Dear Neighbor,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with my legislative wrap-up for the 446th Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. It has been an immense privilege to serve as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Education and Economic Development Sub-Committee, where we worked tirelessly to improve the education systems in our state for residents and ensure our revenue streams have the support to continue growing.
In my first session serving as 2nd Vice of the Prince George's County House Delegation, I set out to foster collaboration amongst my colleagues to adequately address the needs of our community and ensure our legislative priorities were met. I am truly grateful for the trust and support bestowed upon me by my colleagues who saw me fit to serve in this capacity.
Throughout this session, we have accomplished significant strides in addressing the needs of Maryland families. Legislation touching on crucial issues such as juvenile justice, education, minority-owned small businesses, healthcare, climate change, and childhood poverty. I am proud of the collaborative efforts that have gone into crafting these bills, and I believe they will make a tangible difference in the lives of our constituents.
In particular, I am pleased to report that my office has been diligent in ensuring fair representation for Charles and Prince George's Counties in Annapolis. We have championed legislation aimed at supporting students in achieving their educational goals, expanding scholarship opportunities, and fostering outreach initiatives at our public higher education institutions.
Furthermore, my office has been proactive in preparing our counties to embrace technological innovation. Through our legislative efforts, Maryland will establish a committee dedicated to supporting emerging industries, particularly in aerospace technology. This will bolster economic development and position Maryland as a national leader in this critical sector.
Serving as your Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly continues to be a dream come true, and I am deeply committed to representing and serving our community to the best of my ability. As we reflect on our legislative accomplishments, I invite you to reach out to my office with any questions or comments. I eagerly anticipate continuing to serve you throughout the interim and during the 447th legislative session.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve our community, and I look forward to our continued work together.
My Legislation
My office introduced five pieces of legislation this session. Three of the five bills were assigned to the Appropriations Committee, while the other two were referred to the Ways & Means and Judiciary Committees. The legislation I introduced was my response to ensuring our communities are safer, more equitable, and fairer. Thanks to the support of advocates, the community, and my colleagues, all pieces of legislation have passed both the House and Senate Chambers and will be signed by the Governor.
While funding from the Community College Promise Scholarship has existed to fund educational opportunities for credit students, students seeking registered apprenticeship programs or non-credit courses have had difficulty securing funding. With the passage of HB607/ SB1141 – Community Colleges - Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship - Requirements, eligibility for the scholarship will be expanded. This scholarship will now include non-credit, certificate, or registered apprenticeship programs, offering individuals greater access to workforce preparation and eliminating barriers to financial aid. It's a step forward in promoting career advancement and education accessibility. With more students having access to these programs, we can expect these industries to grow and further support Maryland’s economic development.
All students deserve access to a high-quality post-secondary education that’s why I introduced HB678 – Public Higher Education - Communities of Interest - Targeted Recruitment and Outreach Efforts. The bill ensures programs and initiatives are available for outreach to underrepresented groups. By defining “communities of interest,” this bill focuses on creating a pipeline for first generation college students and those in certain geographic areas.
I introduced HB1390 – Public Schools - Public School Construction - Funding and Administration because K through 12 education is an important priority for me. This bill will extend the deadline on existing grant legislation for school security; makes changes to various school construction programs; establishes a new Workgroup on the Assessment and Funding of School Facilities; and clarifies the intent of the General Assembly related to funding for the public school construction program. With the passage of this legislation, public school systems across Maryland will have the resources and opportunity to use money from the School Safety Grant Program to purchase school safety equipment for a thriving learning environment to ensure that all students are successful and every child will have a safe environment to learn and play.
As we all know, eviction proceedings often stem from the inability of tenants to meet their rental obligations, which is frequently tied to unemployment or underemployment. By recognizing this correlation and taking proactive measures to intervene, we have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of those most vulnerable to housing instability with HB372/ SB354 – Montgomery County and Prince George's County - Rent Court Workforce Solutions Pilot Program. This program strategically places workforce professionals within the courthouse environment to ensure individuals facing eviction have direct access to the resources and support necessary to overcome their employment challenges.
