The Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act (HB1532) passed the House, and is headed to the Senate. I was proud to have voted in favor and to have co-sponsored this crucial piece of legislation that will improve affordability in the energy and electricity sector. It is a package grounded in four priorities: protecting ratepayers, ensuring reliability as demand grows, advancing clean energy, and preserving programs that reduce costs over time.

This bipartisan legislation passed the House by a vote of 108–25.  

Through this legislation: 

• Maryland will make electric bills more affordable by strengthening oversight of utilities, limiting excessive utility executive compensation from being passed onto customers, reforming rate-setting practices, and ensuring large energy users pay for the infrastructure needed to support their demand.

• In response to rising energy demand, especially from data center growth, Maryland will ensure that new large energy users are accountable for their grid impacts. This is important as electricity demand is increasing, driven in large part by rapid data center development powering artificial intelligence and the digital economy.  

• This bill ensures that excessive executive compensation and bonuses cannot be passed on to customers through their utility bills. It protects ratepayers from paying for corporate pay packages that are unrelated to delivering reliable energy service.

During the Floor hearing for this bill, I spoke on the importance of incentivizing offshore wind. Found below or here.  

HB1221/SB624- Requires short-term rental properties to be equipped with adequate fire safety measures, and mandates that counties confirm and enforce compliance. This bill honors the lives of Montgomery County sisters Lindsay and Jillian Wiener, who tragically died in a house fire in 2022 while vacationing with their family in a short-term rental. They were just 19 and 21 years old. This bill is in final deliberation in the House. If it passes, it will be the first of its kind in the nation, and an important step for fire safety.    

House members voted in favor of my HB141/SB84- State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Graduate Assistants, which gives graduate assistants the right to unionize and bargain collectively, recognizing that their work is essential to Maryland's higher education system. This bill has officially passed the House and is now in the Senate.

HB1071/SB861- Environment - Stormwater Management - Requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to create regulations and a model ordinance that adjusts stormwater management rules to agricultural land, working in partnership with local soil conservation districts. This bill has passed both Chambers.

HB14- County Boards of Education - Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation - Information Collection and Reporting Requirements- Requires county school boards to collect and ensure hate-bias incident data that is already being reported by K-12 public schools will be broken down by targeted victim groups and posted on a school system’s website when substantial increase of incidents occurs. This Bill is on the House floor.  

On Tuesday, March 17th, the Delegation from District 15 recognized Mr. Bob Buchanan for his exceptional service and contributions to the greater Washington region's economy, philanthropy, culture, and communities. Bob's far-reaching impact is reflected in many high honors he has received over the years, including the Greater Washington Community Foundation's 2024 Philanthropist of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Urban Land Institute and most recently from the Washington Business Journal. 

Bessie Louise Moses (1893-1965) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and after attending Goucher College for undergraduate, she attended John Hopkins University for Medical School. In 1927, Moses founded the Bureau for Contraceptive Advice, the first birth control clinic in Baltimore, and in the 40s it became the Planned Parenthood of Maryland. In 1938, Moses founded the Northwest Maternal Health Center to serve Black patients, the first women’s health clinic in the nation staffed by  

Black physicians. Her career was defined by fighting for women’s rights, and in 1932, she testified in front of the U.S. Senate against the oppressive Comstock Act. She was a gynecologist, professor and family planning trailblazer. Her contributions were recognized posthumously in 1991 when she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.

When you file your tax return this year, you could qualify for up to $4,000 through the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). That's money you've earned through your work that can help you reduce what you owe in taxes or increase your tax refund.

Visit MarylandComptroller.gov/Earnedlt to find out if you're eligible and find help filing your taxes for free.

Starting January 2027, the Public Service Commission will offer lower utility rates for recipients of the Office of Home Energy Programs. Enroll in OHEP now to access current utility assistance and qualify for next year’s reduced rates.

Do you know someone attending college or graduate school this fall? If they live in District 15, encourage them to apply for my scholarship! Applications will be accepted here through April 30th.

Don't hesitate to reach out to me at Linda.Foley@house.maryland.gov

with any questions or concerns, or if you wish to meet with me.

You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram, plus Threads, TikTok and Bluesky.

Thank you for the privilege and honor to represent you and the other residents of District 15 in Annapolis. 

Linda Foley

Delegate, District 15, Maryland General Assembly

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