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2024 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Three: Breaking News on Maryland Offshore Wind, Carozza Bill Hearings, Briefing on MDE’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, Locals in Annapolis, and a Sneak Preview
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Orsted Withdraws from Original Offshore Wind Deal with Maryland
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Regarding Ørsted’s January 25th decision to withdraw from the Skipjack project, which would have built 60 to 70 wind turbines off Maryland’s coast,
I testified during Saturday’s Congressional hearing on offshore wind industrialization, that "we simply cannot afford nor accept offshore wind developers coming back to the State or federal government for more subsidies."
“With Ørsted conceding that the project is no longer commercially feasible under its current agreement with the State of Maryland and opting out of the agreement, we must remain vigilant and strongly oppose any future request from Ørsted or any offshore wind developers for more government subsidies. More subsidies for offshore wind development are simply unaffordable for my constituents and for most Marylanders.”
US Wind, another alternative energy company, is still in negotiations with Maryland regarding potential offshore wind projects along Maryland’s coast.
I consistently have highlighted the negative impact of offshore wind industrialization on the local economy and tourism, the damaging effects on marine life, fishing, and the military, and the high costs for ratepayers and taxpayers.
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FIRST BILL HEARINGS ON BIPARTISAN
PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION
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The first of several bills that are part of the Senate bipartisan public safety package sponsored by Senators Mary Beth Carozza (R-District 38), Ron Watson (D-District 23), and Chris West (R-District 42) were heard before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee this week.
“All three of us have heard from key constituencies in our districts calling for legislative action to be taken this session to address the violent crime and juvenile crime crisis. I have met with Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes and other law enforcement officials as well as local school leaders, faith-based and community groups, and business operators to hear their concerns and front-line recommendations. Together, they are advocating for the Maryland General Assembly to take meaningful action this session.”
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Violent Firearms Offender Act of 2024 (SB 179)
SB 179 labels as a felony the use of a firearm –
with a magazine holding more than ten rounds of ammunition – or an assault weapon in the commission of a felony or a crime of violence. The bill also:
- Delays parole eligibility for prohibited persons who are caught possessing firearms;
- Provides that a person caught illegally possessing a firearm is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to up to five years imprisonment for the first offense and for a second offense is guilty of a felony and is subject to up to ten years imprisonment; and
- Requires the Commissioner of Correction to provide inmates with a re-entry kit and with assistance in obtaining Medicaid benefits upon the inmate’s release.
“The Violent Firearms Offender Act has passed the Senate in past sessions, and we need to push it through the Maryland General Assembly this session.”
| EXCEPTIONS TO JUVENILE INTERROGATION ACT | |
I have introduced Senate Bill 326 which would supplement the existing “public safety” exception to the Juvenile Interrogation Act by allowing for juveniles to be questioned without first being forced to talk to an attorney only in cases in which the police have probable cause to believe the juvenile has committed a “crime of violence” or a crime involving a firearm. Senate Bill 326 is scheduled to be heard on February 13th before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
“These narrow exceptions would allow law enforcement to question juveniles only for crimes of violence and crimes with a firearm. It would help protect juveniles from adult criminals who often are preying on and coercing juveniles into serious crime, and also would protect the community as a whole.”
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I also cosponsored Senate Bill 127, the Maryland Firearm Detection Platform Act, which would require the Maryland Center for School Safety in collaboration with public safety agencies, local school systems, and public institutions of higher education, to evaluate the capabilities, federal certification, cost and maintenance requirements, and performance of firearm detection platforms in schools. Senate Bill 127 was heard before the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee on January 24th.
“Our children’s safety has to be our first priority and they deserve to learn in an environment free of the fear of a mass shooting in their school. These firearm detection systems would be another tool to protect our students in school.”
| HANDGUN PERMIT RENEWAL FOR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT |
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Along with Director Rick Norman of the Maryland State Troopers Association, and President Jeannie Mastronardi of the Maryland State Police Alumni Association I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 102 before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The bill would extend the expiration and renewal periods of handgun carry permits for law enforcement officers who retired in good standing. Currently, permits are valid for a two-year period after the initial issue date and are valid for three-year periods thereafter. Under this legislation, permits for retired officers in good standing would be valid for five years both for the initial issue date and for each renewal. Several surrounding States already have five-year expirations in place for renewal of handgun carry permits for retired law enforcement.
“This is a narrowly-focused bill that improves the process for handgun renewal for retired law enforcement officers, and recognizes their years of service, good standing, and training. They have served Maryland with integrity, and many continue to serve their communities through volunteer work or by returning to the workforce in a different capacity. We want to keep our retired law enforcement here in Maryland, and this is a straightforward way to show our appreciation for their service.”
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( above) Preparing to testify on legislation (Senate Bill 102)
Pictured (l to r): Jenna Sublett of Cornerstone Government Affairs; Director Rick Norman of the Maryland State Trooper’s Association; Senator Carozza (R-District 38); President Jeannie Mastronardi of the Maryland State Police Alumni Association; and Christopher Dews of Cornerstone Government Affairs.
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Together with Mayor Meehan of Ocean City, and Worcester County Commissioner Joe Metrecic, we testified in strong support of Senate Bill 95 before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. This local bill would enable the code counties of the Eastern Shore – Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Worcester – to set a new hotel rental tax rate at a maximum 6 percent rate. Worcester County’s current rate is 5 percent.
