“The best way out is always through.”
– Robert Frost
March 27, 2020
Dear Friend,
Thank you for the honor of serving you in the Maryland Senate. I have always done my level-best to give back to the community that has given so much to me. Together we can work to ensure more Marylanders are given the opportunity to fulfill their greatest potential. Although the Maryland General Assembly took the extraordinary step of adjourning early amidst the evolving Coronavirus pandemic, I want to provide you with an overview of our work in committee and at-large.
This was my first session as chair of the Judicial Proceeding Committee and as I have had a few days to reflect I am extremely proud of the work we did in committee. I am equally as anxious to get back to work on some of the major issues we did not have time to address during the truncated 441st legislative session.
In the interim, please stay in close touch. My office remains operational and we are here to assist you. While I won’t be taking in-person meetings during this time of social distancing I remain accessible via social media, phone, or via Zoom! If you need assistance with an issue or would like to discuss legislation please feel free to reach out to my office.
PROGRESS IN THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE:
Although our legislative session was cut short and so much more remains to be done, our committee has a lot to be proud of. Working together we helped to decriminalize poverty, developed smart policies aimed at reducing crime, equipped returning citizens with more tools to succeed, moved the needle on domestic violence prevention, protected our immigrant population, and expanded civil rights protections.
Unfortunately, a number of the progressive measures that made it out of our committee failed to cross the finish line in both chambers. And while a number of these bills won’t get signed into law this year, passage our of our committee marks significant progress and represents the hard work of so many talented advocates and legislators.
MAJOR LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES:
Balanced Budget: Our budget reflects our values and for yet another year, the budget passed by the Maryland General Assembly reinforces our fundamental beliefs. The FY21 operations budget (SB190) passed in a bipartisan fashion this Session solves a $37 million structural deficit left by the Governor while making critical investments in programs like Medicaid, COVID-19 response, our K-12 education system, Maryland’s higher education institutions, and our tireless state employees who make daily operations possible. The budget passed with over $250 million as cash balance, and a 6% Rainy Day Fund balance, ensuring the state’s finances are in the best position possible to handle any potential financial crisis related to the COVID-19 health emergency.
This year’s budget will also include:
- A record $7+ billion in total public education funding including higher funding for special education services, teacher salaries, pre-K services for low income families, tutoring services for elementary school students who need help to get caught up to their peers, and additional funding for schools in areas with concentrated poverty
- Over $300 million for school construction, which will help build schools in every corner of our state, in addition to the Built to Lean Act
- Over $350 million in community college funding
- Nearly $6.6 billion in higher education funding
- A cap on in-state college tuition increases, guaranteeing that tuition does not go up by more than 2%
- More than $11.8 billion for the state’s Medicaid program
- $9.5 billion sent to local jurisdictions for aid to local governments
- $160 million to fight the COVID-19 virus
- A 4% increase for behavioral and mental health providers
- A 4% increase for providers serving the developmentally disabled
- $1.9 billion for public safety in our communities, including needed funds in Baltimore for technological and other upgrades for policing
- $2.4 billion spent on transportation projects across Maryland
COVID-19 Emergency Package (SB1079 and SB1080): The Maryland General Assembly has worked in lockstep with Governor Hogan as the State responds to the unprecedented public health and economic emergency posed by the spread of COVID-19. Senate Bills 1079 and 1080, as well as House Bills 732 and 932 will provide Governor Hogan’s Administration with over $240 million to support Marylanders through this crisis. This legislation also authorized the Governor to require the State to cover the costs of COVID-19 tests, established telehealth protocols to facilitate the treatment of COVID-19, and authorized unemployment benefits for individuals whose employment is impacted from the health emergency.
Blueprint for Maryland’s Future: After three years of intense research and building consensus around recommendations to transform Maryland’s public education to become a world-class system, the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations passed the Maryland General Assembly. The funding and policy codified in HB1300 passed with a bipartisan vote of 37-9 in the Senate and fulfills the Maryland General Assembly’s constitutional responsibility of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education. This investment in Maryland’s children will help to close the achievement gap and ensure our students graduate college and career ready to compete in a 21st century economy.
Built to Learn Act: The buildings and environments our students learn in can be equally as important as the instruction that happens in the classroom. There are school buildings that need to be renovated, or replaced to meet 21st century standards in every single Maryland jurisdiction. That is why the General Assembly passed House Bill 1, the Built to Learn Act, to invest $2.2 billion in school construction. This funding will go to schools and jurisdictions with the greatest need, while also providing aid in every single part of the state.
Historic Funding for HBCUs: One of the most important issues coming into this Legislative Session was supporting Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These institutions play a vital role in our state, preparing generations of students as they have made invaluable contributions to our state’s history and economy. House Bill 1260 will provide Maryland’s HBCUs with $577 million over the next ten years, distributed based on each institution’s enrollment, if the litigation that has been pending for over a decade is finally settled.
