Legislative & Community Updates

February 20, 2026 Dear Friend: Each President’s Day, the Senate convenes in our historic Senate Chamber, where George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. This tradition maintains Maryland’s status as the oldest State House in continuous operation.  …

January 6, 2026 Dear Neighbor: Happy New Year! Here's hoping that 2026 will bring hope, peace, success, good health,... and sanity in these crazy times! I'm writing again to tell you that I goofed in my last email. One of …

June 26, 2025 Dear Friend: Senate emails have changed. My new address is Cheryl.Kagan@senate.maryland.gov. Please make a note so you can stay in touch! Spread the Word! One of my priority bills this past session was creating a Nonprofit Navigator position in the …

Spring 2025 Dear Friend:   Continuing from last week-- this is the second (and final!) installment of my wrap-up from the 2025 legislative session. If you missed last week's, you can check it out here. Improving Our Elections Maryland’s elections are …

April 11, 2025 Dear Friend:   As of midnight on Monday, the 447th session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned "Sine Die.” My colleagues agreed that this was one of the most difficult and complicated sessions in eons. Despite the …

January 13, 2026 Dear Friend: The 449th Legislative Session begins tomorrow at noon. As always, I am focused on a jam-packed legislative agenda advancing practical, thoughtful policies that reflect the needs of Gaithersburg, Rockville, and the entire state. I submitted …

Christmas Eve 2025 Happy belated Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanzaa! It has been a long and supremely challenging year. The hateful, short-sighted, vindictive policies of the Trump Administration have made every day a new nightmare. Where should I begin? Disrespecting our …

May 9, 2025 Dear Friend: What a week! In addition to everything you'll read about in this email, I was honored to interview American Hero and Civil Rights Activist Dion Diamond following a screening of the documentary "Ain't No Back …

Spring 2025 Dear Friend:   What a session! Over the course of 90 days, under uniquely difficult fiscal and political circumstances, the General Assembly approved a balanced budget and passed 878 bills. Limited resources and competing priorities meant making trade-offs …

April 4, 2025 Dear Friend: Our 90-day legislative session adjourns ("Sine Die”) at midnight on Monday. My colleagues, staff, and I are suiting up for a marathon day of debates and votes, using every last moment until the stroke of …