February 22, 2024

Hearings Continue!

Yesterday, I presented five of my bills in Committee:

• SB458: Scam PACs – (with Del. Julie Palakovich Carr) After warnings from the FBI, Maryland is seeking to regulate political organizations that falsely claim to represent a candidate, political party, or organization. These PACs would be required to register and disclose expenditures. Violators could be fined and banned from future fundraising.
• SB494: Electoral College Reform – (with Del. Kris Fair) Post-election certification procedures would be updated to comply with federal law and provide safeguards against the naming of “fake electors.”
• SB495: Simplifying Ballot Language – Ballot questions would be required to be written at a sixth-grade reading level so as not to confuse voters with “legalese.”
• SB709: Reporting on Internet-Delivered Ballots – This voting method (expensive and risky!) would be studied by the State Board of Elections to gather data on lower ballot return rates, as well as added costs, security, staffing, and time.

• SB650: Addressing Hate Graffiti – (with Del. Joe Vogel) Property owners would be required to remove items and hate symbols intended to threaten or intimidate others within 24 hours.

Saving Lives

The first 9-1-1 call was made in 1968, and 56 years later I continue the life-saving work of improving our emergency response system. Today, my bill to fund Telecommunications Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (T-CPR) training for 9-1-1 Specialists (SB649) was heard in my Committee. Every year, 350,000 Americans die from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This legislation is inspired by a successful pilot program in Charles County, where the survival rate more than doubled. T-CPR could annually save the lives of hundreds of Marylanders.

Empowering Voters

Roughly 25% of the Maryland General Assembly has been selected for their positions by political party central committees, rather than elected by the voters. My bill SB29 is a Constitutional Amendment that would shift some of this power to the voters. After a compromise, the bill passed unanimously out of my Committee. Assuming that this moves forward, look for it on your ballot in November!

Delivered to the Senate!

There is an age-old tradition that the Governor’s appointments to Maryland’s 600+ Boards and Commissions are delivered to the Senate in a green leather satchel. The latest installment came from Secretary Tisha Edwards, who has worked to identify diverse and experienced nominees ready to serve our State. If YOU are interested in being considered, learn about applying and be sure to let me know!

Supporting Mental Health

There is a mental health crisis in our nation, and it is particularly bad for our young people. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns are three times more likely than their peers to repeat a grade. High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out of school. These statistics demonstrate how critical it is that we provide high-quality, accessible mental health services. Learn more about mental health in Maryland.

In alignment with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (our landmark education law), roughly $111 million in behavioral health grants will be distributed by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission. Medical centers and nonprofits are among the awardees– including the local organizations CaringMatters; Jewish Social Service Agency; and Identity, Inc.

Please remember that if you or a loved one needs

immediate mental health support, you can call or text 9-8-8.

Honoring George Washington

On Presidents’ Day, my colleague Sen. Cory McCray delivered a speech in the historic Senate chamber, used only for this purpose. He expressed admiration for the fact that George Washington relinquished absolute power twice. I encourage you to watch Sen. McCray’s thoughtful speech.

All the best,

Cheryl

Cheryl C. Kagan

State Senator, District 17

(Gaithersburg & Rockville)

www.CherylKagan.org

PS: The Maryland Corps / Service Year Option is beneficial for both participants and employers. I discussed this groundbreaking program when I testified last week about my bipartisan bill to create a Civic Excellence Program in our high schools. I presented this initiative with Secretary Paul Monteiro and Republican Sen. Justin Ready.