2023 Session Report

You can track and view legislation on the Maryland General Assembly Website here. You can also view bill hearings or voting sessions on the website. I recommend all constituents submit testimony for any bills they have thoughts on. Please continue to call and voice your opinion!

Just a reminder, the Senatorial Scholarship deadline is approaching - April 7, 2023! You can find the application on my website. This is what you need:

I am honored to have been appointed to Chair the Executive Nominations Committee, little did I know the tremendous time commitment it would be!

The Committee has been a part of the appointment process since January 1845. Appointments, such as Department Secretaries, Board and Commission members, made by the Governor require the “advice and consent” of the Senate. Executive Nominations reviews and interviews the nominees, makes a report to the Senate which then votes to confirm or reject the appointment. We have been busy! Check out this comparison:

Most nominations go through the process without much fanfare, however there are always a few that require a closer look. One such nominee was Colonel Rodney Butler, the Governor's nominee to fill position of Superintendent of the State Police. The Committee received many letters both supporting and opposing his appointment. During conversations with the Governor, he shared his full support of his nominee, yet the committee felt they had a responsibility to provide balance. Colonel Butler provided the Governor and the committee the goals he has set as his priorities. They are:

Ultimately, it was decided to require a progress report from the Superintendent on July 1^st and another on December 15^th; $250,000 will be withheld from their budget until the reports are received.

We have another 210 nominees to consider on April 3^rd.

As a co-sponsor of SB379, which enables mail-in ballots to be processed eight days before the start of early voting, I am proud to say that this bill has officially passed the Senate. Prior to this new legislation, it was prohibited that a local board of elections from opening any envelope of an absentee ballot prior to 8:00 a.m. on the Wednesday following Election Day. With SB379, a local board must begin processing absentee ballots eight business days before the first day of early voting. The mail-in ballot vote tally will be released once the polls close on election night, and it will be periodically updated as more are processed.

If your benefits were stolen between October 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023, you must complete a reimbursement form no later than May 31 to have your benefits replaced. For those whose benefits were stolen on or after March 1, the last day to file a claim is 45 days from the date you discovered your benefits were stolen. For assistance completing a new claim over the phone, you may call Maryland Hunger Solutions at (866) 821-5552.

You can find the Department of Human Services SNAP Benefits Q&A here for more information. 

Visit the website http://homeownerassistance.maryland.gov or call 877-546-5595.

My office is continuing to receive inquiries about Unemployment claims. If you or anyone you know needs assistance with their Unemployment Insurance claim, please click the link and fill out our Unemployment Insurance Assistance Form. We will contact our District Liaison regarding your claim.

An interactive web tool is available online (at this LINK) for members of the public to review and comment on a pair of potential redistricting scenarios. 

Comments on the potential scenarios will be accepted through May 31, 2023. Comments to be considered must be left on the redistricting page, not on other social media pages.

The full press release can be found HERE.

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