The Governor's Bills

Last week I previewed the Governor's State of the State address. You can read the speech here or watch it here.

​LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
 
The Governor has also introduced his legislative package, which by tradition is introduced by the Speaker by request of the Administration (yes, the Democratic Speaker would even sponsor the former Republican Governor's bills).  Governor Moore's proposed bills are:
 
Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration Act of 2023: Establishing a service year option program for high school graduates to perform a year of service.
 
Family Prosperity Act of 2023: Extends the state earned income and child tax credits.
 
Access to Banking Act: Establishes the Maryland Community Venture Investment Fund to incentivize the placement of banks and credit unions in low and moderate income neighborhoods.
 
Fair Wage Act of 2023: Speeds up the implementation of the $15.00/hour minimum wage and links it to inflation.
 
Clean Transportation and Energy Act: Increases the incentives for zero emission vehicles, including for trucks.
 
Broadband Expansion Incentive Act of 2023: Exempts certain broadband related equipment from the sales and use tax.
 
Innovation Economy Infrastructure Act of 2023: Establishes a grant program in the Department of Commerce for certain technology related infrastructure projects.
 
Health Care for Heroes Act of 2023: Covers healthcare costs for Maryland's National Guard members.
 
Keep Our Heroes Home Act: Increases the tax benefit for military retirement income.
 
The committees in the General Assembly will now do their due diligence and consider these proposals.
 
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Two priorities of the General Assembly have also been introduced.  The first is the Speaker's constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution.  The second is the cannabis reform legislation to implement Maryland's new recreational cannabis market, required by the successful constitutional ballot question last year.  Recreational cannabis will be regulated like medical cannabis to ensure safety through the renamed Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission.  Existing growers, dispensers, and operators in the medical cannabis program would be able to convert--at a cost--to a combination recreational/medical license and additional licenses would become available.  The tax rate will begin at 6% and slowly rise to 10%, with most of the funding originally targeted towards implementation and social equity programs.
 
 
COMMUNITY NEWS

• Congratulations to David Naimon on his nomination to re-appointment to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
• With Susan Lee now Maryland's Secretary of State, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee has initiated the process to nominate a replacement, which will be subject to the Governor's appointment.  My hope is that my seatmate, Delegate Ariana Kelly, will fill this role.  The Central Committee will hold a forum for any declared candidates on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30pm.  You can register to watch the forum here.  The Central Committee will then hold a meeting to nominate a successor on Tuesday, February 14 at 7:30pm.  You can register for the meeting here.  Also, if you want to see Delegate Kelly join the Senate, as I do, you can click here to lend your support.
• Montgomery County will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, February 15 at 3:30pm on a one-year Tuckerman Lane road diet pilot.  Click here to view the pilot plan and get the link to the virtual meeting on February 15. Send any questions and comments to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation at [email protected].  
• On Thursday, February 23 at 7:30am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from Chuck Rosenberg, a former FBI and Department of Justice staffer.  Email [email protected] for more information.
• The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will hold a virtual meeting on March 1 at 7pm to discuss proposed construction of sidewalks on several streets in Bethesda's Kenwood Park community: Durbin Road, Lenox Road, Millwood Road, Kenhill Road, and Highboro Drive.   Online registration is required to attend the virtual meeting. On the morning of March 1, an invitation and link will be sent via email to those who registered. The public is encouraged to review the proposal files on the project website prior to the meeting. 
• On Monday, March 6 at 7:30am, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will hear from our local County Councilman, Andrew Friedson.  Email [email protected] for more information.

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