollars off of the purchase price). Third and finally, we modernized the regulatory framework for greenhouse gas regulation and our clean energy transition with bills such as Delegate Stein's proposal to place manufacturers under our greenhouse gas emissions regulatory regime for the first time. These bills still need to get through the State Senate but are all helpful to meeting our climate goals. As for housing, which is in my committee's jurisdiction as well, we have been advancing the Governor's bills on housing financing, renter protections, and housing production. This past week, my committee spent a good deal of time on that last proposal, the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act. We heavily amended the bill and, if you are interested in the topic, I would recommend watching the subcommittee chair's description of the changes. The bill will be on the House floor next week. BUDGET UPDATE As previewed in last week's email, the House has now passed its budget including an accompanying bill called the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA). We had significant discussion and debate on the budget over two days which you can watch here and here if you are interested. The budget now goes to a conference committee between the two chambers to resolve differences. The most significant difference is the action the House took to try and address long term challenges to our public schools' budget and immediate and medium term shortfalls in transportation funding. COMMUNITY NEWS The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting will be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email [email protected]. Last week, the passing of former state legislator Laurence Levitan was announced. Larry was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1970 and the State Senate in 1974. When he first took office, his district (District 15) comprised most of what is District 16 today. Senator Levitan's first Senate campaign was also the first time Maryland had House and Senate districts that were based on population, representing a shift from the prior system of one Senator per county and some subsequent changes resulting from Supreme Court litigation. BOOK CORNER
Speaking of the passing of significant Marylanders, Baltimore's Peter Angelos recently passed away. Angelos is best known for owning the Baltimore Orioles for the past 30 years and was also a renowned trial attorney with success in asbestos claims. He also had a political career, serving a term on the Baltimore City Council and running unsuccessful campaigns for Baltimore City Council President and Mayor. He was a contemporary of Wiliam Donald Schaeffer and C. Fraser Smith's biography of Schaeffer contains an amusing story of Angelos being deployed by then-Governor Schaeffer to meet with Washington football team own Jack Kent Cooke about moving the team from RFK Stadium in DC to the Maryland suburbs. It eventually worked out. As I explained last week, this past Monday was the "crossover" date, the date by which a bill is supposed to pass one chamber in order to be guaranteed a hearing in the other. That meant a long week, a Saturday in session, and a full day of House floor sessions on Monday. A lot got done and most of the next few weeks will be taken up with discussion of the budget and sorting out differences on various bills with the State Senate. Some scenes from our Saturday session, including all of the notebooks containing bill reports for the Environment and Transportation Committee I chair. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE With crossover behind us, here is an update on the seven pieces of legislation I am sponsoring. As I always like to point out, the bills I sponsor represent just a small part of my work in the House of Delegates and that has never been more true than this year, when I am chairing a committee. That said, here is where each bill I sponsored now stands. Legislation renaming the Port of Baltimore has passed both the House and the Senate version has passed that chamber. The Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago. The Senate version--sponsored by our State Senator Ariana Kelly--has also passed the Senate. The bill makes it easier to access vehicle charging in Homeowners Association, Condo, and Co-op buildings and communities. The Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago and the Senate version has passed that chamber. The bill eases the operating subsidy cap for our regional Metro system, in coordination with Washington, D.C. and Virginia, so that we can provide the system necessary funding. The Open Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act I sponsored has passed out of the House of Delegates. The bill makes it easier for families, teachers, and others to access reading materials. The Washington Suburban Transit Commission Reform Act is a local bill I sponsored to make a few tweaks to the entity that oversees the Metro in Maryland. It has passed the House of Delegates. The Maryland Toll Rate Reform Act helps to fund our transportation network and is part of a broader package of policies designed to address our transportation funding shortfall. It has passed the House and I discuss it further below. The Transportation Funding Act has had part of it adopted into a component of the state budget to help address our transportation funding shortfall. The piece moving forward is a statewide $0.75 fee on Transportation Network Company (ride-hail vehicles like Uber or Lyft) trips. Again, see below for some further discussion. BUDGET UPDATE The budget for the state of Maryland has been on the House floor this week. For the first time since I was elected to the House of Delegates, I am not serving on the Appropriations Committee that primarily handles the budget. But like every year, the budget is balanced. It fully funds our pre-K through 12 public education. It maintains a healthy Rainy Day Fund while making the actuarially required contribution to our state pension. It restores some of the funds proposed for cuts to our community colleges. And much more. But beyond addressing the budget for the next fiscal year (fiscal year 2025), the House is proposing to tackle both the transportation budget shortfall--which we are already feeling with proposed cuts today--and future shortfalls in our fund that contributes to public education. Here are the components of the House budget plan. Transportation: -Toll Rate Reform: As discussed above, the House has passed legislation to leverage our state toll facilities to contribute $75 million a year to our broader transportation needs. -Electric Vehicle Surcharge: We proposed a $125/year annual surcharge for electric vehicles. We