State of the State Address - Weekly Update

I usually send my weekly email out in the morning. But today was the Governor's State of the State Address, so I waited to send the email so I could link to his speech. The Governor talked about the challenges ahead during this legislative session and beyond as we address our budget deficit but also work with a new and, frankly, erratic federal administration. He called these two storms.
In Michelle Obama's memoir, she described President Obama's approach to his job: "His job, it seemed, was to take the chaos and metabolize it somehow into calm leadership--every day of the week, every week of the year." The current president prefers to catalyze the chaos. In addition to the very real and frightening threats to federal funding and federal workers, this was demonstrated by his offensive response to the tragedy at National Airport, a tragedy where at least eight Marylanders were among the 67 souls lost.
The Governor reminded us that Marylanders prefer for us to "confront crisis with courage, compassion, competence and calm."

​BRIEFINGS UPDATE
​The Environment & Transportation Committee continues to receive briefings on some of the important issues our committee will deal with even as we take up a full schedule of bill hearings. Last week, we had a briefing on the State of the Chesapeake Bay and our annual fiscal briefing.

LEGISLATION UPDATE
I continue to introduce the legislation that I announced in my first email of the legislative session. This past week, I introduced two more bills (the last two I expect to introduce this session):
Conflicts of Interest Act (HB 932): The committee I chair has jurisdiction over our state ethics laws. Several disturbing stories have come out regarding how the former Governor did not recuse himself from matters that clearly impacted the private business he still owned. This legislation would strengthen the state’s rules around blind trusts and non-participation requirements to ensure our governors are acting on behalf of the state and not their private interests. Senator Brian Feldman, chair of the Senate committee of jurisdiction, is sponsoring the Senate version of this bill.
Franchise Reform Act (HB 992): Franchising is the system by which a successful business can replicate its idea with independent ownership. If you think about McDonald’s, some of the stores are owned by the McDonald’s Corporation but many are owned by individual franchisees who have to follow certain requirements of the Franchisor (the McDonald’s Corporation). Maryland has one of the toughest franchising laws in the country, making it difficult for Franchisors to expand their concepts and for small business owner franchisees to access these concepts. The regulatory regime is well meaning to protect potential franchisees from being taken advantage of, but I believe Maryland can be more friendly to these new business concepts, a concern brought to me by several constituents. The bill would pilot a new system for franchisors to file their paperwork with the state and make other changes to our franchising regulatory regime.
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Bill hearings are also continuing. Last week, there was a bill hearing on the County School Board Antibias Training Act (HB 324). As as a reminder, last year we required “school employees” to take anti-bias training including to address anti-Semitism. We learned that this did not include school board members and I introduced this bill with Senator Brian Feldman to close this loophole. You can watch the hearing here. Local press also covered the bill.

Yesterday, two other bills I sponsored were heard in the Ways & Means Committee.
The Affordable Housing Payment In Lieu of Taxes Expansion Act (HB 390) would expand an existing affordable housing program to protection naturally occurring affordable housing. You can watch the bill hearing online.
The Local Boards of Elections Transparency Act (HB 412) would expand transparency requirements for our local boards of elections to live stream their meetings and canvassing sessions. You can watch that hearing online as well.

CONSTITUENT MEETINGS
​It is always fun to have constituents visit us during the General Assembly session. This past week's visits included a group of District 16 residents with Moms Demand Action to talk about sensible gun safety and Girl Scout Troop 34148 from Bethesda Elementary School. If you are going to be in Annapolis, be sure to stop by to visit me.

COMMUNITY NEWS
​Congressman Jamie Raskin has launched a new resource page regarding the impact of the federal Administration's policies and actions. You can hear from Congressman Raskin directly at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club on Monday, February 10th at 7:30am (hope the Super Bowl doesn't run too late!). Email [email protected] for the link.
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Last week, I mentioned the Montgomery County Planning Board's discussion of the 2024 Bethesda Downtown Plan Annual Monitoring Report. You can watch their discussion here. Also relevant to our area, on Thursday the Planning Board will consider the scope of work for the forthcoming new Friendship Heights Sector Plan.
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If you are looking for tax preparation assistance, AARP tax aide volunteers will be available for low to moderate income taxpayers at the Davis Library in Bethesda numerous times in February including: Friday, February 7th at 10am-6pm; Wednesday, February 12th at 12pm-5pm; Friday, February 14th at 10am-6pm; Wednesday, February 19th at 12pm-5pm; Friday, February 21st at 10am-6pm; Wednesday, February 26th at 12pm-5pm; and Friday, February 28th at 10am-6pm.
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Congratulations to Ed Krauze and George Zarubin on their appointments to the County-wide Recreation and Parks Advisory Board.

OFFICE CORNER
​Last week I shared the Maryland Transit Administration maps in my office. Keeping with the theme, this is a laser-cut wooden map of District 16 a friend made me. However, District 16 is slightly different today as this reflects the pre-2020 census version where one of the Potomac precincts that is no longer a part of the district today still was.