2024 Maryland General Assembly Update

Week Ten: Crossover Week, Action on the Budget, Carozza Bills Moving Through the Senate, Carozza Bill Hearings, Locals in Annapolis and Back in the District

CROSSOVER WEEK

The Maryland General Assembly is in the throes of Crossover Week when bills must pass their original chamber to be guaranteed consideration in the other chamber. Bills that clear their original chamber after the 69^th day of the 90-day session are assigned to the Rules Committee in the other chamber before being reassigned to the appropriate committee. With only three weeks left in the 2024 Legislative Session, this additional procedural step frequently is enough to prevent a bill from becoming law. Monday, March 18th is the final day of Crossover.

“Five of my bills have been approved by the full Senate, and others are on track to pass the Senate in time for crossover. However, there is still much work to do for passage of these bills in the House before final approval and sent to the Governor.”

BUDGET MOVES THROUGH THE SENATE

The full Senate passed its version of the $63.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 on Thursday. This vote came after extensive work by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Governor Moore’s budget proposal. The Senate budget restores funding for several priorities that the Governor originally reduced, including $10 million for community colleges.

"Community colleges are anchor institutions in our communities that are crucial to Maryland’s economic competitiveness through the workforce training they provide. Rural communities on the Eastern Shore face unique challenges, and Wor-Wic Community College has been crucial in addressing these challenges by training local EMS staff, nurses, police, and correctional officers, as 90 percent of all Wor-Wic students stay on the Shore and strengthen our home community.” 

Under the Senate’s proposed budget, funding for public schools increases to a total of $9.1 billion, including a $449.7 million increase in funding to local school systems. Medicare rate increases of 3% are funded for providers serving the developmentally disabled, behavioral health providers, nursing homes, and most Medicaid community-based providers. Almost $488 million of new funding has been allocated to the childcare scholarship program which has seen participation more than double since January 2021 to more than 31,000 children.

The Senate budget also includes removing $495 million from the Rainy-Day Fund and reducing Highway User Revenues by $250 million for FY25 through FY27. In Maryland, local governments have no authority to levy their own transportation revenues, and therefore, are fully dependent on Highway User Revenues for bridge and roadway safety and maintenance.

“Counties and municipalities are still recovering from the deep cuts that were made to Highway User Revenues in 2009 and remained until 2022. This proposed funding falls far short of Maryland’s proper and historic funding levels for this very basic need in our local communities.”

The Board of Revenue Estimates recently announced a significant decrease in the fiscal projections for 2024 and 2025, $120 million and $134.9 million respectively, due to lower-than-expected sales and personal income taxes. Despite this dire forecast, the Senate President and the Chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee have expressed their opposition to any new tax increases, at least for this session. 

“Passing a balanced budget is the only constitutional responsibility of the General Assembly, and the Senate has managed to craft a balanced budget without raising taxes by providing the governor with more flexibility to access the rainy-day fund and utilizing a so-called “revenue volatility fund” designed to collect and reserve capital gains taxes for use during economic downturns. I will continue to fight for a balanced budget without raising taxes as we navigate the current financial situation in our State.”

The Budget now goes to the House for further amendments. The Senate will see the Budget again prior to final passage, and significant differences are expected between the Senate version and the House version. The final version of the Budget must be agreed upon by both the Senate and the House by April 1^st.

FALLEN HEROES LEGISLATION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES THE SENATE

The full Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 897 on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to relieve the tax liability on the death benefits of the 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. 

This legislation was sought when it came to light that the widow of Corporal Glenn Hilliard who was killed in the line of duty, received a death benefit of $500,000 only to learn that it carried a $182,000 tax liability.

OTHER BILLS OF MINE MOVING THROUGH THE SENATE

The full Senate unanimously passed three bills prioritized by Somerset County. SB 763 authorizing the Commissioners to sell in whole or in part Somerset County Industrial Park, SB 807 Authorizing the 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, and SB 829 that would allow the Commissioners to allocate the appropriate funding for Somerset County’s volunteer fire companies from fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2030.

The Senate is on track to pass Senate Bill 808, which would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other State agencies, to ensure anaerobic digestion projects are not unduly delayed and 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.”

SENATE P.A. BILL AND 9-1-1 BILL ARE ON TRACK

My Senate Physicians Assistant Bill is expected to move soon now that the House cross-filed bill has cleared the House, and my 9-1-1 House cross-filed Bill also is working its way through the House and to my Senate Committee for consideration before the end of session.

REMINDER: PUBLIC HEARING ON WIND ONSHORE FACILITY

U.S. Wind's proposed O&M Facility will occupy two adjacent, partially developed property parcels.

These combined properties create a site with approximately 350-ft of quayside buildable land.

 The O&M Facility would include three buildings: a main office building, secondary warehouse building, and a crew support building. The site also would accommodate parking, a laydown yard, and an approximately 628-ft-long fixed pier with mooring for up to four crew transfer vessels. While detailed architectural plans have not been developed at this stage of the Project, it is anticipated that the main office building and crew support buildings may be up to three stories in scale and will not exceed the 45-foot municipal building height limit. A 45-ft building height was adopted based on height restrictions for the location in Ocean City and the maximum mass of development was established by the property parcel boundaries. There are concerns by locals that the proposed location for the buildings will replace the two off-loading docks for commercial boats and essentially put commercial fishing in Ocean City out of business.

There will be a Public Hearing on Monday, March 25th at Fulton-Owens Hall on the campus of Salisbury University at 5:30

LOCAL IN ANNAPOLIS THIS WEEK

The Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates recognized the Stephen Decatur High School Wrestling Team Dynasty on Thursday. During my introduction of the team on the Senator Floor, and displaying a Decatur wrestling team dynasty sweatshirt, I highlighted that it was the fifth consecutive year that the Stephen Decatur High School wrestling team won the 2A State Championship, which is the second-longest streak in Maryland wrestling history.

"We are most proud that these Stephen Decatur student wrestlers are not only five-time State wrestling champions but that they give back to our community by coaching our junior wrestlers and mentoring our elementary school students. The Stephen Decatur wrestling champions will be leading this Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day in Ocean City."

Also visiting in Annapolis this week were :

Maryland State Police Corporal Jason Dykes and (pictured below) Dr. Jeff Sherr with his wife, Joanne from Apple Discount Drugs in Fruitland.

BACK IN THE DISTRICT

It is always a joy to see new businesses start up in the district. Last weekend, I attended the Grand Opening of Tide Together Boutique,owned by two sisters, Nicole and Natalie, and their Mom, Ruth Phillips of Snow Hill (center). Theirs is a story of love for fashion, family and friends meet.

It was an honor to present my Senate Citation to Dominique Sessa of Salisbury for being named Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2024.

Dominique is the first person from the Eastern Shore to hold this prestigious title. Her tremendous strength, resiliency, and passionate advocacy for access, inclusion, and education about disabilities have inspired us all.

Ms. Sessa currently serves as a governor-appointed commissioner on the Maryland Commission on Disabilities and will travel throughout the state advocating for inclusion and equity for all people with disabilities. As a Salisbury native, Ms. Sessa has helped to get Disability Awareness Month recognized by the City of Salisbury and has been the recipient of the Salisbury Human Rights Award.

2024 ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE IS A HUGE SUCCESS

After several weather-related delays and cancellations of this local parade, 2024 welcomed the largest crowds ever and the most enthusiastic. Here are a few pictures.

RADIO INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 21st 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).

(For previous interviews, go to my website (Mary Beth Carozza Website) radio interview tab

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.

IN SERVICE,

MARY BETH

By Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, James R. Bergey, Jr., CPA, Treasurer