Monday is Crossover! Crossover is the date that any bill, a sponsor hopes to see passed, should be crossing to the opposite chamber. On Monday, there will be only 22 days left for the 2022 General Assembly session. This week was very busy with double sessions but next week should slow down.

This week, I had one of my bills heard:

SB0916 Environment - Ethylene Oxide – Prohibition had its first hearing in the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on March 15^th. SB0916 prohibits the use, manufacture, sale, offering for sale, or distribution of ethylene oxide in the State.

I am looking forward to reviewing the House bills that are crossing over and working together to get the Senate bills passed. You can track legislation on the General Assembly Website. 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.

DISTRICT 32 SENATORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

In February, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration launched Operation Clean Sweep Maryland. The initiative began in the Baltimore and Washington regions and during the first two weeks, crews removed more than 120 tons of debris from the roadways.

Due to a mild winter, State Highway Administration crews anticipate roadside mowing will be required earlier than usual, and litter removal is critical in allowing crews to perform mowing operations safely and efficiently. You should expect an increased focus on litter pick up this spring and through the summer, which will include several targeted litter blitz efforts. The State Highway Administration will be increasing expenditures and adding additional resources to our program which will allow us to nearly double our litter and mowing efforts this year.

Anne Arundel County Watershed Restoration is a partnership between the Trust, the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration, and the City of Annapolis. This award program aims to improve water quality in the County’s local streams and waterways, as called for in the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and County and City of Annapolis’ Stormwater Management Inventory and Watershed Improvement Plan, which require reductions in storm flow volume and pollutants entering the County’s waterways.

USDA Urban Agriculture & Innovative Production Grant The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects.

Tandem Grant Initiative - Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund. County Executive and Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) announced a new initiative to complement the Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) loan program where who apply and are approved for an ACR loan for up to $100,000 can receive a grant equal to 25 percent of the loan amount for façade improvements. The grant will be available to small businesses and commercial property owners in our 11 revitalization areas.

The full press release can be found HERE.

USDA Urban Agriculture & Innovative Production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $7.5 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects.

Help our Neighbors. Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) provides grants to local nonprofits that assist individuals and families in need by providing emergency assistance, such as covering immediate living expenses like paying rent to prevent eviction, utilities to prevent shut-off, fees for transportation to work or car repair, or for essential medication and medical care to return to or maintain their health. 

Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services. This office recently released Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for several grant programs for Fiscal Year 2024.

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will temporarily close the right lane of westbound US 50 (John Hanson Highway) between the MD 2 (Ritchie Highway) on-ramp and the Severn River Bridge next week for bridge repairs. The right lane closure will remain in effect day and night until the work is complete on March 25, weather permitting. The weeklong, 24/7 right lane closure is necessary to ensure worker safety due to the proximity of the work area and traffic on westbound US 50, as well as the required time for the new concrete to achieve its necessary load-bearing weight.

Customers with questions about this project may call the State Highway Administration District 5 Office at 410-841-1000 or toll-free at 1-800-331-5603. For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, visit the project portal. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.

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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