Dear Friends,

The Senate Finance Committee has been working tirelessly to review the 330 pieces of legislation assigned to us before the end of the 2024 legislative session. By Monday, there will only be 36 days left, Sine Die is quickly approaching, and there is still much work to be done. So far, we have held 205 bill hearings and passed 55 bills, but there is still a lot of ground to cover.

This week, two of my bills had hearings:

• SB0613 State Board of Long-Term Care Administrators - Requirements for Assisted Living Managers . The bill extends the time the Board has to license assisted living managers in the State to July 1, 2026. In addition, the bill provides managers of small homes additional time and flexibility to take the required 80-hour training. While I would have wanted to see the licensing go into effect this year, we can’t impose a requirement on the Board without the resources to be successful, and we don’t want to upend the industry.
• SB0999 Certified Nursing Assistants - Licensing Requirements and Administrative Updates Maryland is the only state that has 2 different classifications for CNA’s - those working in nursing facilities and those working in other facilities.  This bill seeks to align Maryland with other states to allow a certified nursing assistant to work in all settings, eliminating the classification for geriatric nursing assistants.  This ensures that those individuals who have successfully completed a CNA training program after October 1, 2025, will satisfy the federal requirements and will be able to work in all settings, providing greater flexibility for the CNA’s and easing the staffing burden on nursing facilities.

As always, you can view all of the legislation that we are working on the General Assembly website.

Families to Serve Act

It was great to have First Lady Dawn Flythe Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller testify before the Senate Finance Committee on SB 478, Families to Serve Act. It will provide employment preference for the spouses of our Veterans. This is a crucial bill that will help military families across Maryland.

Read Across America Day with a Special Guest!

Yesterday was also Read Across America Day! It was great to see my friend Big Bird on the Senate Floor, reminding us all of the importance of reading to our students. I want to thank the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) for their tireless efforts in promoting literacy and education for our children. Let's keep spreading the joy of reading!

Visits this week:

• Yesterday afternoon, Molly Knipe, CEO of the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, visited Senator Elfreth and I to discuss funding for operating the new Residential Facility for the Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking.  She is standing next to the pottery presented to me for my work supporting the YWCA.

• This week,  I met with Future Farmers of America students from CAT-North. It was great hearing about their plans for the future, many plan to continue their education at Anne Arundel Community College. There are not a lot of farms in District 32, but it is certainly important to support the work in agriculture that supports our families and the economy in Maryland.

MGA Pages

I had the pleasure of meeting Indu Bodala, a talented student page from District 32, for the second time. Indu is a student at Glen Burnie High School, where she is enrolled in the BioMedical Allied Health (BMAH) program. MGA Pages are selected to serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the thirteen weeks of session, where each page serves one week during the first seven weeks and returns for a second week of service during the last six.

The MGA Page Program is a great experience for students who are interested in careers in government. Although the deadline for the 2024 session has passed, I highly recommend checking out the program for future sessions. If you are interested in becoming a page for the next session, you can learn more about the Page Program by clicking here.

2023-2024 Teacher of Year

It was an honor to meet Mary Kay Connerton, who was recognized on the Senate floor in recognition of being selected as the 2023-2024 Maryland Teacher of the Year. She teaches at Annapolis High School, and her dedication to improving the education of Maryland students is truly inspiring.

Thursday's Lockdown

On Thursday, our committee voting session was interrupted by a sudden campus lockdown due to an anonymous phone call about a potential shooting threat. It was a tense situation, but thanks to the quick and professional response of the State Police, Capital Police, and first responders, we were all kept safe. It was a reminder of the unfortunate violence happening across the country, but I am grateful for the swift actions taken to keep us safe.

Sincerely,

Pamela Beidle

Senator, District 32, Maryland General Assembly