By Debra Messick

District 37 A and B legislators generally gave improved marks to the recent Annapolis session as Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon meeting Tuesday, April 30, at the Delmarva Community Services Intergenerational Center.

Following two-minute statements, the four answered Chamber legislative committee member questions on the educational blueprint and revised juvenile justice bill.

All concurred that there wasn’t currently enough money to pay for the blueprint’s implementation timeline in 2026, suggesting that it be delayed.

Changes to the juvenile justice bill, while offering steps forward, remain limited, they said.

In his second year as state senator, Johnny Mautz, R-District 37B (Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot, and Wicomico Counties), reflected on a welcome change in the overall tenor of the legislative process.

“For the first time, I sensed a new way of voting, of focusing on and addressing problems, which is let’s talk about the problem, let’s figure out how to address the problem, rather than muscle different bills and initiatives through, which was very positive,” Mautz said. “With more back and forth dialogue, we’re in a good place.”

“Now, with a Democratic governor, and as a member of the super minority Republican party, and as a lifelong resident, business owner, and taxpayer who wants to retire on the Shore, I was reassured to see this change; it will be a challenge to keep this dynamic,” he said. “Check with me next year.”

During his previous eight years serving as the area’s representative, with Republican Gov. Larry Hogan dealing with a majority Democratic legislature, Mautz recalled sensing frustration that efforts on both sides dwelled more on posturing and promoting than on passing viable legislation.

As an example of the more positive tone, Mautz cited the speedy and successful way the legislature “came together” to pass the Port Act (Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade) less than two weeks after the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge across the Patapsco River in Baltimore.

“The Port of Maryland was down. The Scott Key Bridge had gone down. We had to find a way to come together to do something to address this critical issue, important for the entire state, not just those living right there,” Mautz said.

“But the Port of Baltimore isn’t just important to the state, it’s a national asset, our country needs it. The state operates and maintains that port, and the country benefits from it. With the port down, right now, the country’s going to come help us get it up and running, then we’re going to have to keep it running and administering,” he said.

Delegate Tom Hutchinson, R-37B, in his opening comments, began his opening two-minute allotted statement by saying he was “so proud to represent this district and to be the resident delegate for Dorchester County. As I’ve finished my second year, what a difference it was compared to year one,” he said. “I feel like we did get some good things accomplished.”

As a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee, Hutchinson noted his ongoing focus on “fighting for good health care for the Shore.”

“The entire Eastern Shore delegation worked together to make sure funding came through for the Medical Center in Easton,” Hutchinson said, adding, “Of 370 HGO bills seen, 270 passed. I looked at every bill through the lens of ‘is this going to help us improve quality of care on the Shore, address our ED waiting time issues, and our workforce shortage, “ he said.

Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-37A, Wicomico and Dorchester Counties), also noted a major difference this year from her prior 10 years in the legislature. Hughes had been Speaker Pro Tempore  of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2019 to 2024.

“Not being in leadership has given me more time to think about what’s important and what’s not and have the ability to vote however I wanted to,” Sample-Hughes said. “If you look at my voting record from this year, it’s probably all over the place.”

She discussed having scheduled two town hall meetings with constituents since the session’s end, one in Dorchester, one in Wicomico.

The Salisbury meeting was set to focus on laws passed affecting veterans’ issues plus higher education, primarily untapped scholarship money available.

“There’s a lot of money that is often left on the table for scholarships, not just for  college students, but for trainees including law enforcement and firefighters,” Sample-Hughs said.

She also wanted to alert “all industries that everything that everything is on the table. All our businesses need to know that “when there are discussions about increasing taxes on services, that had never existed in the past, such as power washing, barbershops, beauty shops, our funeral industry, they were discussed in the legislature. Everything is now up to grabs, so be vocal, show up, and testify,” she said.

Delegate Chris Adams (R-37 B), also marking his tenth year of legislative service, commended Hutchinson for his leadership as chair of the Dorchester County delegation; Adams chairs the Eastern Shore delegation.

Adams, a private sector business owner, serves on the Economic Matters Committee and four related subcommittees.

“We spent so much money, and we did kick the can on some tax increases; unless we start seriously considering what we’re spending and how much, and start prioritizing, because we can’t do it all unless we significantly raise taxes, that’s the reckoning we’re facing,” Adams said.

“As a private business owner, I’m very worried about that. Government needs to manage and maintain its role, but not to burden the businesses which are job creators, pay corporate taxes, payroll taxes; everything we do as a state is founded on the principal of private sector enterprise, that delivers those resources for government programs-infrastructure, education, and environmental goals, all depending on a robust, growing economy we can’t afford to hurt,” Adams said.