MGA Headline News

  • Maryland voters will be asked on the 2024 ballot to enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution with the passage of the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Act” last Thursday.
  • Trans Health Equity Act, expanding gender-affirming care procedures covered by Medicaid, headed to Governor Moore last Friday for signature.
  • House and Senate lawmakers resolved budget differences and passed a final plan that will go back to both chambers on Monday for a vote.
  • Maryland Holocaust Remembrance Day bill, establishing January 27 as a day of reflection, recollection, and education to remember the human tragedy of the Holocaust, was sent to the Governor last Friday.

My Bills: Focus on Forests

While many of my bills moved closer to becoming law last week, I am particularly proud of one of these pieces of legislation. Enhancing our laws around protecting forests is near and dear to me, and was something that I spoke about on the campaign trail 5 years ago. The bill has been a collaborative effort among the crossfile sponsor Senator Sarah Elfreth, local governments, MDE, and environmental advocacy groups.

Forest Preservation and Retention HB 723 (SB 526) is based on the findings of the recently released Hughes Study Report. This bill would update forest goals and definitions to provide clarity and reflect new data, protect and conserve more forest land and tree canopy, and give local governments significantly greater flexibility to pursue solutions that meet local needs and advance equity. This week, after much fine tuning, the legislation moved quickly with each version passing out of committee and reaching the respective floor for a vote.

This bill is a legislative priority of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative organization, where I serve as Chair of the Maryland Delegation.