The
8th week of the 436th Maryland General Assembly was busy and we know the pace will continue to quicken until the last day of the session on April 11th, which is called “Sine Die”. Over the past week we continued to hear more bills pertaining to farming and transportation. Friday, the Eastern Shore Delegation voted to send a letter to advocate for our farmers. This coming week, two of the bills I have submitted will be heard in committee:
HB1395- which is a bill to revisit the formula of
Disparity Grant and
HB1315 a bill that would exempt nonprofit organizations that benefit veterans from collecting sales tax on the merchandise they sell.
(Shore farmer Lee Richardson testifying against the Farmers' Rights Act.)
This session we continue to oppose bills that would harm the agriculture community on the Shore and this week we heard
HB1496, the
“Farmers’ Rights Act”. Like
HB599, the
Poultry Litter Management Act (PLMA), we discussed in the newsletter last week, this bill would insert the state government into farm contracts. Also like the PLMA, the bill sponsor did not ask any farmers for input on the legislation while it was being drafted. After a robust hearing, we are cautiously optimistic that the bill will receive an unfavorable report and not go forward.
This week we also heard testimony on
HB1010, the
“Maryland Transit Administration Oversight and Planning Board” bill. WBOC called me when this bill, along with several other transportation bills, were introduced a few weeks ago. Our office gave them a statement that is a part of
this news report. Recently, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Shuh told the
Capital Gazette newspaper that the bill,
“will bog down our transportation projects with unneeded inefficiency and bureaucracy”, to which their editorial board responded,
“That’s about right”. While I believe that the bill is well intentioned, we simply do not need another layer of government that could come between the voices of our citizens, their local elected officials, and the Maryland Transit Administration.
The Eastern Shore Delegation is a bipartisan body of Shore Delegates and Senators that meets every Friday in Annapolis. This week we hosted environmental groups. In response to several bills that many of the groups supported, the Delegation unanimously passed a resolution requesting them to send a letter to committees to withdraw all bills targeting farmers and the poultry community. We to continue to stress that farmers are some of the greatest stewards of the environment.
This coming week two of our bills will be heard in committee.
The first is
HB1395, which addresses the formula for
Disparity Grants. This bill would revisit the way the state funds the grants. The result would mean an increase in state aid to Wicomico County by $1 million in 2018 and $2 million in 2019. The bill is co-sponsored locally by Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes, who also represents Wicomico County. It will be heard in the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.
The other is
HB1315, which is a bill that would allow nonprofit organizations that benefit veterans to sell merchandise without charging a sales tax. The organization would have to give 88% of those sales to assist veterans. Maryland is home to some wonderful nonprofits who help our military personnel and our veterans. Locally, we are blessed to have
Operation We Care. This bill would allow them, and similar nonprofit organizations, to sell merchandise without collecting a sales tax. The legislation is a great way to encourage more sales, which would allow them to make a larger impact. It will be heard in the Ways and Means Committee on Friday.
Keeping in constant communication with a perpetually open door is our way of#makingithappen. By working together we get things done both in Wicomico County and Annapolis. We will continue to advocate for the Eastern Shore, poultry farmers, and our Shore way of life. Thank you for your support. I appreciate that you have taken the time to read our newsletter. Please contact our office with any ideas, issues, or concerns that you have. We’re here to work for you.
Blessed to be your voice in Annapolis,
Carl
Contact information:
Phone: 410-841-3431
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