October 2, 2024
Dear Neighbor,
Election Day is November 5. The ability to vote for our representatives is the foundation of a free society. It is critical not only to cast your ballot this year, but also to remind your friends and family to vote as well. I encourage you to vote however works best for you – either in-person on November 5, by voting early between October 24 and October 31, or by requesting and returning a mail-in ballot. More information about this year’s election from the State Board of Elections can be found at elections.maryland.gov.
I also wanted to share with you some additional information about bills that will be going into effect from this year’s legislative session. As of October 1, seven more of my sponsored bills, as well as two other local measures that I supported as a member of the Calvert County Delegation, are now law:
Senate Bill 7 – Public Safety – Law Enforcement Agencies – Positive Community Feedback requires police agencies to keep a record of positive feedback that the agencies receive about its officers and allow the release of that information under the Maryland Public Information Act. This would ensure that police departments and the public have access to the full picture of an officer’s record.
Senate Bill 130 – Criminal Law – Indecent Exposure Within the Presence of a Minor strengthens penalties for indecent exposure within the presence of a minor in Maryland. Previously, the penalty for all instances of indecent exposure was a maximum of 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000. Under this law, those penalties are now a maximum of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 in cases involving indecent exposure with prurient intent when a person knows or should know a minor is present.
Senate Bill 183 – State Procurement – Prompt Payment of Suppliers expands the State’s prompt payment statute to ensure that suppliers for State projects are compensated appropriately and quickly in the same manner as subcontractors. This bill was introduced following my discussions with owners of local businesses who were not paid for their work or materials on State projects in a timely manner as they deserve.
Senate Bill 207 – Natural Resources – Northern Snakehead – Common Name renames the snakehead as the “Chesapeake Channa” with the intention of making it easier to market to consumers. This is intended to increase demand and lead to a greater economic incentive for Marylanders to remove this invasive species from our waterways.
Senate Bill 316 – Motor Vehicle Registration – Exceptions for Golf Carts – Authorization gives local control to counties and municipalities to designate the roadways under their jurisdiction on which an individual may operate a golf cart. This authority has been a longstanding priority of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County.
Senate Bill 507 – Special Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License – Nonresidents – License Fee creates a separate Special Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License for applicants who are not residents of Maryland. The fee for this license is $100. This license was one of the few hunting and fishing licenses in Maryland for which the Department of Natural Resources charged the same fee to residents and nonresidents. This law resolves this inconsistency, while leaving the existing license fee unchanged for Maryland residents.
Senate Bill 712 – State-Owned Nursing Homes – Deficiencies, Citations, and Fines – Reporting Requirements revises last year’s legislation imposing reporting requirements on State-owned nursing homes, including Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. This bill is based on the recommendations of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that these reporting mechanisms align with the Department’s procedures in responding to reports of mistreatment of residents.
House Bill 766 – Calvert County – Roadside Solicitation of Money or Donations – Prohibition prohibits a person from standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations from the occupant of a vehicle in Calvert County.
House Bill 835 – Calvert County – Procurement – Local Preference authorizes the Calvert County Commissioners to enact an ordinance that establishes a preference for local businesses for procurement contracts to support Calvert County businesses.
The 2025 Legislative Session will begin on January 8, and I look forward to sharing my legislative agenda with you as we get closer to then. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or my office with any questions or concerns you may have with State government. Thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the Senate of Maryland.