Welcome to the WEEK 3 update from YOUR office in Annapolis!

The best way to describe this week is lonely but very productive! While still meeting completely on ZOOM, we have really ramped up our hearings and voting sessions in Ways and Means. We will finally begin having regular in-person Floor Sessions starting Monday at 3 pm! I have some trepidation about this but will be happy to see my colleagues in person. Most importantly, I am ready to get down to the very important work the people of Maryland need to recover during this pandemic and move forward!

First on our agenda will be overrides of some of the vetoed bills from last year and as I try to evaluate the bills very carefully when they come before me, you can expect me to be consistent in my voting patterns unless there are changes. I will certainly keep in mind the demands that COVID have placed on us as well.
Xerxes joined me on a trip to Annapolis last week. You may see him around, or you may see him stick his face on screen while I'm on Zoom.
As always, thank you for the supportive emails and visits to ZOOM office hours. I am particularly grateful to those of you who participated in hearings this week or submitted testimony. You still have time to have your opinions considered for this week if you act by 3pm Monday!
This Week's Upcoming Bill Hearings
For a third-straight week I will have four bill hearings bringing me up to 15 hearings by next Friday. Next week all four will be heard in the Ways and Means Committee and all are focusing on education and special education.
HB 713 - County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Policy for Handling and Use in Schools
To Be Heard in Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday, February 10
Data indicates that therapy dogs lessen depression and anxiety, improve academics and retention, and reduce behavioral problems. This bill would require county Boards of Education to create consistent policies to allow the use of therapy dog programs in public school. 
HB 714 - Special Education - Learning Continuity Plan - Requirement
To Be Heard in Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday, February 10
This bill requires adding a section to each students IEP or 504 plan that includes a projected plan for continuity of learning in the case of prolonged school closure (virtual or in-person). This change is needed to ensure that students with highest needs do not lose valuable educational services.
HB 715 - Public Schools - Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms - Use of Video Recording Devices
To Be Heard in Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday, February 10
This Bill requires the installation of video recording devices in self-contained special education classrooms with non-verbal students at a parent’s request. This provision protects both our most vulnerable students and their teachers.
HB 724 - Special Education - Education and Vocational Services - Prolonged School Closure
To Be Heard in Ways & Means Committee on Friday, February 12
An emergency bill that would allow all students who do not receive appropriate job skills coaching and Special Education transition services during any prolonged school closure to automatically opt-in to extended eligibility passed the age of 21 if needed to prepare them for future independence and employment.
If you would like to testify on any bill you can sign up on the Maryland General Assembly website by creating a MyMGA account. You can sign up two business days before the bill hearing between 10 am and 3 pm. Multiple tutorial videos of how to sign up can be found here.
BCPS Public Input Survey
Baltimore County Public Schools and Baltimore County government have released an online public survey to gather community input on school construction priorities. Baltimore County and BCPS are working in collaboration to develop a long-range plan for identifying and capital improvements across the school system. This first survey will remain open through Monday, February 15. A second survey will be available in April.
Join Me (Virtually) During My Office Hours
I love meeting with you during my office hours and talking with you about what you care about most! Please sign up below to meet with me to share your thoughts and priorities.
My Bills are Moving!
I am very happy to announce three of my bills have passed out of committee and will be presented to the full House very soon for a vote!

I also had four more bill hearings last week.
HB 418 - County Boards of Education - Symbols of Hate - Policy
We ended last week with a very strong hearing on HB 418 that bans hate symbols from public schools. I am thankful for the strong testimony and support from neighbors in the District! You can still support this bill by contacting Leadership of the House and Ways and Means to ask them to bring it up for a vote soon!
HB 493 - Election Law - Voting Locations - Accessibility by Public Transportation and Voters with Disabilities

I would like to thank the Maryland Legislative Coalition, The ARC Maryland, Represent Maryland, and Cheryl Gottlieb for your supportive testimony on this bill that will promote civil engagement and accessibility to the ballot box.
HB 439 - Institute for Innovation and Implementation - Pregnant, Expecting, and Parenting Students - Data Collection and Report
Last week I introduced HB 401 and a companion bill HB 359. This is another companion bill to established a partnership with the University of Maryland school of Social Work to study this data to develop recommendations on policy to assist the educational experiences of pregnant and parenting teens in our school systems. I'd like to thank NARAL and the UMD School of Social work for their support and work to help create this program.
HB 458 - Program Open Space - Local Projects - Visitor Behavior Policies
I cannot thank Don Callihan enough for both his passion and commitment as a volunteer to keeping our parks and natural areas clean and healthy by promoting the importance of "Leave No Trace" practices. And I loved working with him and having him testify on this bill to require jurisdictions to create policies to protect these spaces. I was thrilled to receive the support of the Sierra Club and Green Towson Alliance for this bill.
Apply for Baltimore County's Summer Youth Employment Program!
If you are between the ages of 14 and 21 and are a Baltimore County Resident apply by February 19 for a six-week paid Summer Youth Employment Program that runs from July 6 through August 13. You will work 25 hours per week and earn $11.75 an hour, or you can participate virtually in career EDGE. Prior to beginning the program accepted applicants will participate in job readiness training to prepare them for success.
Or email
for more information.
Legislative Leadership Announce Unemployment Insurance Reform Package
It has been clear for far too long that the unemployment system has not done enough to support Marylanders who are struggling right now. While there is still work to be done to get the relief so many need right now I am happy to share the reform package announced by legislative leadership.
This package includes the following immediate fixes:
  • Modernizes the UI system by ensuring that people can receive their unemployment benefits through direct deposit and simplifies the steps to get a paper check.
  • Ensures the call center is adequately staffed, makes it easier to allow people to leave a call back number and requires caller ID for UI calls to claimants.
  • Requires adequate language access and a comprehensive review of all UI materials -- including the website -- for reading accessibility.
  • Provides UI applicants a checkbox to get their information to the Health Benefit Exchange for health insurance assistance.
  • Requires the Department of Labor to track the percentage of laid off workers who apply for benefits and established mandated goals.
  • Creates metrics for claim adjudication and requirements for response times.
In addition, the legislative package includes the following structural fixes to ensure these problems never happen again.
  • Substantially increases the income disregard so Marylanders can earn some amount of money while still receiving unemployment benefits. This is a necessary change in the new gig economy.
  • Helps struggling businesses cope with the increased cost of unemployment insurance because of their pandemic-related layoffs.
  • Requires the Department to undertake a study of broader reforms covering maximum weekly benefits, experience ratings, long term solvency, expanded eligibility and more. They'll be required to provide monthly updates until completing the final report at the end of 2021.
  • Creates a disaster protocol for the Department to improve transparency and remove red tape to be able to increase staffing and give greater hands-on assistance more quickly.
This legislative is contained in multiple bills and will be introduced next week.
Register for Your COVID-19 Vaccine
Please make sure you register with the Baltimore County to be contacted when you become eligible to set up an appointment for the vaccine. If you are unable to sign up on the form you can also call 311 or the Department of Aging at 410-887-3816.
Enjoy the Outdoors with Parker the Frog
Baltimore County Recreation and Parks would like you to share your pictures of you and Parker the Frog visiting your favorite Baltimore County Park.
  • Cut our or color and cut out Parker the Frog
  • Visit a Baltimore County Park
  • Post your picture to facebook.com/BaltCoRecAndParks and/or Twitter @BaltCoRec
  • Email your picture to Parker@baltimorecountymd.gov for an entry to win a monthly prize.