2023 Maryland General Assembly Update:
Week Five: Polar Plunge, Bill Hearings,
Shore Focus on Farming
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2023 SPECIAL OLYMPICS MD POLAR PLUNGE
I was excited to participate in the 27th Annual State Police Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday at Sandy Point State Park alongside Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Millar, and Delegate C.T. Wilson (D-District 28).
Every year, thousands of plungers jump into the freezing winter waters of the Chesapeake Bay in support of Special Olympics Maryland, including the Unified Teammates of Special Olympics athletes who train and compete year-round throughout Maryland. I am honored to be a board member of the Maryland Special Olympics providing athletic opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
It is so exciting to be a part of this amazing organization which supports some truly inspiring athletes. The Polar Bear Plunge is a Maryland tradition that supports our Maryland Special Olympics athletes, and I’m focused on increasing our numbers of Special Olympics athletes on the Eastern Shore.
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HEARING HELD ON WICOMICO SANITARY DISTRICT BILL |
Together with Wicomico County Executive and County Administrator Julie Giordano and Bunky Luffman ( left), and Chesapeake Bay Foundation Eastern Shore Director Alan Girard (right), we testified on Thursday in strong support of Senate Bill 246 before the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee. The purpose of the bill is to enable Wicomico County to create a Sanitary District Commission, which is the first step for Wicomico County to implement its Water and Sewer Master Plan that was finalized in 2021.
Wicomico County has approximately 18,000 septic systems with many of the residential wells installed prior to 2000 in unconfined aquifers. Should any of these septic systems fail, the drinking water could be contaminated and cause a public health emergency.
Wicomico County is among the only counties in Maryland that does not have a county-wide department dedicated to managing wastewater. I personally have participated in several Wicomico County meetings with the Maryland Department of Environment and other state officials, county and municipal elected officials and their engineers, developers, realtors and homeowners to work together to address failing septic systems and outdated, at-capacity municipal wastewater treatment plants.
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SENATE BILL 1: GUN SAFETY ACT OF 2023 |
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee held a marathon hearing on Tuesday that lasted over 11 hours. Among the bills heard was Senate Bill 1, the Gun Safety Act of 2023, which would greatly restrict where those who have been issued a carry permit may wear, carry, or transport a firearm. Senate Bill 1 also makes changes to the application process for a concealed carry permit by requiring applicants to give the Superintendent of State Police their personal information and waive confidentiality of all private records.
This bill places unnecessary regulations on our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I am disappointed that the General Assembly is pushing for ineffective gun control measures; the focus should be on the repeat, violent offenders using guns, not law-abiding citizens.
During the hearing, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Waldstreicher (D-District 18) offered amendments that explicitly state where firearms cannot be carried and further restricts the application process for concealed carry permits. A first-time violation would result in no more than 3 months in prison and/or a fine not exceeding $3,000. Subsequent offenses would result in no more than 15 months in prison and/or a fine not exceeding $7,5000.
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EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION: AGRICULTURE SECRETARY ATTICKS AND THE MARYLAND FARM BUREAU |
Highlights from this week’s Eastern Shore Delegation zoom included a visit with Acting Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks, who will be among the nominees that the full Senate will vote to confirm on Monday.
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Maryland Farm Bureau Director Colby Ferguson presented the MFB legislative priorities, including several bills assigned to the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee (EEE) on which I serve.
Senate Bill 34 would establish a State Ombudsman for Value-Added Agriculture within the Department of Agriculture who will be the primary point of contact for anyone interested in engaging in value-added agriculture in Maryland. Value-added agriculture generally refers to the manufacturing process which adds value to the raw material, such as packaging, processing, cooling, drying, or extracting. This bill was heard on January 25th in the Senate EEE Committee and is supported by the Maryland Farm Bureau.
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Senate Bill 158 would severely limit the use of pesticides in Maryland, negatively impacting our farmer’s ability to grow their products. The bill specifically targets PFAS, which stands for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, and there are currently no accurate tests for these substances. There also are currently no accurate drinking water tests which are validated by the EPA for testing pesticides. This bill was heard on February 2nd in EEE and is not supported by the Maryland Farm Bureau.
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Senate Bill 262 would increase the current limit for on-farm composting from 5,000 square feet or less to 40,000 square feet or less and will allow the incorporation of food scraps to the feedstock used in the compost pile. Farmers want to do their part to assist in the new demand for removing food scraps from landfills and increasing the square footage available before extensive permitting becomes required will allow more farmers to participate. This bill was heard on February 9th in EEE and is supported by the Maryland Farm Bureau.
