Dear Friends, It's been almost two years since the General Assembly has had in-person committee hearings. Tuesday, with three of my bill hearings on the schedule, I had the opportunity to present them in committee rooms before colleagues and with witnesses by my side. It was terrific to be back with the community in our hearing rooms and in our Senate office building. Our technological limitations prevent us from allowing both virtual and in-person testimony, but we return to in-person hearings with greater transparency than ever. With just over a third of the session under our belts, the General Assembly is in the thick of bill hearings. Floor sessions are longer as bills pass from committee to full Senate consideration. After bill hearings, the arduous process of working the kinks out of bills begins and the art of fine-tuning vies with the ticking clock. The Judicial Proceedings Committee holds hearings this week on a number of different gun bills, including one to ban ghost guns - untraceable weapons that can be assembled at home - and have been proliferating in our state. Over the past few weeks, we've also considered bills on judicial transparency, juvenile justice, transportation, housing, and criminal justice. COVID has had a devastating impact on the provision of child care in Maryland, resulting in over 700 providers closing. In response to the challenges of finding reliable and accessible child care, a legislative package of bills addressing the challenges was introduced last week. The bills will help providers hire and retain employees, expand and renovate facilities, assist providers who care for children with disabilities, and expand scholarship opportunities for children. I'd love to return to the tradition of holding Shelly @the Deli gatherings in the near future, but only if you would consider attending. Please let me know if you think you're ready to venture out to a masked, socially distant sit-down discussion of what's happening in Annapolis. As always, please let us know if we can help in any way. Stay safe & healthy. Sincerely,

In this issue: Session Snapshots Intern Spotlight MGA Action and Shelly's Bills Covid-19 Vaccines and Testing Here to Help Contact Information

I met Tom and Joe who are building an organic farm where cattle, pigs, and chickens will soon become new District 11 residents. They are also planning a produce stand and will offer locally sourced organic goodies to the community. Check out Hidden Waters Farm at www.hiddenwaters.farm/.

My 2022 legislative agenda addresses a broad range of issues from criminal justice matters, to climate change, as well as services for older adults and government transparency and accountability. I will highlight bills in this newsletter and on social media as they are introduced, assigned to committees, and hearings are scheduled. You can learn more by following my legislative page on the MGA website here.

These two bills would ensure the viability of the Access to Counsel Fund. SB 279 directs funds the state has won or settled in lawsuits where tenants' property and consumer rights have been violated. This bill incentivizes enforcement of the law, protects renters' rights, and keeps landlords' costs down. SB 521 directs the maximum allowable federal rental assistance funds to the Access to Counsel Fund.

We have federal resources to be able to meet the needs of tenants who are behind in their rent. SB 384 provides authority for the court to press pause on eviction proceedings if a tenant can prove they've applied for rental assistance. This stay will protect renters from the potentially catastrophic consequences of having an eviction proceeding on their record and allow tenants and landlords some breathing time to work out a plan.

The purpose of SB 588 is to help our environment and our health by expanding upon current law to ensure that certain state-funded capital projects meet high-performance building requirements. These building standards would save water and energy and reduce utility costs while protecting public health. The bill also reinstates the requirement that new public school buildings obtain independent certification to verify that they have been built according to the required standards.

To date, the criteria used to determine whether individuals are “chronically debilitated” remain too nebulous to qualify even the frailest of human beings. The most vulnerable continue to fall through the cracks, suffering needlessly, and we−the public—continue to foot the bill. SB 562 seeks to clarify the process of granting medical or geriatric parole to those who are determined to no longer pose any threat to public safety because they are physically incapable to spend their final days beyond the prison walls. Find my op-ed in the Baltimore Sun regarding compassionate release here.

VACCINES Whether you are looking for your first dose, a booster, or a pediatric vaccine, clinics are offered daily at locations across the county with walk-in and appointment availability. Find Baltimore County Health Department vaccine clinic information here. Current CDC booster recommendations here. TESTING Baltimore County testing sites can be found here. You no longer need an appointment! If you need assistance scheduling a test for yourself or someone else please call 410-887-3816. Maryland Health Department statewide test locations can be found here Looking for at-home tests? Baltimore County is distributing test kits at a number of community sites found here.

COVID Testing-Fraud Alert The Maryland Office of the Attorney General would like to alert all Marylanders of individuals and labs offering door-to-door COVID-19 testing. The individuals performing these tests promise prompt results, but consumers have reported not receiving results several weeks after the initial tests. Consumers have complained that they do not know how their personal identifying information is being secured. Marylanders are advised to only get tested at approved COVID-19 testing sites. NO ONE will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” order free kits. Do not respond to requests asking for information like your credit card account, bank account, or Social Security number, only a scammer will contact you asking for that. Please report requests like that to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov .

Each year, Delegates and Senators of the Maryland General Assembly award thousands of Maryland students millions of dollars in financial aid. Senatorial Scholarships are awarded for four years and are automatically renewed each year. Please find the application and additional information on my website. Questions? E-mail Janet Eckman jeckman@senate.state.md.us. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline is March 1st in Maryland! You must complete the FAFSA in order to apply for a scholarship from the General Assembly. Don't wait to fill out your form today!

Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative Maryland Department of Housing and Community Developments' Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative (BRNI) welcomes applications for funding for projects located in Sustainable Community Areas. Projects should capitalize on the strengths of the community, be targeted in a specific neighborhood or set of neighborhoods and be part of the approved strategic neighborhood revitalization plan. More information on their website. Northwest Baltimore Partnership (NWBP) facilitates the process for communities located between Park Circle in Baltimore City and Pikesville in Baltimore County. NWBP would like to invite you to two information sessions:   How to Apply for Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative (BRNI) FY23 Capital Project Funding February 22, 2022 from 9am-10am and 5pm-6pm on Zoom. To register and receive the zoom link, e-mail Larry Schugam at lschugam@chaibaltimore.org.

Time to replace your outdated, inefficient appliances? Take advantage of Shop Maryland Energy Weekend February 19-21. Energy Star labeled appliances will be exempt from Maryland's 6% sales tax. More information here.

CASEWORK/ADVOCACY Our office advocates for those who may be vulnerable or need assistance cutting through “bureaucratic red tape” with these entities and many more: ◆ Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) ◆ State Highway Administration (SHA) ◆ BGE ◆ Unemployment Insurance (Dept. of Labor) ◆ Tax Issues (Office of the Comptroller) ◆ Citations for milestone birthdays, Gold/Eagle Scout Awards, etc. ◆ Senate resolutions for major/historic commemorations We work closely with our local and federal partners to ensure that our constituents’ voices are heard at all levels of government, striving to make government accessible and responsive to our constituents' needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.

Baltimore County  Resource Guide

Thank you to the Baltimore County Government for the comprehensive Resource Guide - please check out recently announced programs by clicking on the button above. Please don't hesitate to call or email my office if we can be of assistance.