ANNAPOLIS - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses have taken a hit that has caused harm to many business owners in District 37. This week, I wanted to highlight a few bills that have recently come through the Budget and Taxation Committee aimed not only to help these individuals, but to make our government more efficient as a whole.

SB391 Economic Development - More Jobs for Marylanders Program - Extension and Alterations aims to extend the More Jobs for Marylanders Program for five additional years.

SB477 Office of the Comptroller - Legal Division and Private Letter Ruling Procedures would establish expanded and detailed tax guidance to taxpayers.

SB543 Property Tax - Constant Yield Tax Rate - Notice Requirements would modify advertising requirements that local jurisdictions must follow regarding the constant yield tax rate.

These bills were on our voting list for this week, and SB477 passed through committee with amendments and the other two will be voted on next week.

Republicans’ election integrity package

Thursday, members of the Joint Republican Caucus announced a package of election integrity legislation to establish commonsense safeguards of Maryland’s elections processes.

HB 939 – Ballot Protection Act of 2022 prohibits election officials at all levels of government from the mass mailing of unrequested ballots for any election.

HB 963 - Securing the Vote Act of 2022 requires the State Board of Elections to utilize signature verification software to secure Maryland’s elections and is based on California’s protocols.

HB 1172 - Mail In Voter Privacy Act of 2022 removes party affiliation from absentee ballot envelopes.

SB 738 - Secure Elections Act of 2022 requires the State Board of Elections to coordinate with the local boards of elections during statewide elections to perform a sample audit of mail-in ballots to include signature verification.

SB 532 - Election Law – Polling Places – Proof of Identity (Voter ID) requires voters to present identification at the polls to verify their name and mailing address with an election judge. Accepted forms include a current, government-issued photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or any other recent government document that shows the voter’s name and address, voter notification card or sample ballot.

If a voter cannot supply any accepted form of identification, or has a recent address change, they may vote a provisional ballot. At no point will an individual’s right to vote be denied. SB532 also makes voting with a false form of identification grounds for prosecution for voter fraud.

Introducing 2022 Intern

Ashley Dummitt is a senior political science major and music and Asian studies double minor at Washington College. Born and raised in Connecticut, she moved to Maryland after graduating from Farmington High School in 2019 to attend school and plans to stay in the state after graduating this spring.

She is the president of the Washington College chapter of College Republicans and is the founder of the BridgeUSA Washington College chapter. Typically finding herself isolated by her beliefs, she found her passion in standing up for what she believes in and making sure that all opinions are represented, regardless of what political party they align with. She is currently working on her senior capstone, researching the constitutionality of modern firearms regulations.

Last Wednesday, we were proud to watch Ashley become involved in the legislative process as a citizen of Maryland as well, offering both written and oral testimony in front of the Judicial Committee on SB 387. If you would like to view her providing testimony, we’ve linked the committee hearing below. She is around the 5-hour 10-minute mark.

District 37 Pages

The Maryland General Assembly Legislative Page Program is a great opportunity for the future generation of Maryland to learn first-hand about our state’s government and the legislative process. We had one page serve from District 37 this week; Curstin Carpenter from North Dorchester High School.

Constituent meetings last week

Last week, our office met with the following organizations to discuss legislation that will impact the Eastern Shore; the Maryland Association of Counties, Maryland Municipal League, Public Libraries from District 37 for Library Legislative Day, Maryland Realtors Association, Community Mediation Maryland, Wor-Wic Community College, Chesapeake College, the Alzheimer’s Association, the UMD School of Pharmacy, Community Development Network, the Maryland School for the Deaf, Compress and Shock, Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition, the County Arts Councils of District 37, the Maryland Hospital Association, and more.

District 37 pastor provides invocation

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, Pastor Howard Travors from New Lyfe Church in Salisbury was invited to provide the invocation to the Senate on the floor. Pastor Travors is very active in community service, both locally and abroad; he serves as the Bereavement Care Manager for Coastal Hospice and, with Witness International, oversees a transitional living ministry for individuals who are newly released from incarceration. He also partners with Wicomico County Drug Court to support people in recovery. Thank you for your dedication to the Eastern Shore, Pastor Travors, and thank you for a wonderful invocation.

COVID-19 hospitalizations drop

Gov. Larry Hogan last week announced continued declines in the state’s COVID-19 health metrics, including hospitalizations dropping below 700 — now more than five times lower than the omicron peak last month. Maryland also continues to have the lowest case rate and positivity rate in the United States.

Eastern Shore Delegation meetings

Meetings of the Eastern Shore Delegation occur each Friday, beginning at 9 a.m. Legislators discuss a variety of issues and legislation pertinent to the Eastern Shore. These meetings can be viewed on the General Assembly website under the “Meetings” tab.

2022-2023 Senatorial Scholarship Application

Our office’s Senatorial Scholarship is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year! Please reach out to our office at adelaide.eckardt@senate.state.md.us to receive the scholarship application packet.

If you have previously applied to the scholarship, it will automatically renew for a total of four years after applying.

Addie Eckardt represents District 37 in the Maryland State Senate.