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:
As always, you can view all of the legislation that we are working on the General Assembly website.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Pamela Beidle
Senator, District 32, Maryland General Assembly