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Senate Bill 224 would require Maryland to enact the California Air Resources Board’s vehicle standards, which would establish requirements for the sale of new zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles in the State. Unfortunately, there are no requirements, initiatives, or programs available to initiate the necessary charging infrastructure to meet this new demand, leaving many farmers hauling their products at the mercy of truck stops and rest stops offering charging options. This bill was heard on February 9th and is not supported by the Maryland Farm Bureau.
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EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS: CABINET SECRETARIES |
Nine of Governor Wes Moore’s high-profile Cabinet appointees had their confirmation hearings before the Senate Executive Nominations Committee on Monday, Helene Grady (left) as the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, Dr. Laura Scott (center) as the Secretary of the Department of Health, and Josh Kurtz (right) as the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. |
I emphasized to Josh Kurtz in an exchange during the DNR Acting Secretary’s confirmation hearing that our commercial watermen have been left behind. I urged him to ensure that our commercial watermen, who know the water better than anyone else, are at the table on the early end of decisions affecting the livelihood of our watermen and Shore family.
I questioned Dr. Laura Scott and Helene Grady about emergency State funding for TidalHealth Peninsula Regional located in Salisbury. The Trauma Center requires an influx of $17 million each year for the next two years in order to continue operations and maintain the high level of care offered to residents of the Eastern Shore and across the State of Maryland.
We are in a very urgent situation right now on the Shore. TidalHealth is a Statewide asset with the number of people that come to the Shore during the season.
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During the Floor Session on Monday, the full Senate voted to confirm all 15 District Judges, including Worcester County District Judge Cathi Coates. Several other local officials were confirmed to their positions as well, including Anthony H. DiPaolo and Gregory C. Sterling Jr. to the Advisory Committee to the Rural Legacy Board, Stephan Pastusak to the Amusement Ride Safety Advisory Board, and Michael Hall to the State Board of Well Drillers.
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Melissa Bragg (below), Vice President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland and Ocean Pines Fire Department, was in Annapolis to testify in support of Senate Bill 256, which would remove PFAS from training materials for firefighters. |
The 19th Annual "Taste of Eastern Shore"
Draws many locals to Annapolis to meet with their legislators
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Left to right: Delegate Jay Jacobs (R-D36), Senator Carozza (R-D38), Greg Padgham of the Tri-County Council Lower Eastern Shore, and Delegate Charles Otto (R-D38A) |
Representing Somerset County & Maryland's State Dessert: The Smith Island Cake |
Representing Smith Island (above) |
Pharmacy Coalition Day with UMES Pharmacy students and
UMES President, Heidi Anderson (above)
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Several other local officials visited Annapolis this week including Wicomico Judge of Orphans Court Jim Jester of Salisbury ; Zach Evans representing Worcester Farm Bureau and the Delmarva Chicken Association; members of Rural Maryland and members of the Somerset and Worcester Soil Conservation Association; 2A members and representatives from several gun shops and clubs from the Lower Shore;
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Members of the Coastal Association of Realtors (above)
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Visitors to Annapolis on Maryland Tourism Day |
Auto Dealers & Auto Auctioneers in Annapolis:Charles, Mechele (left), and Ray Nichols (right) from BSC America and Sandy Angello from Pohanka of Salisbury (far right). |
Representing the Worcester County Bike and Pedestrian Coalition ( below)
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SNEAK PREVIEW
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold a hearing on my Senate Bill 252 on Tuesday. This bill will require a person charged with a reckless or negligent driving offense that contributed to the death of another to appear in court.
Not only does the bill ensure that the charges are reviewed by a judge, but it would allow the opportunity for closure for the survivors. Anyone whose actions caused someone to lose their life should not be able to simply pay a fine without facing the victim’s survivors.
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Following Legislation and Testifying
Not only does the General Assembly provide multiple ways to participate in your state government proceedings, but a full set of videos is also available online:
- Understanding the MD General Assembly
- Finding your legislator
- Searching for bills by number, sponsor, subject matter
- Understanding a bill
- Tracking a bill
- Searching media
- Creating a personal MyMGA Account
- Witness Sign Up-to testify on Bills
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I look forward to hearing from you soon! Please contact me on issues important to you.
410-841-3645
marybeth.carozza@senate.state.md.us
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Mary Beth Carozza
State Senator-District 38
Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset
410-841-3645
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