Dear Ariana,

Today our District 16 team is finally complete with the addition of Delegate Sarah Wolek, who was sworn in this morning. She has been assigned to the Appropriation Committee in the House of Delegates. Congratulations to Sarah and her family!

District 16 residents will have the opportunity to get to know Sarah at our upcoming virtual End-of-Session Town Hall. I will share details for this event soon!

Board of Nursing Reform Passes!

My bill reforming the Maryland Board of Nursing (HB 611/SB 960) has passed third reading unanimously in both the House and the Senate, which means it's on it's way to the Governor's desk! This bill places the Board of Nursing (BoN) under the purview of the Department of Health so that more resources can fill vacancies and increase efficiency at the Board.

I've met with so many nurses and health care providers over the years who have urged us to address the critical failures of the BoN, and I'm thrilled that their advocacy has made a difference. You can read this Baltimore Banner article (Why it's hard to find a doctor in Maryland right now) about the impact the healthcare workforce shortage has on patients across Maryland. 

In even more exciting news, all four bills in the Reproductive Health Package have passed both Chambers!

As a reminder, these bills will:

• Put the Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom on the 2024 Ballot in Maryland.
• Ensure patients and clinicians in Maryland are protected from out of state criminal, civil and administrative penalties for providing or receiving legal reproductive healthcare in Maryland.
• Protect confidential health care data in Health Information Exchanges.
• Ensure 24/7 access to emergency contraception at colleges and Universities in Maryland and ensures referrals for other contraception and abortion services.

One exciting bill in this package which I sponsored (Higher Education Reproductive Health Services Plans HB 477) was the brainchild of Jakeya Johnson, a graduate student at Bowie State University who approached me last year about the lack of affordable and accessible reproductive services on her campus. Her inspiring work is highlighted in this Baltimore Banner article (How a Bowie State student’s project might expand reproductive health coverage statewide) please read it so you too can be inspired by Jakeya’s work!  

Finally, I was honored to be interviewed by The Pitch, the Walter Johnson High School newspaper. As an alum and current WJ parent, all I can say is "Let's Go Wildcats!" (of course, I love all our D16 high schools, and I am especially appreciative of Clea Bergman, our current high school intern who has become an essential team member this session!).

The next email you receive from me will be the end of session wrap up! As always, thank you for the privilege of representing you in Annapolis. 

Best,

Ariana

Meet Jakeya!



Jakeya Johnson is a graduate student at Bowie State University who has been working as part of my legislative team this session.

Jakeya’s led a student research project that highlighted a need to strengthen access to reproductive services on campuses across the state. This became HB477, a central component of our reproductive healthcare package! Read more about Jakeya's work in the Baltimore Banner.

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By Authority:  Friends of Ariana Kelly.  Rosalyn Levy Jonas, Chair.  Jennifer R.  Kefer, Treasurer.