Back In Session

As Maryland’s 2023 legislative session got underway on January 11, many new faces filled the Maryland State House in Annapolis. Maryland has a new governor, Democrat Wes Moore, and many first-time legislators.

The Senate and House of Delegates have 90 days to discuss laws that could make the state better and to prepare for a possible recession.

Legislators for Severna Park, Arnold and Millersville are working on a slew of bills — focusing on everything from veterans’ pensions and riparian rights to funding for the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.

Health And Public Safety

Delegate Heather Bagnall, a Democrat from District 33C, will serve as chair of the Anne Arundel County delegation. She and her fellow delegates on the health and government operations committee have been tasked with establishing a four-year plan for a coordinated behavioral health system.

With another bill, she wants to streamline the process for clinical psychologists to get a license without needing a second doctorate degree.

“They have the training, and we have a huge workforce deficit,” Bagnall said.

This year’s General Assembly session will renew discussion of legislation passed last year, such as recreational cannabis and paid family and medical leave.

The Time to Care Act of 2022 established a program and fund to provide up to 12 weeks of benefits to covered individuals taking leave from employment due to personal or family circumstances. Employers and employees would split the cost.

Senator Dawn Gile, a Democrat from District 33, explained why that law will help many families like hers.

“My husband recently retired after 24 years in the Army,” Gile said. “We had three kids … and it was important to keep our family in the workforce.”

Also passed in 2022, the Abortion Care Access Act earmarked $3.5 million annually to train clinicians for abortion procedures. Not everyone was happy with that result.

“Everyone should be able to make their own decision and pay for that decision,” said Brian Chisholm, a Republican from District 31.

Reproductive rights will likely be a hot topic again this session. After lawmakers adjourned last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion.

Bagnall and other Democrats are hoping to protect that right and prevent other states from dictating the care of Marylanders.

“Access in the law doesn’t mean we have access to resources,” Bagnall said. “We need to ensure the state right to reproductive care is enshrined, codified and put to the voters.”

The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled that New York’s concealed carry restrictions were unconstitutional, paving the way for former Governor Larry Hogan to ease Maryland’s restrictions, which previously granted concealed licenses only to those who had a “good and substantial reason” for carrying a firearm.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 648 mass shootings nationwide in 2022. With that in mind, Bagnall wants to find a solution that enables civilians to feel safe in public spaces but does not step on people’s constitutional rights.

Education

The legislature continues to grapple with how to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a bill enacted in 2021 to re-establish Maryland as one of the nation’s best states for education. The “blueprint” has a $3.8 billion annual price tag over 10 years.

A 182-page Blueprint Comprehensive Implementation Plan was released in December. The Anne Arundel County Board of Education, and boards that represent other jurisdictions, have been meeting to discuss that plan and how resources should be allocated.

“We will have an evaluation through certain benchmarks — have we achieved our goals? Are we keeping up with the need for new construction? Is there a population we missed?” Bagnall said. “I know there has been discussion about how we can better integrate support staff. I’m optimistic about where we are and the work that still needs to be done.”

Chisholm is concerned about the cost.

“The Kirwan Commission might have had good intentions, but what historical data do they have to show this will work and how are they going to pay for it when government programs spin out of control?” he said.

Gile sees school capacity as another problem that needs to be addressed.

“When you look at Anne Arundel County, a lot of the growth hasn’t kept up with the buildings,” she said. “Schools are overcapacity. That’s a major problem. For preschool, we just don’t have the space. We need the infrastructure.”

Chisholm plans to introduce a bill to extend the service of county school buses from 12 years to 15 years. Legislators are also faced with the continued bus driver shortage. Gile suggested that employee raises may need to be considered. Chisholm has other thoughts.

“I think one of the most enticing things we can do for bus drivers is to make them feel safer,” he said. “I know many of them felt threatened with unruly students, not much in Anne Arundel County, but other areas have dealt with fights on buses.”

The Environment And Traffic

The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 was a big win for environmentalists. Among other things, the bill increases the statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirement and requires the state to achieve net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Much work remains to clean up the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s latest State of the Bay report gave the watershed a D+ grade of 32. Of the 13 indicators assessed, three improved and three declined. “A big gain for oysters was tempered by a worrying drop for blue crabs, while pollution and habitat indicators showed only modest change,” the report said.

The foundation also noted that “sea level rise threatens almost 250,000 acres of tidal wetlands and coastal lands across the region.”

“We need to face the existential threat of sea level rise,” Gile said.

More specific to Anne Arundel County, Bagnall wants to address riparian rights and public water access through legislation.

Last year, Bagnall sponsored a bill to place speed monitoring systems on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard at the intersections of Cypress Creek Road and Brandywine Avenue. She is now working with the Maryland State Highway Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation to mitigate traffic without speed monitoring systems.

Tax Breaks And Business

Chisholm wants to help veterans by making their pensions tax-exempt.

“Our retirees can’t afford to stay in Maryland,” he said. “People come here and make decent money, and it’s horrible that men and women in uniform are forced away from their family and friends.”

Chisholm is trying to craft a bipartisan friendly bill, and he hopes for support from Governor Moore, who is pro-military.

The delegate also wants to empower employees who are forced to join unions.

“If you’re a private sector company, you can’t force an employee to join the union as a prerequisite for employment,” he said. “Employees should have the power to decide.”

Several members of the Anne Arundel delegation want to help small businesses.

“I have spoken with the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce and with many business owners about the permitting process,” Gile said. “I want to make sure there are no barriers for small-business owners to get started.”

Bond Bills And Other Notes

Capital projects are often funded through bond bills. Chisholm has requested bond bills to assist Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company in building a new station and to add a restroom to Northeast High School in between the baseball and softball fields and tennis courts.

“They need to build a new firehouse, and it’s a vital service for our community,” Chisholm said of Earleigh Heights.

Bagnall urged anyone with a bond bill request to contact her or other members of the Anne Arundel County delegation.

A Collaborative Session?

With a Democratic governor and a majority in the Senate and House of Delegates, Democrats have the numbers to pass their priorities. Chisholm said Republicans will need to find middle ground.

“I’ve always served under a veto-proof and supermajority with Governor [Larry] Hogan being a backstop,” Chisholm said. “If you look at Governor Wes Moore, he is very impressive, at least on paper. He’s a great speaker with an impressive resume. If he is one of the presidential hopefuls in two years, will he be more cautious about what goes through?”

Senator Bryan Simonaire, a Republican representing District 31, said he is also hopeful for a successful session, although he did not share specific details about legislation.

“I will continue to advocate for the people of Maryland to have lower taxes, safer communities, world-class education and an opportunity to succeed through hard work,” Simonaire said.

One of many lawmakers returning for a second term, Bagnall feels equipped to handle anything. The last legislature weathered an unprecedented four years that included the deaths of House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., the onset of the coronavirus, and an election during redistricting.

“Optimism is important,” Bagnall said. “Working in this arena can feel frustrating and grind you down. If you look at the long shadow of history, we have made incremental change whether it was women’s right to vote, the Social Security Act or affordable health care.”