February 11, 2024

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this edition of our newsletter!  As we approach the midpoint of the 2025 legislative session, the pace in both the House and Senate is in full swing. The House is currently reviewing 1,491 bills, while the Senate is working through 1,010. With Crossover Day approaching on March 17, 2025, there are still hundreds of bills awaiting committee hearings, making for a busy and productive session.

One of the most challenging topics this year is addressing the necessary cuts to the state budget. The House Appropriations Committee has been holding hearings to better understand how these cuts might affect various programs across Maryland. Budget concerns have also been front and center for many advocacy groups visiting Annapolis, each highlighting how potential reductions could impact their vital work. It’s a difficult process, and while the goal is to balance the budget responsibly, we recognize that many organizations will feel the effects.

Thank you for staying engaged and informed. We’ll continue to keep you updated as the session progresses.

We have received many calls and emails regarding the cuts in the Governor’s budget, particularly to the Developmental Disabilities Administration programs (DDA). 

The Governor’s proposed budget is just the first step in a long process to balance our state budget. Many changes can be made at any step of the process.

Here is a graphic that explains where we are in that process. Each subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee will review sections of the budget before it is passed by the entire Committee and then sent to the full House of Delegates.

BUDGET PROCESS:  UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE ARE

These are highlights of two of my bills for which hearings are scheduled in the next two weeks.

Currently, similar enforcement is already permitted in Calvert County, and this bill would align Baltimore County with that standard. If passed, the law would take effect on October 1, 2025.

The hearing for this bill is February 13, 2025 @ 1:00 pm in the Environment and Transportation Committee

the 2025 tax year, the subtraction will increase from $7,000 to $10,000 for the 2025 tax year and beyond.

To qualify, volunteers must meet service requirements, such as active participation without compensation and maintaining a certain number of service points or years of active status. This bill is designed to recognize and reward the critical contributions of public safety volunteers while providing them with greater tax relief.

The hearing for this bill is February 13, 2025 @ 1:00 pm in the Ways and Means Committee.

Baltimore County 2025 Series of Budget Town Hall Meetings
In-person and livestreamed meetings invite public input on budget, continue fostering modern community engagement

Led by County Executive Klausmeier, Baltimore County will host seven budget town halls – one for each Council district –  in their ongoing efforts to provide a forum for public discussion focused on future budget priorities and ensure that community members have the opportunity to provide input into the budget planning process.
 
For those unable to attend, all budget town hall meetings will be livestreamed on Baltimore County Government’s YouTube page.
 
Each event will be held in two parts:

• Community Cabinet Open House: Baltimore County departments will host individual tables where residents are able to engage with department leadership about individual issues and concerns, learn about resources, and share suggestions.
• FY2026 Budget Presentation: Attendees will learn about the county’s budget process and share priorities with Baltimore County Executive Klausmeier and senior leadership.

All community cabinet open house events will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and town hall meetings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

1620 Reisterstown Road

Food Pantry open on

Saturdays, 10AM-1PM

If you have any questions, call 410 486-3016

Mount Washington Farmer’s Market

Open year round

Sundays, 10A-2P

2101 West Rogers Avenue

Mt. Washington, MD 21209

The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is now available. 

If you missed the U.S. Department of Education’s webinar series on FAFSA resources and navigating StudentAid.gov, don’t worry! You can watch recordings on YouTube @FSAOutreach. 

Students, parents, and college/career professionals are encouraged to tune in for information on creating a StudentAid.gov account, paying for college and career school, and avoiding financial aid scams.

The applications for my H. Allan Lipsitz Memorial Legislative Scholarship are now available.  Please visit my website for more details. 

As a reminder, students who received a scholarship last year need to re-apply for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Students can get additional information about state financial aid—including how to navigate the FAFSA process—by going to the Maryland Higher Education Commission website. To be considered for state financial aid, you must file FAFSA June 30, 2025. To be notified of scholarship eligibility for Maryland Scholarships, you are encouraged to file by March 1, 2025.

Don’t forget to apply for the other District 11B scholarships!

• Senator Shelly Hettleman
• Delegate Jon Cardin

All completed scholarship applications must be submittee by March 31, 2025. 

Sincerely,

Dana Stein

Delegate, Speaker Pro Tem, District 11B, Maryland General Assembly

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