We are ONE WEEK away from the end of session! I will be on the floor next Monday and will not be able to hold office hours that day, but feel free to contact my office with any needs or concerns. While I am in the House this week, I hope that all of you will enjoy a beautiful time of rejuvenation and rebirth!

Broadband Update

Internet accessibility is one of the biggest issues facing the northern part of our district, 42B. I have been committed to working on this problem since Day 1. Along with sponsoring HB 1181 -- Ending the Digital Divide Act -- I have been working with legislators for the past three years to find ways to expand infrastructure for connectivity. That is why I am so excited to announce both the passage of HB 97 to create the Office of Statewide Broadband and the allocation of $300 MILLION for projects, including the expansion of rural broadband. I will be announcing a date for a Town Hall with Delegate Brooke Lierman, who was the primary sponsor of this bill, soon after session to explain more about how this money can and will be used to expand broadband in North Baltimore County. Please stay tuned! Additionally, HB 1328 -- Building Out Broadband Act of 2021 -- passed the House. This bill would make it easier for expansion by creating a partnership with internet providers and the Department of Transportation as they trench cables and wiring.

April is the beginning of Autism Action Month and I was appreciative to see so many of my colleagues wearing blue and awareness ribbons around Annapolis as we work to pass critical legislation to help this community. Last week HB 718 passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and is expected to pass out of the Senate and be sent to the Governor very soon.

This means finally, that the work of the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy and Advisory Stakeholder Group is about to begin.

On April 1 I had my final bill hearing for this year testifying on HB 418, to ban hate symbols in public schools, in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. You can watch the hearing on Youtube here. But while my bill hearings are finished this final week of session will be full of voting sessions as we continue to work on legislation. As I have committed, I want to keep you informed on not only the high-profile bills, but also interesting bills that may be a bit more under-the-radar.

HB 80 - Urban Tree Program This bill will require the replacement of trees in the affected area when they are removed for certain transportation projects.

HB 460 - Transfer with Success Act This bill will make it easier to transfer credits from junior colleges, universities, and other public institutions of higher education.

HB 611 - Prohibit Animal Cosmetic Testing Stops the inhumane treatment of animals!!!

SB 313 - Public Health Outreach Programs - Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, and Other Types of Dementia Creates intergovernmental partnerships to better serve, assist, and educate health care providers and caretakers for individuals with cognitive impairments.

HB 812 - The Thomas Bloom Raskin Act This bill creates a partnership between the Maryland Department of Health and 2-1-1 Maryland to provide a call center for individuals to receive mental health services.

SB 817 - Study on Unemployment System Reforms It has been sadly and painfully obvious that the current system for unemployment has created a lot of difficulty and hardship for many people in need over the past year. These issues must be addressed.