Weekly Update: The Final Days

​Dear Friend:
There are just a handful of days left during this legislative session and my next email will be a comprehensive summary of everything that has taken place. Over the next few days, we will work to address energy and other environmental legislation, finalize gun safety and criminal justice bills, and pass hundreds of other bills on numerous issues.
Every year during this last minute crush of activity, I am often asked if it would make more sense to have a longer annual session or even a full time legislature. And as I have written to you before, it is a complicated question and there are pros and cons. But I do think attention is focused and compromise is hatched when a deadline hangs over you. If we had a 100 day legislative session, I believe we would still have this crush of last minute activity but it would be close to the 100th day and not the 90th.
 
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 
A lot of my time this legislative session has been focused on energy issues. Negotiations continue between the House and Senate on comprehensive energy reform. But I am also the primary sponsor of a number of bills and want to share their status.
Local Boards of Education Transparency Act (HB 154): The House and Senate bills have a minor difference on this bill to improve access to our local boards of education that will hopefully be worked out this week.
Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 386): The bill to support our regional transit system is pending in the State Senate, where I will continue to make every effort to pass it.
Franchise Reform Act (HB 730): Identical versions of the bill have passed both chambers and the opposite chambers should act this week. The bill is helpful for economic development in Maryland.
Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act (HB 870): The legislation--to ensure the Maryland Department of Environment is helping developers of large buildings comply with Maryland's environmental laws--is pending in the state senate.
Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act (HB 1081): Bipartisan legislation to strengthen and improve our statewide transit agency has some House/Senate differences that we are still working to resolve.
Village of Drummond Reforms (HB 1623): Reforms to the Village of Drummond charter have passed both the House and Senate and are awaiting action by the Governor.

SCHOLARSHIP
In Maryland, state legislators are able to offer legislative scholarships for those seeking higher education in Maryland or outside of Maryland for unique majors only. Learn more here.

​POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
On Friday, my office participated in a site visit of the Potomac Interceptor breech with DC Water, Maryland Department of Environment, concerned community members, and others. The purpose of the meeting was to continue to discuss clean-up and testing needs for the community.
As a reminder, my office sends more detailed Potomac Interceptor-specific updates throughout the week. If you would like to be added to those updates, please just reply to this message.

​COMMUNITY NEWS
 
Thank you to departing Town of Glen Echo Councilmember Dawn Tanner for her service.
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Congratulations to Wendi and Danny Abramowitz, recipients of JSSA's Joseph Ottenstein Award.
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The NIH Community Orchestra and Chorus will present a concert highlighting the theme of "home" on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 3pm at Richard Montgomery High School. More information can be found here.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 
Each week, I have profiled a non-Montgomery County legislator in the House of Delegates. I hope this has given you some insight into my colleagues around the state and from both parties. What I recognized shortly after I was elected is that each of my colleagues is here for a reason. I may not always agree with, like, or understand the reason, but they each have a sense of purpose that they bring to this work. So today, let me lift up all 140 of my colleagues in the Maryland House of Delegates.