Closing the Wage Gap: Maryland faces an urgent problem when African American women in Maryland are paid only 69 cents on the dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men and Latinas are paid only 46 cents. Senate Bill 217 recognizes that salary history is not an objective or accurate measure by which to set pay or evaluate an applicant. This is especially true for those who temporarily leave the job market to care for children/parents, or those transitioning from the public to private sectors. By banning questions on wage history and allowing applicants to ask for the salary range of a position, the playing field will be leveled as the hiring process moves forward. Equally as importantly, this effort will support businesses in attracting and retaining a diverse workforce.
Protecting the ACA: With the continued attacks against the Affordable Care Act at the federal level, it is incumbent on states like Maryland to defend our residents’ access to affordable healthcare. Our State has made great strides in ensuring more people have health insurance, and it is critical, especially in times of public health crises, to continue that expansion. In the case that the ACA is struck down by federal courts, Senate Bills 124 and 872 will help to answer the question around if a statewide insurance market is viable to maintain the hard-fought progress Maryland has made.
Prescription Drug Affordability Board: The Maryland General Assembly created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board in the 2019 Legislative Session to study how Maryland can effectively lower the cost of prescription drugs for our residents. As the Board’s work is getting off the ground, the General Assembly renewed efforts to reduce the burgeoning cost of lifesaving medication by infusing the board with necessary resources to get the job done.
Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform: The General Assembly is doing everything it can to demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and principled behavior. House Bill 1222 provides funding to the State Board of Elections’ to hire staff to enforce campaign finance violations and ensure compliance with campaign finance law. In addition, the Senate passed SB970, which would have increased penalties and increased transparency on interactions between lobbyists and lawmakers. Unfortunately, the bill did not cross the finish line in the House by the end of the shortened session. Finally, HB315 passed, which will increase penalties for bribery and expands lobbying prohibitions on former cabinet Secretaries.
Absentee Voting: With at least one Special General Election for the 7th Congressional District seat planned for April 28th as a complete Mail-In election, the Legislature took strong actions in clarifying the terminology around Mail-In Ballots (changing from the term “Absentee”) and requiring all ballots to be pre-paid to ensure all Marylanders can fully participate in their Democracy.
State Employee Accommodations on Pregnancy & Childbirth: State Government must continue to lead by example. SB225 requires that state government employers in all branches of government provide reasonable accommodations to employees who have restrictions or temporary disabilities for pregnancy or childbirth related causes, and makes certain that an employee cannot be required to take leave if such an accommodation occurs.
Renewable Energy Development & Siting: A result of the Governor’s Task Force on Renewable Energy Development and Siting, SB 281 will establish a fee waiver for participating in the state’s Voluntary Cleanup Program by building a facility on a brownfield site. The bill also creates a franchise tax exemption for public-private partnership facilities if at least 30% of the energy is bought by the public partner, and is built on a rooftop, parking lot, landfill, or other distressed site. This legislation will increase the locations for clean energy around the state.
SENATORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
Each year, I am honored to award scholarships to students from the 20th District who are heading to college or graduate school in Maryland. (If you’re not sure if you reside in the 20th district, you can go to www.mdelect.net to check.) I’m pleased to say that my scholarship application is now open!
Please find instructions and detailed information about applying for a scholarship through my office here. The scholarship application is required to be completed and returned with all the required documentation to my office by April 1, 2020. However, because of COVID-19, our office will accept and consider applications submitted after April 1, 2020. Funds will be applied to the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters.
Rylie Shewbridge returned to Team Smith this session as Legislative Director. Rylie had previously served as Legislative Aide in the 2017 and 2018 sessions. She played an integral role on our team and we are very happy to have her on board for the 2020 session.
Noah Karn continues to serve as our District Director. As a District 20 native, Noah works to provide the best constituent services possible to D20 constituents. If you are in need of assistance, please feel free to reach out to Noah at info@willsmithformaryland.com.
Esther Dikongue continues to serve as Legislative Aide. Esther is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in communications, a minor in rhetoric, and a certificate in women’s studies.
Ny’esha Young and Colleen Herrmann joined our office as legislative interns for the 2020 session. Ny’esha is a senior at Towson University and Colleen is a Junior at the University of Maryland, College Park. We wish them the best as they begin their careers in public service.
Luke Pinton continues to serve as my Chief of Staff. Luke focuses on supporting our legislative agenda, providing effective and prompt constituent service, and managing the senate office in Annapolis. If you need to contact Luke directly, you can reach him at luke@willsmithformaryland.com.
Again, let’s please stay in touch via social media during this time of social distancing.
All the best,
Will
William C. Smith, Jr.
Maryland State Senator (District 20)