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2024 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Nine: Carozza Bills Moving Through the Senate, EEE Bill Hearings, Locals in Annapolis, and a Sneak Preview
| ACTION ON BILLS IN BUDGET & TAXATION COMMITTEE | |
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted unanimously in favor of my Senate Bill 897 on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to relieve the tax liability on the death benefits of the families of first responders who died in the line of duty. Death benefits paid to the families of our fallen heroes are intended to relieve the immediate financial burden caused by their loss.
On the evening of June 12, 2022, Corporal Glenn Hilliard, a 16-year veteran of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed in the line of duty by a suspect who was wanted on multiple felony warrants. One June 14, 2022, the Wicomico County Council, pursuant to a Collective Bargaining Agreement, authorized payment of a death benefit to his spouse in the amount of $500,000. In the process of preparing the 2022 tax return, Mrs. Hilliard learned that the death benefit had to be reported as taxable income resulting in a $182,000 tax liability.
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“Corporal Glenn Hilliard served Wicomico County and Maryland with integrity and was taken from his wife, his three children, and his community way too soon due to the evil actions of a violent criminal. This legislation would ensure that the families of these fallen heroes receive these full death benefits as intended, and the legislation is retroactive to ensure that the Hilliard family are relieved from paying taxes on these needed death benefits.”
Tashica Hilliard, the widow of Corporal Glenn Hilliard, and Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis gave powerful testimony during the hearing on February 21st. (above)
“I want to thank Sheriff Lewis, County Executive Julie Giordano, and the County Council for ensuring the Hilliard family received the $500,000 death benefit check in swift fashion, and I especially want to recognize and thank Tashica Hilliard for her leadership in advocating for all the families of Maryland’s fallen heroes. She continues to inspire us all.”
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TWO SOMERSET COUNTY BILLS
IN BUDGET AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
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The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee also voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 763 and Senate Bill 829, both priority legislation for Somerset County. SB 763 would authorize the Somerset County Commissioners to sell in whole or in part Somerset County Industrial Park located on Revells Neck Road under terms agreed to by the Somerset County Commissioners. SB 829 would allow the Somerset County Commissioners to allocate the appropriate funding for Somerset County’s volunteer fire companies from fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2030.
| EEE HEARINGS HELD ON TWO OF MY BILLS | |
Together with Andrew Cassilly, Vice President of Bioenergy Devco; and Dr. Stephanie Lansing, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland we testified in strong support of my Senate Bill 808 on Tuesday. This legislation would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other State agencies, to ensure anaerobic digestion projects are not unduly delayed and to establish guidance for farmers regarding the development and implementation of anaerobic digestion technology.
“Anaerobic digestion is hugely beneficial to our farmers with their waste management systems and allows farms to be more energy independent. Anaerobic digestion can destroy more than 90 percent of disease-causing bacteria, helps keep the soil healthy, and protects local water resources by reducing nutrient run-off.”
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Anaerobic digestion is a process through which bacteria breaks down organic matter, such as animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food wastes. This process creates a product known as biogas, and when purified, biogas is a renewable energy that can be used to provide heat, generate electricity, fuel our vehicles, and create other energy products.
As an example, Millennium Farms is a 50-acre farm in Pocomoke with an anaerobic digester facility that has been in operation since 2017. This facility converts 1,200 tons of poultry litter from the farm into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner sold under the brand name Element Soil. The operating company intends to work on various agricultural-related projects in cooperation with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
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Together with Director of Somerset County Emergency Services Yvette Cross (right) and Assistant Director, Gary Powell (left) we testified in strong support of SB 807 on Thursday. This legislation would authorize the Somerset County Commissioners to establish an Emergency Services Advisory Council to provide the County Commissioners with recommendations regarding the operations of fire suppression, emergency medical, and hazardous materials services in the county. The full committee passed SB807 unanimously on Friday.
“We want to empower our locals to support our fire, rescue, and emergency medical services in providing needed emergency services for both our residents and visitors alike. Fourteen other counties and Baltimore City have similar organizations.”
| JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE HEARD TWO OF MY BILLS | |
The Ocean City Recreation Vehicle Show Promoter Rich Hutchins, the OC RV Show Social Media Manager Jen Evans, Matt Libber with the Maryland Tourism Coalition and I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 976, which is a simple clarifying bill that streamlines the law to make clear all new Maryland recreational vehicle dealers are allowed to participate in more than two annual vehicle shows each year. ( Pictured left to right)
“The success of the inaugural OC RV Show, which was held October 12 through October 15 and attracted over 7,500 visitors from across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, underscores the value this event brings to Maryland’s Coast and the entire State of Maryland.”
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I also testified in strong support of Senate Bill 961, which would prohibit a person from standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle within Wicomico County.
“Solicitations in roadways have become an increasing public safety issue in Wicomico County. There have been instances where the solicitors placed themselves directly in front of an oncoming vehicle, and situations where students are placing themselves in danger by fundraising from the median strip.”