The hotel rental tax is a dedicated source of funding for tourism and tourism-related activities and is absolutely essential for Ocean City’s future with an estimated $5.4 million increase to Ocean City’s public safety budget, 29 additional full-time firefighters and paramedics, nine additional full-time police officers, and lifeguard and transportation employee wage increases, which are all necessary to keep Ocean City a clean and safe destination.
| OCEAN CITY PRIORITY FUNDING | |
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“More than 65 percent of the hotel tax is paid by out-of-state visitors, not Maryland residents. Not only is this important for Ocean City’s public safety, but for Maryland’s only coastal town to remain competitive. Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, and the Outer Banks all have higher tourism budgets than Ocean City.”
I also requested funding for the Worcester County Sports Complex through the capital bonds process. This is the Town of Ocean City’s priority budget request and would expand sports tourism on Maryland’s Coast and throughout Maryland. The Maryland Stadium Authority feasibility study showed that this project would create 720-860 new Maryland jobs, generate $80-$95 million in state economic impact, and $7-$8 million in State tax revenue.
The requested State funding would be used to perform site assessment, preliminary design, and cost estimates for the new youth sports complex.
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EEE BRIEFING ON MDE’S
CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION PLAN
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The Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee held a briefing on the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, which was published on December 28, 2023. The MDE was required by the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 to develop a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 60 percent by 2031 and achieve net zero emissions by 2045. This MDE plan would cost $1 billion a year.
“This is a daunting and completely unaffordable price tag. The State of Maryland has difficult budget shortfalls with a $322 million structural gap in the FY25 budget, ballooning to $1.8 billion deficit in FY28 and $2.1 billion the following year.”
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My fellow members of the Eastern Shore Delegation and I had been briefed on the many challenges regarding electric vehicle mandates during a tour of one of the Pohanka auto dealerships in Salisbury in December.
I questioned MDE about the electric vehicle (EV) mandates during the briefing. “There are safety concerns for employees working on EV batteries, with Pohanka employees wearing astronaut-type safety suits for protection. Insurance companies won’t allow dealers and service centers to store the batteries inside the buildings due to fire hazards. These batteries can’t be extinguished once they’re burning. Have you looked at the environmental impacts as well as the safety with the EV batteries also being a fire hazard?”
Chris Hoaglund, MDE Air and Radiation Director, acknowledged the environmental impacts from the manufacturing of EV batteries but he and the other witnesses did not address the safety concerns of auto employees and first responders that I raised in the briefing.
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"Right now, the EV market is only at 7 percent and the consumer demand is not there on the Eastern Shore. This MDE Plan assumes that there will be consumer demand for EVs, but there have been cases where people bought EVs in good faith and now have returned them because the charging systems weren’t in place, the lines are too long and the batteries take too long to charge, and when you consider Maryland’s Coast, these vehicles don’t do well with saltwater. What I’m hearing today is that there’s really no actual plan at this point.”
MDE Secretary Serena McIlwaint stated "It's not perfect yet, but we do have a lot of people who do have EVs, I have one myself. There are issues in terms of people not being used to change. With gas you can pump and go in three minutes. The new technology with EVs is different. Overall, this is the right move in terms of moving toward EVs. We’re not turning our back or pushing people to buy an EV without all the facts.”
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Meet our new team member in Annapolis, Intern Jacob Lupo! | |
LOCAL OFFICIALS IN ANNAPOLIS THIS WEEK | |
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Wor-Wic Community Officials visited Annapolis to advocate for Cade Community College, which has received dramatic proposed budget cuts.
Pictured (l to r): Russ Blake, Wor-Wic Community College Board Member; Senator Brian Feldman, Chair of the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee; Delegate Stuart Schmidt Jr. (R-District 33B); Marty Neat, Wor-Wic Community College Board Member; Senator Mary Beth Carozza (R-District 38); Dr. Deb Casey, Wor-Wic Community College President; Kristin Mallory, Wor-Wic Community College Vice President; and Senator Ariana Kelly (D-District 16).
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I met with the Clerk of Courts and Register of Wills from Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset who visited Annapolis this week. Pictured (l to r): Wicomico County Register of Wills Karen Lemon; Somerset County Clerk and Deputy Clerk of Courts Charles Horner and Linda Settle; Somerset and Worcester County Register of Wills Keith Ward and Terri Westcott; Worcester County Clerk of Courts Susan Braniecki; and Wicomico County Clerk of Courts James “Bo” McAllister. | |
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House Bill 47, the Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act, will be heard before the House Ways and Means Committee on January 31st at 1:00pm. This legislation would require high school interscholastic and intramural athletic teams or sports to be designated on biological sex, specifically women’s teams. Delegate Kathy Szeliga is the House Sponsor and Senator Carozza is the Senate Sponsor.
Senate Bill 68, Sherry’s and Christian’s Law, and Senate Bill 87 – Homicide or Life-Threatening Injury by Motor Vehicle or Vessel – Parole Eligibility and Penalties, are being heard before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee next week.
Senate Bill 68 would require a person charged with negligent driving involved in a fatal accident to appear in court. Under current law, a person charged with negligent driving is subject to a misdemeanor and a maximum fine of $1,000, which they can pay without ever appearing before a judge or facing the loved ones who are left behind.
Senate Bill 87 would add criminal driving offenses that result in death or life-threatening injuries to the definition of violent crimes for the purposes of parole eligibility so an individual convicted must serve at least 50 percent, as opposed to 25 percent, before being eligible for parole.
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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.
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By Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, James R. Bergey, Jr., CPA, Treasurer | | | | |
