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2024 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Twelve: Key Bridge Collapse Bills, Capital Budget, House Bill Hearing, Reserve Study Legislation, Carozza Bills Moving Through the Legislature, Locals in Annapolis, and a Sneak Preview
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LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE
COLLAPSE OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE
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The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge killing six construction workers after being struck by a enormous cargo vessel, Dali, is a tragedy with a tremendous impact on the families of the victims, the surrounding communities, the State of Maryland and our entire nation. The Maryland General Assembly is working on legislation to support and expedite the recovery process.
“As a member of the committee reviewing legislation to expedite the Key Bridge collapse recovery, the rescue and recovery from the collapse of the Key Bridge has proven that we are Maryland strong as we grieve the loss of life and work together at all levels in the government, community, and private sector to restore this vital transportation link for our state and country."
The 1.7 mile Key Bridge was built in March 1977 and supports an average traffic volume of 11.3 million vehicles. The Key Bridge crosses over the Patapsco River where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words of the Star Spangled Banner.
| SENATE BILL 1187 - KEY BRIDGE RECOVERY EFFORTS | |
Senate Bill 1187, introduced by Senators Bryan Simonaire (Anne Arundel) and Johnny Salling (Baltimore County), whose districts were immediately impacted by the Key Bridge collapse and closure of the Port of Baltimore, would expand the Governor’s state of emergency power for the limited purpose of the emergency replacement or repair of critical infrastructure. A hearing on SB 1187 was held on Friday.
Since the Key Bridge collapsed, cargo vessels have not been able to reach the Port of Baltimore, the eighth busiest port in America which is responsible for over 51 million tons of cargo a year. The Port indirectly employs 140,000 people.
“This legislation is essential to put an expedited and proven process in place to ensure the Key Bridge can be rebuilt in a timely and safe manner by giving the Governor these emergency powers limited to critical infrastructure.”
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Broad emergency powers were designed for the short term, 30 days or less, and renewed as necessary. In this case, the replacement of Key Bridge is a long-term critical infrastructure recovery project that could take years.
SB 1187 would uphold the current broad scope of a state of emergency in the short term while putting guardrails in place for long-term infrastructure projects. Florida’s Sunshine Skyway, a bridge like the Francis Scott Key Bridge, took seven years to rebuild.
I also am supporting emergency legislation introduced by Senate President Bill Ferguson who represents Baltimore City authorizing the Governor to use money from the State’s Rainy Day account to replace wages lost by workers at the port and related businesses.
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The full Senate is considering the Capital Budget this week which includes important local funding for Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset. At the same time, intense negotiations continue to work out the differences between the Senate and House on the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BFRA) with the House pushing for $1.3 billion in new taxes and fee increases targeting corporations and Maryland drivers and the Senate holding the line against tax increases. | |
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$1.61 million, Berlin Barrack
$250,000, Ocean City Sports Complex *** (LBI)
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The Senate is expected to approve the Capital Budget on Tuesday. Upon approval, it will go to the House for further amendments. The Senate will see the Capital Budget again prior to final passage with differences between the Senate version and the House version to be accepted or rejected.
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$5.8 million, Eastern Correctional Institution High Temperature Distribution and Perimeter Security Improvements
$4.4 million, University of Maryland Eastern Shore New Agricultural Research Education Center
$3.1 million, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Campus Flood Mitigation
$6.8 million, Eastern Correctional Institution Hot Water and Steam System Improvements
$150,000, Mission First Housing Development Corporation
$100,000, Somerset County Courthouse ***(LBI)
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$59.4 million, Salisbury University Blackwell Hall Renovation
$2 million, City of Salisbury Infrastructure Improvements
$75,000, Christian Shelter Life Skills House (Senator Mautz’s LBI)
$50,000, Parsonsburg Fire Company Community Center (LBI)
*** Indicates my
Legislative Bond Initiatives Requests (LBI)
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HOUSE BILL HEARINGS ON CAROZZA BILLS | |
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Fallen Heroes
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on March 28th on my Senate Bill 897, which would relieve the tax liability on the death benefits of families of first responders who died in the line of duty. Death benefits paid to the families of our fallen heroes are intended to relieve the immediate financial burden caused by their loss.
Both Senate Bill 897 and the crossfile House Bill 1064, sponsored by Delegate Wayne Hartman, received overwhelming approval and unanimous support from members of the Maryland General Assembly.
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Anaerobic Digestion
The House Environment and Transportation Committee held a hearing on March 27th on Senate Bill 808, which would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other State agencies, to establish guidance for farmers regarding the development and implementation of anaerobic digestion technology.
“Anaerobic digestion is hugely beneficial to our farmers with their waste management systems and allows farms to be more energy independent. Anaerobic digestion can destroy more than 90 percent of disease-causing bacteria, helps keep the soil healthy, and protects local water resources by reducing nutrient run-off.”
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Local and Statewide RV Legislation
The House Environment and Transportation Committee held a hearing on March 27th on Senate Bill 60, which would allow out-of-state recreational vehicle dealers to participate in vehicle shows for motor homes or recreational trailers that take place within Worcester County. The bill would not allow deposits or points of sale from out-of-state dealers but does allow them to display their products at these Maryland shows. I am the sponsor of SB 60 and Delegate Hartman is the House sponsor House Bill 56.
“This legislation is fully intended to respond to local consumer demand and to increase sale opportunities for the nine recreational vehicle dealerships within Maryland. Ocean City is already a tourist destination and our intent is to provide more choice and convenience for Shore constituents and visitors alike.”