want to incentivize going electric--and $125/year is still approximately half of what an average Maryland driver pays in gas taxes--and many pro zero emission vehicle states have such fees. -Weight-based Vehicle Registration: We proposed to increase vehicle registration based on weight--which is appropriate given that heavier vehicles put more wear and tear on roads. The increases are $10 to $90 a year depending on the type and weight of the vehicle. -Rideshare Fee: As noted above, we proposed a statewide $0.75 fee on rideshare or ride-hail trips. -Excise Tax: We proposed an increase of the vehicle excise tax from 6% to 6.5%. -Trade-in Exemption: We proposed eliminating the vehicle trade-in exemption except for zero emission purchases. -Work Zone Safety: We proposed allocating some fines for automated enforcement at work zones to roadway system preservation projects. These are not easy actions, but I view them as necessary to pay for the infrastructure Marylanders want and need. You can see a portion of my remarks at a leadership press conference on these issues. Education: For public education, we proposed to adopt a method of corporate taxation called combined reporting used in 28 states ranging from Nebraska and Texas to California and Massachusetts. We also proposed putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot to let Marylanders decide if they want to adopt i-gaming, which would legalize online casino games in Maryland. My predecessors first put gaming on the ballot to fund public education approximately 17 years ago and Marylanders have continuously supported expanding the types of permissible gaming. Trauma: In addition to transportation and public education, the House budget plan also addresses a shortfall in our state's trauma system, primarily via a registration surcharge and a tax on guns and ammo. COMMUNITY NEWS Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is TONIGHT (Wednesday), March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting with be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email [email protected]. BOOK CORNER
March is Women's History Month and a great time to mention Rachel Carson, one of the central figures in Douglas Brinkley's Silent Spring Revolution, part of his multi-volume history on the modern conservation and environmental movements. Carson was a marine biologist who wrote a popular trilogy on the ocean and followed it up with Silent Spring, a book about the dangers caused by pesticides. Carson herself died of cancer (in Silver Spring). Monday will mark the "crossover" date for the 2024 legislative session. This is the date by which a bill is supposed to pass one chamber in order to be guaranteed a hearing in the other. Bills that move later still have a chance to make it to the Governor's desk, but the best position for a bill to be in on Monday is through one chamber. That means the next few days will be extremely busy in the House of Delegates, including our typical Saturday before crossover session. Some of the significant action we might see over the next few days include:
-Movement on the budget, which the Senate is taking up first this year and is on the Senate floor this week. As a reminder, unlike our federal partners down the street we are required to have a balanced budget every year. -Progress on the Governor's housing legislation. I have shared information about the Governor's three housing bills previously but they are complex pieces of legislation related to housing supply, tenant rights, and financing. -Advancement of a "good cause" law to protect tenants. This proposal has been kicking around the General Assembly for seven years but the Environment and Transportation Committee has crafted a heavily amended compromise to move this bill forward. -Dozens of local bills--including many that affect just Montgomery County--like legislation to allow Montgomery County to deploy automated speed enforcement in more high risk locations and improve the County's development review process. -Legislation related to the climate, including a bill to place the manufacturing sector under our greenhouse gas reduction laws for the first time. -More elements of the Speaker's Decency Agenda, including the Freedom to Read Act and training in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination for our school workforce. -Cyclist safety Legislation sponsored by my seatmate, Delegate Sara Love, in response to the death of Sarah Langenkamp on River Road. -And MUCH MUCH more. I often get replies noting my failure to include some particular issue and I welcome such feedback. If you have a question about a bill or issue, please just click reply. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Among the bills working their way through the legislative process are the ones I am sponsoring. Legislation renaming the Port of Baltimore was on both the House and Senate floor this week. The Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago. The Senate version--sponsored by our State Senator Ariana Kelly--has also passed the Senate. The Maryland Metro Funding Act of 2024 passed the House several weeks ago and the Senate version is on the Senate floor this week. The Open Source Phonics Matching Grant Program Act I sponsored is also on the House floor this week. ----- And a big shout-out to my seatmate, Delegate Sarah Wolek, on passage through the House of her first bills: three on the same day! The three bills relate to financial well being, eligibility for House and Senate scholarships, and villages for those aging in place. ----- Unfortunately, one piece of legislation apparently not moving this year is the End of Life Options Act--sometimes referred to as Death With Dignity. The Senate has indicated that they will not bring the bill--which has previously passed the House--up for a vote. SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE If you or someone you know is a District 16 resident pursuing a higher education, remember we have scholarships available through our office. To be eligible for a Delegate Scholarship, you must plan to attend a Maryland college or university, or a private career school. Private career schools must have the Maryland Higher Education Commission's approval to operate and be accredited by a national accrediting association approved by the U.S. Department of Education. You may also attend a nursing school if the Commission approves the curriculum. Students may attend full or part-time. If your major is not offered at a Maryland institution of higher education, you may apply for a unique major designation that would allow you to use our Delegate Scholarship funds for an out-of-state school. Learn more at https://www.marckorman.com/scholarship.html COMMUNITY NEWS Congratulations to several District 16 residents on their appointment to Montgomery County Boards and Commissions: Betty Romero and Margaret Rajnic, Montgomery County Commission for Women Marian Block, Bethesda Urban Partnership Board of Directors Rodrigo Figueroa, Montgomery County Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection ----- Bethesda Big Train is looking for applicants for the Alexander DiMisa High School Leadership Fellowship program this summer. Learn more and apply here. ----- Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. The following meeting with be with candidates for Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge on April 25th. