Maryland’s 2019 Legislative Session Begins

When the 2019 Legislative Session in Maryland begins at noon today (January 9, 2019) it will bring in the beginning of four years of change. There will be 17 new Senators, a few moving to the Senate after being delegates, and 43 new House Delegates. In the 36th District it’ll be mostly business as usual, with Senator Steve Hershey and Delegates Steve Arentz (Queen Anne’s), Jeff Ghrist (Caroline) and Jay Jacobs (Kent) the Delegation returning intact. Even with all of these changes the Eastern Shore legislaturers returns to the session with the exception being Mary Beth Carozza who was elected the new Maryland state senator in District 38, unseating incumbent Democrat Jim Mathias and Wayne Hartman replacing her in the House.

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce held their annual Pre-Legislative Breakfast on Monday Morning, January 7, 2019 at Heron Point in Chestertown. All four members of the delegation were in attendance to talk about the upcoming session. Three issues discussed were Labor Laws, Renewable Energy and Rural Health Care.

On Labor there are concerns about raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Not that they were totally against it, but while it may make sense in areas of the state, it can hurt business on the Eastern Shore and there could be different Minimum rages for different regions. There can be unseen consequences in these types of labor laws as well, such as a situation raised by Kent County Superintendent of Schools, Dr Karen Couch, regarding the Sick Leave Laws that was passed in 2017, vetoed by the Governor, but over turned at the beginning of the 2018 session. That law requires school systems to give sick leave to their part-time substitute teachers.

Renewable Energy is another issue that affects the residents of the Eastern Shore. There is a movement to increase solar to 14.5% of the state’s renewable energy. To do this would take around 45,000 acres, which is 3/4 the size of Baltimore City. Delegate Jeff Ghrist feels that determination should be made in the counties to how, where and how much through local zoning and comprehensive plans.

Health Care has been an issue on the Eastern Shore for years. Whether it’s through emergency care, the opioid crisis or Mental Health there are concerns here on the shore.

All of these are sure to be part of the legislature discussions.