My final bill looks at the future of Maryland’s economy. HB685/ SB516 – Economic Development - Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission, creates a Maryland Aerospace Technology Commission to promote space exploration and commercial aerospace opportunities including the integration of space, aeronautics, and aviation industries into the economy of the State. This commission has the potential to maintain and further Maryland’s leading position within the aerospace industry, showcasing the state's dedication to technological advancement and economic development.
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
The FY25 Budget reflects our values. Maryland is facing tough fiscal realities, specifically for our transportation, public education, and hospital trauma systems. The FY25 Budget package proves that we are ready and willing to meet these challenges and invest in our future.
The House & Senate have carefully constructed a targeted budget and revenues package that will begin to address our long-term funding issues.
The Blueprint is now funded thru FY27 by assigning tobacco tax revenue to the Blueprint Fund.
These sources of revenue will allow us to uphold the commitments we have made to educators and students in the Blueprint, including:
Keeping the promises we made to 3- and 4-year-old children in our Pre-K programs;
Improving reading proficiency;
Recruiting more highly qualified and diverse teachers; and
Supporting community schools, students with special needs, and English language learners.
The Budget also adjusts the Tier II Pre-K income eligibility schedule. Savings from this adjustment will be reinvested to significantly increase the per pupil full-day Pre-K amount.
This additional funding will further incentivize providers to start Pre-K programs and more adequately compensate existing Pre-K providers.
The FY25 Budget also includes $330 million in revenue to support our transportation system. This funding will be used for:
Local roads and bridges, through highway user revenues;
Locally operated transit systems;
MTA operations and safety;
SHA highway, road, and bridge construction projects and system preservation;
Continued planning for future projects, such as the Red Line and other significant transportation projects; and
Costs related to shifting roadwork on I-695 or any other State road project to nighttime to minimize traffic impacts following the collapse of the Key Bridge.
Additionally, the House and Senate have agreed to work in partnership over the interim on other approaches to fund our transportation system through the TRAIN Commission.
The FY25 Budget also protects critical investments in child care. For at least the next year, families will continue to pay nearly nothing in copay assistance, and there will be no possibility of enrollment freezes in the child care scholarship program.
Finally, the FY25 Budget provides $105 million in additional funding to support Maryland’s trauma system. This funding will ensure that Marylanders will be able to receive rapid and effective treatment long into the future.
Moving Maryland Forward
This session we’ve worked hard to ensure local communities have a say in building strong foundations to prevent and end child poverty. With proactive legislation like HB694/ SB482 –The Governor's Office for Children - Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households (ENOUGH) Grant Program (ENOUGH Act of 2024), we will eliminate child poverty in Maryland.
By proposing HB693/ SB481– the Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 Governor Moore has asked the state to increase the cost of court filings needed to evict a tenant. The legislation also gives renters the right of first refusal in the event a landlord wishes to sell his property. These measures protect Maryland renters and prevent unfair rental practices from occurring. Renter protections continue to be a major priority for my office.
Part of ensuring our communities are safe is supporting young people. This session, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation on Juvenile Justice to address the needs of our young people. HB814/ SB744 – Juvenile Law - Reform, introduces significant reforms regarding juvenile justice in Maryland. It expands the membership and responsibilities of the Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging and Best Practices, requiring it to begin its work in June 2024, with a focus on reviewing all aspects of juvenile services programs in the state. The bill also mandates that certain offenses, such as possession of firearms and animal torture, bring 10- to 12-year-olds under juvenile court jurisdiction, along with requiring faster intake decisions by the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS). Additionally, HB814 addresses detentions for serious violations and provides extended rehabilitation programming for delinquent juveniles. Furthermore, it mandates alternative schooling options for juvenile sex offenders and enhances law enforcement reporting requirements to improve data collection on police encounters with children. Overall, this legislation is an effort to make our communities safer by ensuring young people are held accountable and have the resources they need for rehabilitation.
There has been no hesitation with the passage of HB026/ SB215 – Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account - Alterations. This legislation represents a significant step forward in supporting small, minority, and women-owned businesses in our community. With these alterations, individuals eligible to receive grants from the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account will now have the opportunity to receive grants of up to $10,000 in conjunction with a loan. This increased financial support will undoubtedly bolster the growth and success of these vital businesses, fostering economic prosperity and empowerment within our community.
