2023 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Four: State of the State, Custody Evaluators Hearing,
Special Death Benefits Hearing, Eastern Shore News
2023 State of the State Address
Governor Wes Moore’s first State of the State Address was delivered on Wednesday in front of a special joint session of the Maryland General Assembly.

 
After listening to Governor Moore’s State of State and meeting many of his cabinet secretary nominees, I believe both parties will find common ground on shared priorities like supporting our veterans and reducing their retirement taxes, but I also will be urging the Governor and the majority in the Maryland General Assembly to take action on crime bills that go after repeat, violent offenders, and we, as Senate Republicans, will push back against bills and regulations that hurt our small business operators, farmers, and watermen.
GOVERNOR'S STATE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Governor Moore recently released his $63.1 billion spending plan for the 2024 fiscal year, including a one-time increase of $500 million into the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Trust Fund, $1.4 billion for mental health and substance use programs, $122 million in aid to local police departments, and $500 million to support transportation projects.
 
I will keep working to ensure that Governor Moore’s budget is fair for the Shore. Governor Moore repeatedly has said that ‘no one is left behind’ and that should include farmers, watermen, small business operators, and retirees.  

HEARING HELD ON CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATORS BILL
With a panel of witnesses with expertise in child custody cases dealing with allegations of child abuse and domestic violence, we testified on Tuesday in strong support of my Senate Bill 13 before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Senate Bill 13 establishes training and qualifications for child custody evaluators who play an important role in determining child custody outcomes. These requirements would help ensure the safety and well-being of children involved in the most sensitive and difficult custody cases.
 
Serving on the Workgroup to Study Child Custody Court Proceedings Involving Child Abuse or Domestic Violence Allegations, I have heard from many parents and child advocacy groups who have shared numerous stories and cases where qualifications and training of the child custody evaluators would have made all the difference in the child’s life. This bill is all about putting the child first. 

Courts follow the recommendations of the Custody Evaluators in over 90 percent of custody cases. Last year, the General Assembly supported a bill requiring training for judges and magistrates presiding over child custody cases involving child abuse or domestic violence. It only makes sense that child custody evaluators be trained along the same lines at the judges who rely so heavily on their recommendations.
HEARING HELD ON SPECIAL DEATH BENEFITS BILL
Together with Somerset County Commissioner Darryl Webster, and Lena Williams, the widow of Correctional Officer Gregory Collins, we testified in strong support of my Senate Bill 244. The purpose of the bill is to ensure that Lena Williams is allowed to apply for the special death benefits established in Senate Bill 198, which passed unanimously out of both chambers in 2022.

Senate Bill 198 ensured that a death benefit of $125,000 would be paid to the surviving spouse, child, dependent parent, or estate of a public safety officer who was killed as a result of their job responsibilities and duties. However, there was also a time restriction, which left Ms. Williams unable to apply.
 
Correctional Officer Gregory Collins was killed the night of June 4, 2001, and his killer was not identified, arrested, and convicted for another 18 years. No one at the time understood that a hit had been put out on him by a former inmate and gang member.
 
Lena Williams and her family have suffered from the brutal murder of her husband, Correctional Officer Greg Collins who served our State with honor in a dangerous job and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. We have an obligation to Ms. Williams and her family to ensure that this special death benefit is available to this family.
Joining OC Mayor, Rick Meehan (L) & OC Police Chief, Ross Buzzuro (R) at a hearing to support exhibition driving prohibition bill #SB0147 (Sen Beidle - (D32) modeled after Ocean City’s special events exhibition driving prohibition bill.
EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION: HIGHER EDUCATION & DELMARVA CHICKEN ASSOCIATION 
HIGHER EDUCATION
Highlights from this week’s Eastern Shore Delegation zoom included a key presentation by the presidents of the universities and community colleges on Maryland’s Eastern Shore including Dr. Heidi Anderson, University of Maryland Eastern Shore President; Carolyn Lepre, Salisbury University President, and Dr. Ray Hoy, retiring Wor-Wic Community College President.  
I directed my questions about the role of higher education institutions in addressing the severe workforce shortage to Dr. Ray Hoy who is slated to retire later this year after 41 years of service. I commented, “Dr. Hoy, you have played a tremendous role in providing key programs for local students to meet the needs of our local employers, and we’d like to hear more about the specific success stories at Wor-Wic.”
Dr. Hoy focused his comments on being responsive to the specific needs of employers like Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Choptank, health care providers, and others, and pointed to the new Applied Technology Center under construction as a new, cutting-edge facility to prepare and train local students for careers on the Shore. 
DELMARVA CHICKEN ASSOCIATION
Delmarva Chicken Association officials also gave a presentation to the Eastern Shore Delegation noting the 1,600-member trade association, representing the meat-chicken growers, processing companies, and allied business members on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and Delaware. 
I brought up the Delmarva Chicken Association’s opposition to Senate Bill 158 which would prohibit the Maryland Department of Agriculture from registering any pesticides for use for mosquitos by 2024 and for any other pesticide by 2026 unless the distributor of the pesticide submits testing of PFAS to the department. The bill hearing was held on Thursday in Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee on which I serve.
 
On behalf of DCA, Holly Porter, Executive Director of the Delmarva Poultry Industry, testified that “…there is no approved method(s) for testing, This could effectively ban all pesticides from being registered in Maryland, which would have a devastating impact on all aspects of agriculture.”
 
The Maryland Farm Bureau, the Maryland Grain Producers Association, and the Maryland Turfgrass Council also oppose SB 158.  

MY FIRST EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS HEARING

I was humbled and honored to introduce and support the nomination of Judge Cathi Coates to serve as Worcester County District Court Judge. She is the first woman in State history to serve on that court. Prior to the appointment, she served as domestic and juvenile magistrate for Worcester County handling juvenile delinquency cases and civil matters.
 
My appointment to Executive Nominations will allow me to highlight our Shore priorities with the new Governor’s cabinet-level nominees and senior appointments requiring Senate confirmation on the very front end of the new Administration, and that is beneficial to my constituents. 

The Senate Executive Nominations Committee voted unanimously after the Monday hearing to confirm Judge Coates and the other judges who had been nominated by Governor Larry Hogan earlier this year. The full Senate will vote on Tuesday.
SEVERAL GROUPS VISIT ANNAPOLIS
Among the other local officials (not pictured) visiting Annapolis this week were; local forestry industry officials attending Forestry Day in Annapolis; ; retired Deputy Warden of Eastern Correctional Institute Ronnie Dryden, and his wife Jayne with 31 years as a procurement officer at ECI.
Members of the Shore joined us in Annapolis for the Taste of Maryland Agriculture. (right)
The Governor and Lt. Governor also were in attendance.
Meeting with Senate Budget Chair Guy Guzzone and local bankers attending the Maryland Bankers Conference in Annapolis.
Representing the Maryland coalition of Families (pictured above)
(Above) Visitors from Seaside Christian Academy in West Ocean City,
and Faith Baptist School in Salisbury.
Jerred Johnson, Emergency Planner / Public Information Officer of the Somerset County Emergency Services and member of the Stockton Volunteer Fire Co.
Senator Carozza and Senator Johnny Mautz(R-D37) greeted Bishop William Koenig of the Diocese of Wilmington
 
We welcomed Gavin McIntyre ( right), a senior at Washington Academy and High School who participated in the Maryland General Assembly Page Program this week, to the Senate Floor. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, and the Student Advisory Committee. He currently is enrolled in 4 AP/Dual Enrollment classes with a 4.6 GPA.
Additional Resources
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
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
In Service,





Mary Beth Carozza
State Senator-District 38
Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset
410-841-3645