House Bill 840, sponsored by Delegate Wayne Hartman, is a sister bill that would clarify the law to make clear all new Maryland recreational vehicle dealers are allowed to participate in more than two annual vehicle shows each year. HB 840 currently is being considered by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. I sponsored the cross filed bill, SB 976.
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HEARING HELD ON HOA RESERVE STUDY LEGISLATION | |
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee held a hearing March 26th on House Bill 281, which would extend critical deadlines for homeowners associations (HOAs) and residential condominium associations to fully fund their reserve accounts. Due to House Bill 107 of 2022, HOAs and condominium associations must: (1) conduct a reserve study every five years to study the adequacy of the associations reserve accounts, and (2) fully fund their reserve accounts within three years based on the findings of the reserve study. | |
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Reserve studies review the major structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing repairs to common areas of housing associations that may be needed in the future. Due to the broad scope of these reserve studies, many HOAs and condominium associations reported that the current law requires unprecedented sharp fee increases that many residents would be unable to afford.
"I am the sponsor of Senate Bill 1157, the crossfile of HB 281. “I have heard from many constituents and condo owners of the increased association dues to cover the costs being in compliance with the reserve study law from 2022. This legislation in 2024 is designed to give some relief for the many homeowners and condo owners who are facing the challenges of funding their reserve accounts.”
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HB 281 would extend the three-year deadline to a five-year deadline, would allow several funding plan options for HOAs and condominium associations, and requires the funding plans to prioritize “adequate amounts” for repair and replacement of common elements with consideration given to the health and safety of members of the governing body. | CAROZZA BILLS MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE | |
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Physician Assistant Modernization Act
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously voted on Friday to approve HB 806/SB 167, which would modernize the law regarding the working relationship between physicians and physician assistants to better reflect current practice and to improve access to quality health care. “Over the past three years, I have been working with physician assistants and physicians from across Maryland to increase access to health care, particularly for those living in rural areas like my district.”
The United States is facing a projected workforce shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians. Overall, Maryland is 16 percent below the national average for number of physicians available for clinical practice.
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911 Workgroup
The Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee unanimously voted in favor of HB 1162/SB 1034, which would establish a 9-1-1 Specialist Recruitment and Retention Workgroup to identify and examine recruitment and retention challenges that affect 9-1-1 Specialists in Maryland and make related recommendations. The full Senate is expected to approve both bills early this week.
“A 9-1-1 specialist is often the first emergency contact for the public in most life and death emergencies. Dispatchers receive frantic calls for help and while remaining calm for the person in distress, determine the nature and classification of the incident and provide lifesaving service. Recruiting 9-1-1 specialists has become increasingly difficult across the State of Maryland, and we need to strengthen recruitment and retention of Maryland’s 9-1-1 dispatchers, the first responders for our first responders.”
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In the closing days of Women’s History Month, I spoke on the Senate Floor to highlight two remarkable women, Elizabeth Ann Seton and Bertha Sheppard Adkins. Mother Seton moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland where she opened a school for girls, founding America’s parochial school system and first orphanage. Bertha Sheppard Adkins from Wicomico County was the first woman to hold the senior-level post of Under Secretary in the federal government when President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her as Under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1958.
“The common link between Elizabeth Ann Seton and Bertha Sheppard Adkins is their leadership and excellence in education. These women were able to create a lasting beneficial impact in Maryland and in the United States.”
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Together with Senator Johnny Mautz (R-District 37) we greeted Siddharth Gosh of James M. Bennett High School on the Senate Floor. Siddharth Gosh completed his second week as a Maryland General Assembly page on Friday.
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From Left to Right: Rich Hutchins, Ocean City RV Show Promoter; myself ; and Jen Evans with the OC RV Show returned to Annapolis to support legislation to boost the OC RV Show and RV business in Maryland.
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The House Environment and Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear three legislative priorities of Somerset County on April 2:
SB 763 would authorize the Somerset County Commissioners to sell in whole or in part Somerset County Industrial Park located on Revells Neck Road under terms agreed to by the Somerset County Commissioners.
SB 807 would authorize the Somerset County Commissioners to establish an Emergency Services Advisory Council to provide the County Commissioners with recommendations regarding the operations of fire suppression, emergency medical, and hazardous materials services in the county.
SB 829 would allow the Somerset County Commissioners to allocate the appropriate funding for Somerset County’s volunteer fire companies from fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2030.
| WEEKEND BACK IN THE DISTRICT | |
Joining Chief Toby Smith and the Marion Volunteer Fire Department at their annual banquet honoring several members who have served as volunteer firefighters for 20, 25, and 30 years !
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Joining the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the Garden Nook in Berlin.
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Thursday, April 4th at 8:20 am, you can find me on WGMD Talk Radio 92.7 FM and 98.5 FM with Mike Bradley
I will be a guest on the Rude Awakening Show with Bulldog, Coach, The Dude, and Marla on Monday, April 15th at 8:00 am on WOCM 98.1 FM radio.
(use the WGMD link below for live streaming).
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STAY INVOLVED
We welcome your visit to Annapolis and encourage you to follow the fast pace of legislation by signing on to the General Assembly Website where you can find useful information. At the bottom of the page, click on video tutorials for full descriptions. Below is a link to the site.
The current session ends on April
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By Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, James R. Bergey, Jr., CPA, Treasurer | | | | |
