Senator Bailey presented three legislative bond initiatives to be considered by the General Assembly this session for projects in District 29. These bond initiatives are requests for funding local projects in the State’s Capital Budget. On Saturday, Senator Bailey presented a bond initiative he has sponsored for the Calvert Marine Museum. If included in the Budget, it would go towards the construction of site work for a new paleontology center on the Museum’s grounds. Senator Bailey was joined by Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., who also represents Calvert County, and Museum Director Jeff Murray to support this request and the work of the Calvert Marine Museum.
On Monday, Senator Bailey presented two more bond initiatives for projects in St. Mary’s County. One request is for funding for to replace the stadium field press box at Chopticon High School. Joining Senator Bailey to testify in favor of this funding were St. Mary’s County Superintendent Dr. Scott Smith and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeff Walker. The second bond initiative was for Historic Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood. If granted, this funding would be used for their ongoing preservation work and to address improvements needed to the historic site. Senator Bailey presented this request with Nancy Easterling, Executive Director of Historic Sotterley.
This afternoon, Senator Bailey’s committee began reviewing the Kirwan legislation as it passed the House of Delegates late last week. The bill has been amended by House; however, these amendments do not address the serious fiscal concerns caused by the bill’s projected cost nor does it identify how this significant increase in spending will be paid for.
Later in the day, Senator Bailey introduced two more constituents who are being considered by the Senate’s Executive Nominations Committee: Karen Christy Holt Chesser, who has been re-appointed as a Judge on the St. Mary’s County District Court, and Kenneth Abell, who has been nominated to serve on the College of Southern Maryland Board of Trustees.
Late last week, a bill was defeated in Senator Bailey’s committee that would have placed significant limitations on the right to farm hemp in Maryland. Senate Bill 964 would have prohibited hemp farms within two miles of a residential community with 10 or more residences. Senator Bailey heard from many constituents and members of the agricultural community who were concerned about this legislation and voted against this bill.