February 19, 2024

The Maryland General Assembly is quickly approaching the halfway point of the 2024 Legislative Session. The legislature is in the second year of its term, and we have an immense amount of work ahead before we adjourn on April 8. In the Senate, 1165 bills and resolutions have been introduced for consideration—more than any previous Session within the last few years.

Beyond the sheer volume of legislation that committees are hearing, many of those bills are incredibly complex and will require a commensurate level of deliberation before advancement. As I always say, time is the most valuable resource of these 90-days because it’s the one thing we can’t get back. The Senate held a pro forma floor session last week and will again this week to provide committees with additional time for bill hearings and voting sessions.

I’m grateful to each of the Senate’s standing committees for the long hours that are being put in to move legislation as quickly and thoroughly as possible given these dynamics. The pace of Session is only likely to quicken as we approach the legislature’s crossover deadline next month, the date by which bills must pass out of the chamber of introduction to avoid being sent to the opposite chamber’s Rules Committee.

I hope you will remain engaged and active, ensuring the General Assembly is being responsive to Marylanders’ needs. Based on that feedback, my focus remains on lowering costs for our residents and reducing crime in our communities.

Serving as a Teach for America corps member was transformational to my life’s trajectory. It solidified my commitment to public service and belief in the power of national service to bring Marylanders together regardless of background. Shared commitment to improving our communities has the potential to break down silos across the State while demonstrating the power of collective action.

I was proud to work with Governor Moore last year to strengthen and expand the Maryland Corps program the General Assembly passed in the 2022 Legislative Session. The combined Maryland Corps and Service Year Option programs within the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation are a national model for expanding service year opportunities.

The Department of Service and Civic Innovation is currently accepting applications for individuals interested in serving their fellow Marylanders, as well as host site partners looking to scale their community impact. I encourage you to share this opportunity far and wide, as well as apply to participate. Corps members will earn at least $15 per hour, receive professional development and on the job training, and are eligible for a $6,000 cash stipend or tax-free deposit into a Maryland 529 account to apply toward future tuition.

Maryland Appointments Secretary Tisha Edwards delivered the “Green Bag” to the Senate of Maryland on Thursday of last week, ahead of the constitutionally required deadline of the 40^th day of the Legislative Session. This year’s Green Bag includes 166 individuals nominated for 82 State boards and commissions. There are more appointments likely to be submitted to the Senate in March.

The Senate Executive Nominations Committee, chaired by Senator Antonio Hayes, has already been hard at work hearing from nominees previously received. Those efforts will ramp up once again in the coming weeks as the Senate carries out our responsibility to advise and consent to the appointment of individuals serving our State in these critical roles.

As reproductive care and access to abortion health services continue to be curtailed in states across the country, Maryland is unwavering in our commitment to ensuring health decisions remain between an individual and their doctor. That promise is only as meaningful as the availability of services for individuals in need of care. In 2020, more than 60% of Maryland jurisdictions lacked a community-based clinic that provided abortion care.

That’s why the Maryland General Assembly advanced the Abortion Care Access act in 2022, followed by a reproductive care package in 2023. Among the priorities included in those legislative actions was a program to train qualified health providers in abortion care to help increase the availability of services statewide, especially as patients from outside of Maryland come here seeking support.

Then-Governor Hogan refused to release the $3.5 million allocated for the program in Fiscal Year 2023—a decision that was quickly reversed when Governor Moore took office. Now, Governor Moore announced over $15 million in grants to continue increasing the number of trained medical professionals, as well as supporting clinics’ non-service operations. I’m proud to partner with an Administration that supports an individual’s right to choose while ensuring access to safe and professional care when needed.

The Maryland General Assembly set some of the boldest targets for greenhouse gas reductions in the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. We are continuing to take important steps towards reducing emissions by 60% by 2031, a monumental task that will require public and private investments across every single economic sector.

I was pleased to see Governor Moore’s announcement last week detailing $90 million in funding for decarbonization efforts in our transportation and building sectors. Those two sectors account for an outsized amount of statewide greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, they will be some of the most expensive to decarbonize as we move towards zero-emission vehicles and retrofit buildings to reduce their carbon footprint.

Specifically, the proposed funding includes:

• $50 million for building decarbonization prioritizing hospitals, multifamily housing, and schools;
• $23 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure for low- and middle-income communities; and
• $17 million for electric school buses.

I was honored to join Maryland Citizens for the Arts last week at the 2024 Maryland Arts Day in Annapolis. The legislature has increased its commitment to our arts community through programs like the Maryland Arts Capital Grant Program, which is slated to receive another $3 million in the State’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. It's always a wonderful opportunity for the legislature to connect with the art community!

The Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations are advancing legislation that will protect homeowners, tenants, and heirs from losing their homes to tax sale. Bills have been introduced to remove owner-occupied homes from the City’s annual tax sale list, a practice that the legislature will likely codify this year.

Legislation to allow for MCB Real Estate’s plans for redeveloping the Inner Harbor after years of sitting mostly vacant has advanced through the Baltimore City Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee. Those bills still need to be approved by the full City Council, including a charter amendment that will need to be approved by voters in this November’s election.

Baltimore City is slated to purchase two hotels to support individuals experiencing homelessness. The plan will be funded with $18.4 million in federal dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act and will provide 132 rooms for vulnerable Baltimoreans.

If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact my office via email, bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us, or by phone, 410-841-3600.