Dear Inquirer,

 

Welcome to my legislative update newsletter from Annapolis! As your State Delegate for District 39, I am honored to continue representing you in the Maryland General Assembly. I hold this position with great respect and responsibility in mind, which is why a few of my sponsored bills are already underway. 


The 2025 legislative session will mainly focus on the proposed state budget, which was recently released by Governor Wes Moore. Under this budget for Fiscal Year 2026, Maryland will likely undergo challenges with a looming deficit. Reiterating Speaker Adrienne Jones' earlier remarks from the first day of the legislative session, the decisions we make as legislators will be hard decisions – but the budget will align with our values to protect the most vulnerable Marylanders of all walks of life. For me, this means continuing programs in areas such as education, public safety, and early childhood development.

 

Above: Escorting House Speaker Adrienne Jones on the House floor on January 8 - the first day of the General Assembly legislative session - shortly after she was voted in to serve another term as Speaker.

During our first week back, I filed two pieces of legislation focused on:

  • Supporting Adult Education for Multilingual Students (HB 325). This bill will allow students to take all four parts of the General Educational Development (GED) in Spanish. Additionally, the bill will require the Maryland Department of Labor to conduct a study on what other languages the GED should be offered in and evaluate the costs of implementing the GED in those languages.

 

  • Strengthening Election Laws in Municipalities (HB 322). This bill will enable the State Administrator of Elections to better support municipal (local city) elections.

In the coming weeks, I am continuing my efforts to address public safety and tackle increased reckless driving. I plan to introduce two bills to honor Sergeant Patrick Kepp. Additionally, I am proud to co-sponsor bills that will:

  • Develop human trafficking training to be taken by transportation workers.

  • Create a commission to study the history of African American Civil War sailors in Maryland.

  • Ensure water bottle filling stations are installed in all new construction or certain renovations.

  • Protect employees from adverse actions by their employer when they do not attend mandatory employer meetings that communicate religious or political opinions.

  • Provide collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants and postdoctoral associates.

 

Please stay tuned for more updates from the legislature.
 

What’s Ahead For House Committee & Subcommittee Work


The Ways & Means Committee plays an important role in creating legislation that impacts children, youth, and families; education financing; primary and secondary education; elections; lotteries and horse racing; and state & local taxation matters.  I am continuing to serve on the House Ways & Means Committee and the Early Childhood Subcommittee. It is my priority to continue advocating for District 39’s families with children. View the committee hearings schedule and stream the recordings by clicking here.
 

Montgomery County Delegation Efforts


I serve as the Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee for the Montgomery County House Delegation, alongside Chair, Delegate Linda Foley (District 15). The delegation advocates for the interests and priorities of Montgomery County. The bills that the delegation members support move forward to the House of Delegates. Recently, the delegation held a hearing on bills that would allow beauty salon license holders to serve alcoholic beverages, establish a study for displaced residents of Emory Grove, and require the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Council to grant exemption from certain Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission charges.
 

Meeting with Constituents and Leaders in Annapolis

 

Collaborating with constituents, community leaders, and elected officials from across Maryland is a key aspect of our legislative work. Thank you to everyone who stopped by my office in Annapolis to meet with my team and me on the opening day of the legislative session, which was January 8, 2025.
 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy today, I want to take a moment to reflect on his tireless fight against racism and economic injustice. The civil rights movement shaped my family’s story, and it continues to inspire my work today as a state legislator.

 

Connect With My Legislative Office

 

I encourage you to stay engaged and share your issues, questions, or concerns as my constituents. Please do not hesitate to contact my legislative office. You can email me at greg.wims@house.state.md.us or call my office at (410) 841-3039.

 

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Left to right: Christian Oven, Legislative Director; Tonia Bui, Communications Director; Mumin Barre, Chief of Staff

I look forward to sharing more updates from Annapolis with this newsletter. 

 

In service,

 

Delegate Greg Wims 

Representing District 39

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