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email [email protected] BOOK CORNER I was in the news quite a bit all around the state last week for my efforts to fund our transportation infrastructure. So this is a good week to recommend Moving Maryland Forward: A Century of Modern Road Building by Harold J. Counihan. This is a bit of a propaganda piece by the State Highway Administration to celebrate the centennial of its founding as the State Road Commission in 1908. Its a chronological review of Maryland's increasing investments in transportation, which has only continued since publication in 2008. I have loved all ten of my legislative sessions as a District 16 Delegate, but serving as a committee chair this legislative session is a very different experience than the nine that came before. As I have been telling people, it is the same sport but a totally different style of play. If you're a baseball person, think about going from the dead ball era of hitting to the late 1990s home run bonanza in a year. In addition to my own legislative agenda, I now feel responsible for the 387 pieces of legislation (and rising) in my committee's hands. I am learning a lot about the legislative process from this seat that I never fully understood before, including the limits of time and staff capacity. The committees are staffed by legislative counsel from the Department of Legislative Services. The three counsel on my committee are excellent and experienced. For two of them, I am their third chair as they have worked on the committee for decades. But with almost 400 bills to work through, we need to triage and prioritize what can reasonably be worked on by three people. We are a week and a half from crossover--the day bills are supposed to pass one chamber to get a hearing in the other--and we are feeling the ticking clock as we work to perfect the bills before us. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Last week I had three bill hearings on legislation I am sponsoring. The simplest of the three was legislation renaming the Port of Baltimore. Former Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich and Hogan-era Transportation Secretary Jim Ports testified in support of the bill, which I must say is not my usual witness panel! More challenging were the hearings I had for bills to help our transportation funding challenge. Right now we are facing an approximately $3 billion shortfall for transportation over six years which means no new construction, fewer Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) office hours, reduced road and transit aid for the counties, less mowing and cleaning along state highways and other cuts. And that is all before we try to do major projects people are asking for like the American Legion Bridge or significant MARC Brunswick line improvements. Why the shortfall? There are many factors but inflation and reduced motor fuel/gas tax revenue because of improved fuel efficiency--combined with adoption of zero emission vehicles--are both major contributors. Part of my mission this legislative session has been to offer up ideas for transportation funding and two of those ideas had hearings last week. I do not relish needing to introduce bills and policies such as these, but I believe they are necessary at this stage to have the type of transportation network many of you have expressed support for. The Toll Rate Reform Act would follow the lead of states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia and leverage our toll facilities for broader transportation needs. You can watch the hearing here. If this sounds familiar, it is because I have proposed something similar before to fund transit projects. The Transportation Funding Act of 2024 would use two fees to fund transportation. One is a statewide 50 cent fee on Transportation Network Company (ride-hailing company) trips, which would be in addition to the local 25 cent fee already levied in Montgomery County. The other is a 50 cent fee on e-commerce deliveries. Each of these policies have been undertaken in other states. You can watch that hearing here. PURPLE LINE UPDATE On March 13, the Board of Public Works will consider another change order on the Purple Line. The project cost is going up by $425 million over five years and the opening date is being delayed from summer 2027 to late 2027. Why is this occurring? It goes back to a few years ago when the project was between contractors and the state agreed to undertake utility work, most of which did not occur when it was supposed to. This change order puts that issue behind the project. You can read more starting on page 75 of the BPW agenda. COMMUNITY NEWS Tomorrow (March 7), the Planning Board will be briefed on the results of the Friendship Heights Urban Design Study. You can read the study here. ----- The B-CC High School annual used book sale is Saturday, March 9th, 10am-5pm and Sunday, March 10th, 10am-3pm. ----- Montgomery County Parks will hold a virtual meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Merrimac Neighborhood Park. The meeting is on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend here. ----- The Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club's next meeting is with District 18 state legislators on April 10th at 7:30am. To obtain the link for the meeting, please email [email protected]: BOOK CORNER Since I used a baseball reference above and we are deep into Spring Training, I will venture away from my usual political recommendations and tell you about Where They Ain't by Burt Solomon. Long before the current Baltimore Orioles came to town in 1954, there was a professional Baltimore Orioles from 1882-1899 and again from 1901-1902 (the team ultimately became the Yankees). The old Orioles had some true titans of baseball past including John McGraw and Wee Willie Keeler. This is a fun book for local baseball fans about that long ago team which was fairly dominant in those pre-World Series days. |
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