Dear Friends,
 
As the global pandemic continues to upend our lives, the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) convenes today for its 443rd Session. Unfortunately, once again we need to operate with virtual committee hearings. Below I am providing details so you can follow and participate in the 2022 Session. If you have any questions or need help following legislation or participating in hearings, please do not hesitate to contact my office. In addition, below you will find information regarding the re-drawn State of Maryland electoral districts, COVID booster, vaccine information, and expanded testing site locations. 
 
I spent the interim meeting with constituents and advocates and have developed an aggressive legislative agenda to address juvenile justice, impaired driving and boating, economic inequities for our working poor, increased protections for foster kids and children placed under guardianship of the state and access to mental health on college campuses. I will also be working with the Prince George’s Delegation to secure education, public safety and transportation funding for our county. In the coming weeks I will send updates about my legislative priorities and the budget.
 
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or concerns, and know that it remains my great privilege and honor to serve as your Delegate.

Sincerely, 
Geraldine 
Geraldine Valentino-Smith
Delegate, Maryland House of Delegates, District 23A
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2022 Session Guidelines

We will continue with a partially “remote” Legislative Session, and although in person committee hearings will not take place, the virtual meetings have increased accessibility to MGA proceedings for Marylanders who have home internet service. I encourage you to watch live proceedings or to review recorded proceedings on your timetable, to observe bill votes and committee hearings, or to submit written or oral testimony on bills of interest to you. Please keep in mind that there will be reduced public access to the MGA House of Delegates Building with no large in person meetings taking place. All Committee work will continue to take place virtually. You can find the guidelines, as well as the legislative process and general operating procedures for the 2022 Legislative Session here.   

To find information on any particular bill, go to the MGA Website, click on “Search and Archives” and type in the bill number or topic of interest.

Maryland State District 23A and 23B Consolidated
A pressing issue for the upcoming 2022 Session includes the final step for redrawing electoral district boundaries, which occurs once every ten years following the US Census. The Maryland General Assembly Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission voted on Friday, January 7, 2022 to submit their redrawn state legislative district maps to the General Assembly, which will have to approve final district boundaries in the first half of the 2022 Legislative Session. Please view their final map here.

The new map will have District 23A, the District I represent, subsumed into District 23. Once passed by the General Assembly, the redistricting law will go into effect this summer and will impact the November 2022 election with District 23 residents voting for one District team( one Senator and three delegates) as opposed to one delegate in districts 23A and two delegates in 23B. Please check the MGA website, click on “Search and Archives” and search by “redistricting” in the subject to find the bill number once it is assigned, and to track when it will come to a vote on the House floor. If passed, the new maps are scheduled to be implemented in June 2022.

COVID-19
Vaccines, Testing, Boosters

Collectively we may feel a weariness setting in as we approach almost two years of battling the COVID-19 virus which continues to shine a spotlight on public policy issues regarding adequate public health investment; health care equity, delivery and staffing; affordable access to medication and vaccines; education access and equity; and safety net investments. Because of hospital capacity issues, the Governor has reinstated a new 30 day State of Emergency. You may read it here. Unvaccinated patients represent the surge in hospitalizations which is overwhelming hospital capacity.   

Booster Eligibility Are Now Available for Children Ages 12-15
Following the latest action from the FDA, the State of Maryland will now provide COVID-19 booster shots for children between the ages of 12 and 15. Marylanders are also now eligible to get a booster five months after completing their primary doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Previous guidance required eligible Marylanders to wait six months. Please read all questions about ages, vaccines and eligibility.  

Hospital Adjacent Testing Sites
Maryland has also opened hospital adjacent testing sites to keep those persons without COVID out of the hospital if possible. To find a comprehensive list of testing sites, including those hospital based sites go here.
 
Maryland Vaccine Providers
Go here to find a vaccine provider and find all your answers to vaccine questions at this link.
By Authority of Friends For Geraldine Valentino-Smith, Elizabeth Ryan, Treasurer