April 21, 2021
Dear Neighbor,
The 2021 Legislative session adjourned at midnight last Monday. I've taken a few days to reflect on the 2021 session (and get some much-needed sleep!), and I am enormously proud of all we were able to accomplish.
We took on extremely difficult issues this year and began the hard work of addressing the economic and health consequences of COVID-19, and the social injustices the pandemic further exposed. We passed major legislation to raise the Earned Income Tax Credit, provide small business tax relief, reform the unemployment system, and provide direct cash assistance to those most in need. We also passed landmark police reform legislation making Maryland the first state in the nation to repeal the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights. Our police reform package also requires the use of body cameras, limits the use of no-knock warrants, and increases training for our police force. In addition, we strengthened environmental protections, addressed inequalities in housing and healthcare laws, and improved our education system.
You can find my complete detailed end-of-session wrap-up HERE. A copy should also arrive in your mailboxes soon.
As a leader on the Health and Government Operations Committee, I spent much of the session advancing policies to help us respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. And as you know from my weekly emails, I also spent significant time providing oversight to the state vaccine rollout and attempting to bridge the gap between local and state officials on this important effort.
My Legislative Agenda
My personal legislative agenda this year was developed in direct response to constituent concerns raised over the last year. I introduced and passed eight bills focused on increasing access to high-quality healthcare, childcare, and long-term care, and creating employment opportunities for displaced workers.
Healthcare Legislation
I am especially proud of legislation I passed to increase safe access to childhood vaccinations- both routine vaccinations and the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. A decade ago, I passed legislation to require private insurance coverage for autism treatment for children. This year, I was able to fully expand access to autism treatment for children on Medicaid who need intensive center-based care by removing burdensome and unnecessary barriers with the passage of HB 598.
My legislation to create a one-stop consumer opt-out for information sharing between Maryland's eleven different Health Information Exchanges is a win for patient privacy, and especially important for vulnerable populations. I was proud to work with a broad coalition of domestic violence, women's health, LGBTQ+, and behavioral health groups on this legislation. My Telehealth legislation to ensure continued access to telehealth services for people with intensive behavioral health needs became part of a larger omnibus telehealth bill that will guarantee access to all types of telehealth care- with required private insurance and Medicaid coverage- for at least the next two years. Throughout the pandemic, many of us began thinking more about eldercare options. Many families became more interested in exploring in-home care options. To support these families, I passed legislation requiring the Department of Health to publish information on long-term care financial planning for families.
Workforce Legislation
In response to the economic impacts of the pandemic, I also took a special interest in workforce issues this year. My childcare initiative is a workforce development bill for an industry that has been devastated by the pandemic. It allows childcare centers to hire qualified lead teachers with degrees in related fields more easily, without unnecessary delays. It also supports second-career teachers in receiving training while maintaining their employment- a win for job-seekers and employers. Another workforce initiative I passed this year established Audiology Assistants, which will create up to 900 new jobs, and reduce the cost of Audiology care for consumers.
Finally, after this last year, we all need a good massage. My legislation in partnership with the Massage Therapy Association to modernize massage therapy in Maryland requires massage therapy schools across Maryland teach a uniform high-quality curriculum. This will better prepare all students for the licensure exam and improve the overall quality of massage therapy in Maryland. You're welcome!
Vaccine Distribution
All Marylanders 16 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine and with over 3000 places across the state administering the vaccine, there are many ways to obtain an appointment;
Note that there is a free shuttle from the Shady Grove metro station to the Germantown mass vaccination site and the FEMA run site at Greenbelt is also accessible via public transit.
While it was a very productive session, our work is far from over and I look forward to continuing to fight for you and our families. Once again, thank you for putting your trust in me to be your voice in Annapolis. In this extraordinary time for Maryland, my office remains a resource for information, please reach out anytime via email at [email protected].
Have a wonderful spring and summer.
Best,