The Maryland General Assembly has also worked to protect the rights of cannabis users. SB0348 – Firearms - Right to Purchase, Own, Possess, and Carry, specifically works to protect the right of cannabis users to own, possess, and carry a firearm. With this legislation, a medical cannabis user cannot be discriminated against for owning a firearm.
Improving Our District
I’m proud to stand behind legislation that will make a real difference in our community. Thanks to the hard work of the Charles, Prince George’s, and Southern Maryland Delegations, numerous pieces of legislation are headed to the governor’s desk for signing. Here are some of the bills that will specifically affect our district:
HB358/ SB151 – Prince George's County - Workgroup on Health and Wellness PG 409-24, promotes healthy practices and habits in Prince George’s County by establishing a workgroup to evaluate health and wellness practices, programs, services, and resources. Based on the report, recommendations will be made to better and improve the health and wellness programming in Prince George’s County.
HB0376 – Study on the Feasibility of Relocating the Prince George's County Public School System Headquarters PG 501-24, will initiate a study into the feasibility of relocating the Prince George’s County Public School System Headquarters. The report will be completed by December 31st, 2024, and will provide stakeholders with an insight into the steps needed to relocate the headquarters.
In lieu of a sales tax, HB389/ SB514 – Prince George's County - Taxes on Telecommunications Services - Use of Revenue PG 406-24 proposed an excise tax for the purposes of education funding. This legislation will ensure that this tax keeps the money exclusively focused on education.
HB396 – Prince George's County - Sales and Use Tax on Energy and Fuel - Use of Revenue PG 407-24 allows the revenue generated from sales and use tax on energy in Prince George's County to be used for meeting education funding requirements, while removing the requirement for the county to allocate a specific amount of local funds to the school operating budget each fiscal year.
HB307/ SB0009 – Prince George's County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Nonprofit Organizations PG 304-24 Authorizes the Prince George's County Board of License Commissioners to issue a Class C alcoholic beverages license tailored for independent, nonprofit fraternities and sororities that meet specific requirements, with an annual license fee of $910.
HB364 – Prince George's County - Stop Sign Monitoring Systems - Authorization PG 301-24 grants the use of stop sign monitoring systems in school zones in Prince George's County, if authorized by local law; providing that the owner or driver of a motor vehicle recorded failing to obey a stop sign is subject to a citation and a certain civil penalty under certain circumstances; establishing certain defenses to a charge of an alleged violation recorded by a stop sign monitoring system; and requiring the Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation to make a certain report by December 1, 2025.
The Charles County Delegation was pleased to present HB1321 – Land Use - Southern Maryland Code Counties - Subdivision Regulations - Property Dedication and Fee. allows our county to create regulations for setting aside land or paying a fee for recreational purposes. Developers can either give land or pay a fee, which will be used to make our parks and recreational areas even better.
With my advocacy efforts, I am proud to announce that we have successfully secured a total of $625,000 in funding for projects that will directly benefit Charles County constituents and our community:
Lions Camp Merrick: $325,000
Maryland Technology Center at Indian Head: $300,000
Promise Landing Farm: $150,000
Charles County isn’t alone in receiving funding from the state. In fact, Prince George’s County will benefit from $4,252,500 in funding that will be used to better our community:
iGROW – Therapeutic Greenhouse and Garden: $12,500
Accokeek East Community Park: $150,000
Bowie Volunteer Fire Department: $25,000
Prince George’s County Police Fairwood Community Resource Center: $36,000
Robert Yost Park Playground: $75,000
Camp Aquasco: $100,000
Intrepid Hope University Lariscy Park: $100,000
White Marsh-Sacred Heart Cemetery Restoration Project: $100,000
Highland Gardens Park Playground: $125,000
Mushroom Learning Center and Farm at Clinton: $150,000
University Park Town Hall: $150,000
Bridge Center at Adam’s House and Prince George’s County Youth Career Center: $160,000
Community Center: $200,000
Edmonston Town Hall: $300,000
Hyattsville City Administration Building: $300,000
While the session has concluded, our work continues in the district. Please be sure to reach out to me at kevin.harris@house.state.md.us to stay informed about upcoming events, opportunities to connect, and to receive my newsletter. Your engagement is vital in shaping our community's future, and I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your ongoing support and participation!
Yours in Service, Delegate Kevin M. Harris
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