March 19, 2023
Dear Friends -
Tomorrow, March 20, is one of the most significant benchmarks of the 2023 Maryland General Assembly: Crossover Day. It's the date by which bills must pass one chamber to be guaranteed a hearing in the other. Consequently, I have spent the last, very long week shoring up my own bills and discussing, debating, and voting on other House legislation -- in the Motor Vehicle & Transportation subcommittee I chair, in the Environment & Transportation Committee on which I sit, and on the House Floor with my colleagues. Below are summaries of some significant bills that passed the House this week. I expect that Monday will be another whirlwind day, and I look forward to sharing more in next week's newsletter.
While we are busy with legislation, please remember that my office also is always here to help you. If we can ever be of any assistance, do not hesitate to reach out: (410) 841-3453 or Sara.Love@house.state.md.us.
Take care,
Sara
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Key Bills Passed By the House this Week
HB 283 - Trans Health Equity Act ensures that Maryland Medicaid covers gender-affirming care when that care is deemed medically necessary by a licensed healthcare provider in accordance with current clinical standards.
HB 410 - Election Reform Act of 2023 updates election policy to ensure transparent, open and fair elections. It saves local polling places from unnecessary closures, creates a floor for the number of polling places per county, and requires that historically disenfranchised communities are protected when approving polling place plans.
HB 546 - Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration Act of 2023. This is a Moore/Miller Administration bill, which provides access and exposure to public service for young Marylanders by creating a service year option for high school graduates to work for community organizations and nonprofit groups. The service year option will incorporate a flexible design to allow for programs that appeal to a broad spectrum of young people with a wide range of career interests.
HB 552 - Innovation Economy Infrastructure Act of 2023. This Administration bill establishes the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program within the state Department of Commerce to better support technology projects, develop innovation infrastructure and bring needed jobs across the state.
HB 554 - Keep Our Heroes Home Act expands the state’s existing tax exemption for military retirement income to encourage more of our military veterans to retire here at home in Maryland.
HB 824 - Public Safety – Regulated Firearms – Possession and Permits to Carry, Wear, and Transport a Handgun. House Bill 824 strengthens gun safety in Maryland by adjusting Maryland's conceal-carry permitting process. Among other requirements, HB 824 prohibits possession of a regulated firearm by a person who is younger than 21, a person who suffers from a “mental disorder” and has a history of violent behavior, or a person who has been involuntarily admitted for more than 30 consecutive days to a facility for treatment of a mental disorder. It also doubles the fees for a wear-and-carry permit, a renewal or subsequent application, and a duplicate or modified permit; these fees have not been increased since 1992.
HB 200 Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2024)
This year's budget secures our state's financial future while continuing to make critical investments in Maryland’s economy as well as our transportation, education, technology, infrastructure, and physical and behavioral health sectors.
FY 24 Budget:
- funds continued cost of living raises so we can provide competitive salaries and recruit and retain great workers as we seek to rebuild state government and fill record vacancies across our state agencies;
- continues to make record investments in public education so every student has a chance to succeed;
- includes new behavioral health investments so we can better address the mental health crisis in Maryland;
- makes continued investments in enhancing the child tax credit and expanding other benefits that support Marylanders in need to lift families out of poverty and support our working families; and
- prioritizes the development and utilization of renewable energy and other important steps to reach our goal of a clean, sustainable environment.
HB 1219 - Maryland Educator Shortage Act of 2023. Another Administration bill, HB 1219 addresses the record vacancies in Maryland’s schools by requiring the State Department of Education to create new and permanent pathways into the education profession. It enhances programs to recruit and retain new educators, including diversifying the workforce with outreach to HBCUS and to students who are members of groups that are under-represented among teachers, and reforming the way we qualify childcare providers.
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Montgomery Parks to Present Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project Data/Recommendation to the Planning Board. Public May Provide Testimony.
Montgomery Parks will present information, including traffic data and a recommendation, related to the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to the Montgomery Planning Board on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., in-person at the Wheaton Headquarters building, online. After the briefing, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the project. Details on how to sign up to testify, provide advance testimony and the procedures for testifying are outlined on the Planning Board “Sign Up to Testify” webpage. The deadline to sign up to testify or submit written testimony is March 29, 2023, at 12 p.m. Please remember that the Planning Board will make this decision, and the best way to have your voice heard is to testify or submit testimony to the Board.
Bill Would Establish Friendship Heights as an Urban District
The bill that Council Vice President Andrew Friedson introduced recently to establish an urban district in the Friendship Heights area had a public hearing last Tuesday. Reflecting work with the nonprofit Friendship Heights Alliance and the DC City Council, the bill's intent is to improve the area along the Wisconsin Avenue corridor for both residents and businesses. Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton are the other urban districts in the county, and each is required to have an advisory committee or an urban district corporation board of directors.
Virtual Public Hearing on the MacArthur Blvd Bikeway Improvements Project
On Wednesday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss the latest progress on Segment 3 (Oberlin Avenue to the County line) of the MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway in Bethesda. The public will have an opportunity to provide oral testimony and ask questions. Online registration is required to attend. Find more information here.
Montgomery County Quiet Skies Has a New Website!
Please take a look at https://mocoquietskies.org. You'll find information about the aircraft noise problem, possible solutions, updates, resources, a link to file a noise complaint, and more.
Legislative Scholarship Applications Accepted Through June 1
My 2023 legislative scholarship application is live. To qualify, students must live in the 16th Legislative District, attend or have been accepted by a Maryland college or university, graduate school, or private career (or vocational) school either full or part-time, and apply (even past recipients) by June 1, 2023. Priority will be given to students with demonstrated financial need. For more information and to apply: https://bit.ly/delsaralovescholarship2023
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Public Service Announcements
What Can You Recycle At Home in Montgomery County?
It can be pretty confusing to figure out what goes in that blue bin -- and what doesn't. (That's why my legislation focused on recycling has an important education component.) Here's a breakdown by category:
You can find more information here.
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Calendar
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Monday, March 20, Maryland General Assembly Opposite Chamber Bill Crossover Day when each chamber sends to the other chamber those bills it intends to pass favorably
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Tuesday, March 21, 6:30pm. The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee's special meeting to appoint a new District 16 Delegate. Register here: https://bit.ly/mcdcc-03-21
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Wednesday, March 29, 6:30 p.m., MCDOT virtual public hearing to discuss the MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway Improvements project in Bethesda. Online registration is required to attend.
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Thursday, March 30, 5:30pm. Planning Board's briefing and public hearing on the Little Falls Parkway pilot project in person at the Wheaton Headquarters building, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 2425 Reedie Drive and online via Microsoft Teams. Sign up to testify here.
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Saturday, April 1 - Submissions for the 2d Annual DADvocacy Daddying Film Festival & Forum are due. See here for more information.
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Wednesday, April 12, 7:30pm - 9pm. Community Conversation with Councilmember Andrew Friedson, an in-person discussion at Potomac Elementary School's All Purpose Room to address your questions and concerns specific to Council District 1, including recent antisemitic issues.
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Thursday, April 13, Time TBD. Planning Board's meeting to review the Parks Department’s recommendations and the public testimony and determine whether to proceed with the Little Falls Parkway pilot project.
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Saturday, April 15, the Potomac Branch of Montgomery County Public Libraries will reopen after significant renovations. Learn more here.
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