Today was the opening of the 442nd Session of the Maryland General Assembly and we have gotten off to a strong and safe start. Leadership in both chambers made restrictions to control possible contagion, which meant that some of us were on and off the Floor at staggered times and others were excused for safety reasons. In addition, there are strict guidelines for masks, constant temperature checks, and available testing here at the State House Complex. While there are no receptions or opening day get-togethers this year, it is nice to see the friendly faces of colleagues from across the room.

I am especially grateful for the supportive notes and words of encouragement from so many of you in the past few days. Many of us were concerned that things might be dangerous in Annapolis today based on reported threats and activities in Washington, D.C. last week. Luckily, all is well. The Maryland State Police are out in full-force in case of any potential problems.
2021 Legislative Priorities
This year I am excited to be sponsoring a slate of bills covering a wide variety of topics that will address social justice, special education, voting procedures, foster care systems, crime reporting processes, mental health, and environmental health.
To follow my full legislative agenda please click here. There will be more bills added over the next few weeks and more hearing dates are set, so -- stay tuned!
It's a Virtual Session, but You Can be More Involved Than Ever Before!
This 2021 session will be very different, but you will have opportunities to participate that have never been available before. All floor sessions, bill hearings, and sub-committee meetings will be streamed on the Maryland General Assembly website for the first time ever. If you would like to testify for any bills, both written and oral testimony can be submitted virtually. You can sign up and participate by creating a MyMGA account. There are multiple tutorial videos you can watch here that will help guide you through how to sign up. Of course, you can contact my office if you need any additional help and we can help you through the process.
2021 Delegate Scholarship Application is Now Open
I am excited to announce that a new year means it is once again time to apply for my Delegate Scholarship. In order to apply for this academic scholarship, you must be a resident of District 42B and you must be attending a Maryland college or university. You can find the application and instructions to apply by clicking here. It must be postmarked or emailed by March 31.

Even if you have received my scholarship in the past, please re-apply.
COVID-19 Updates & Vaccination Information
Vaccination plans in Maryland and Baltimore County are constantly evolving. Currently, the state is in Phase 1A and vaccinations are being distributed to frontline hospital staff, healthcare workers, and residents of nursing homes. Baltimore County is preparing and has the capacity for up to 100,000 vaccinations per day as supplies allow.

I will continue to keep you as up to date as possible through this challenging time. You can also follow along with updates here on the state’s covidlink website.

Additionally, you can continue to be tested for free throughout Baltimore County. For information on free testing please click here.

Updates on COVID-19 and support resources can be found on my website -- micheleguyton.com. There are also multiple mental health resources available there. Remember, it is OK to not be OK! Do not suffer alone.