SB 961 is supported by Wicomico County Public Schools, the Wicomico County Council, the Salisbury Police Department and Wicomico Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Salisbury.
| HEARING HELD ON OFFSHORE WIND LEGISLATION | |
The Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee heard Senate Bill 814 on Thursday, which would alter the definition of a “qualified offshore wind project” to enable projects to interconnect to the grid even if that interconnection is not on the Delmarva Peninsula.
During the hearing, Senator Carozza highlighted that since 2010 Ocean City has expressed deep concerns regarding the proposed offshore wind projects, and since that time, the turbines have continued to increase in size to the point where the turbines would be four times the height of the tallest building in Ocean City.
I thoroughly questioned the panel of witnesses on SB 814. “Under the current definition, the distance from shore considered ‘adequate’ is 10 miles. Since we’re discussing changing the definition, shouldn’t the fact that we’ve had these dramatic increases to the size of the turbines be justification to change the minimum distance from 10 miles to 30 miles?”
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I then held up the OC Today-Dispatch publication (above) from March 1st, and said “When I went home this past weekend, this is the article that was running in all my local newspapers: ‘US Wind’ wants OC’s Harbor!’” The local paper highlighted U.S. Wind’s proposed operating and maintenance facility to support its proposed wind energy industrialization project that would be located as close as 11 miles off Maryland’s Coast.
“We just now are learning about this major operations and maintenance facility in the heart of the West Ocean City Harbor and it would have a significant impact on my constituents. In the spirit of transparency, shouldn’t the definition also include any major onshore facilities that support these projects?”
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When the panel was unable to answer, I continued to my third question. “During the testimony last year, the Mayor of Ocean City urged this Committee to investigate the consequences of the cable landfalls on Block Island, a project that proponents of offshore wind energy continually reference as a positive model for this type of development. However, underground high voltage electric cables were installed so poorly that in less than a year they were exposed on the beach. This resulted in beach closures, power outages, shutting down production from the offshore wind factory, and cable repairs that took over five years and cost Rhode Island utility customers $31 million. Shouldn’t the definition also include greater specificity to ensure safety from hazards like this to the community?”
A public hearing on the West Ocean City Harbor project is scheduled for March 25th at 5:30pm at Wor-Wic Community College-Fulton-Owen Hall. Members of the community are encouraged to attend.
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LOCAL IN ANNAPOLIS THIS WEEK | |
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It was great to welcome so many friends and visitors to Annapolis for the Federation of Republican Women's Red Scarf Day. Pictured below from my district were (left to right top row) Kelly Kennan, Jana Hobbs, Susan DuPont, and Jan Kolesky, and (bottom row left to right)
Judith Kennan, Wendy Anspacher, myself, Sandy Zitzer, and Mary Adair.
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Waving from the gallery for Red Scarf Day
were:
Wendy Anspacher (above right)
and Kelly Kennan (left) from Salisbury
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It is always exciting to introduce the special visitors in the Gallery. ( above)
Other locals visiting were Mark Crooper of Ocean City; Larry Walton of Ocean City; Captain C.L. Marshall of Pocomoke; Dr. Sherry Maykrantz, Professor Kwonchan Jeon, and students Tyler Hammer, Kaleb Lowman, Emma Schlutt, and Julia Zaappacosta of Salisbury University.
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The Maryland General Assembly Crossover Deadline is Monday, March 18th as the Floor schedule and committee schedules for both the Senate and House of Delegates dramatically pick up to pass bills and cross over to the other respective chamber. After March 18th if a bill passes the Senate, it would have to pass an additional hurdle of passing out of the House Rules Committee before being sent to the appropriate House committee, and vice versa for the House of Delegates. “Buckle up!”
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LAST CALL - JOIN THE FUN! | |
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A sure sign of Spring, next Saturday 3-16 at noon in Ocean City is the Delmarva Irish-American Club St. Patrick's Day Parade. Team Carozza will be there and we hope to see you there too! It's not too late for YOU to join us in the parade. Just reply to this e-blast.
May your St. Patrick’s Day be filled with laughter, good company, and a touch of Irish magic! 🍀🌈
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RADIO INTERVIEWS
On Monday, March 11th at 8:30 am, I will be discussing Offshore Wind in Ocean City with C4 on WBAL 101.5 FM
Tuesday, March 12th at 7:05 am, and Thursday, March 21st at 8:20 am, you can find me on WGMD Talk Radio 92.7 FM and 98.5 FM with Mike Bradley
I will be a guest on the Rude Awakening Show with Bulldog, Coach, The Dude, and Marla on Monday, April 15th at 8:00 am on WOCM 98.1 FM radio.
(use the WGMD link below for live streaming).
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STAY INVOLVED
We welcome your visit to Annapolis and encourage you to follow the fast pace of legislation by signing on to the General Assembly Website where you can find useful information. At the bottom of the page, click on video tutorials for full descriptions. Below is a link to the site.
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By Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, James R. Bergey, Jr., CPA, Treasurer | | | | |
