February 23, 2024
Ready Report: Halfway There!
The sixth full week of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session has concluded. We are exactly halfway through the 90-day session. Here is a brief update on what happened this week in Annapolis.
Weekly Video Update
Click the image below to watch this week’s video update from Annapolis.
Ready in the Press:
Fox 45 “Statehouse Spotlight” – Making Gun Theft a Felony
On Wednesday, I joined Fox 45 for their “Statehouse Spotlight” which covered SB 39 – part of the Maryland Senate Republican & Maryland House Republican Joint Anti-Crime Legislative package. This bill would make theft of a firearm an automatic felony with a sentence of up to five years in prison. This proposal is bipartisan, and according to the latest poll, 88% of Marylanders support getting tougher on gun thefts. Instead of more gun control we should go after the bad guys for a change!
You can watch this full interview by clicking here.
Carroll County Times OpEd- Transportation Funding Fairness & Protecting Privacy
My most recent OpEd on fairness in transportation funding and protecting Marylander’s privacy was published this week in the Carroll County Times. I am sponsoring SB 841 – the Transportation Equity, Fairness, and Privacy Act of 2024 – which seeks to address several issues related to public transportation. You can read the OpEd which explains more about what SB 841 says by clicking here.
ARC of Carroll County in Annapolis
It was great to see representatives from the ARC of Carroll County during their visit to Annapolis for Developmental Disabilities Lobby Day. I am so thankful for the fantastic work providers like ARC, Target, Pen-Mar Human Services and so many others do in our community.
Paint Tax Passes Through Seante
SB 325, which passed the Senate Tuesday, sets up a new tax on every can of paint sold to fund a duplicative, ineffective recycling program that lines the pockets of a sham non-profit organization created by a few very large paint manufacturers. Other companies must join, or they aren’t allowed to sell paint in Maryland. In my floor speech below, I laid out the receipts of why this bill is so bad even if someone doesn’t mind the new tax (which I do!). It now moves to the House of Delegates so be sure to make your voice heard.
You can watch some of my remarks from the Senate floor by clicking here.
Senatorial Scholarships Available
If you are or know a high school senior or college student, please consider applying for a Senatorial Scholarship. For more information or to request an application, email Emily Van Horn at [email protected] and include your full address. Scholarships will be accepted up to April 15, 2024.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me anytime. My office can be reached by emailing [email protected].