Maryland

Freedom to Read, Grow Your Own Educators Bills Heard in House – Maryland State Education Association

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2024

Freedom to Read, Grow Your Own Educators Bills Heard in House – Maryland State Education Association

And other legislative updates in this week’s Up the Street

The Freedom to Read Act, legislation sponsored by Del. Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel) to protect library resources and staff, had its first hearing in the House. (Photo: Del. Dana Jones’s Office)

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS

Freedom to Read Act, in Speaker’s Decency Agenda, Promotes Equity, Antidiscrimination

The Freedom to Read Act was heard for the first time on Wednesday in the House Ways and Means Committee as its sponsors seek to set standards to prevent the kinds of politically motivated book bans that are emerging around the state. MSEA President Cheryl Bost advocated for House Bill 785, sponsored by Del. Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel).The Freedom to Read Act is part of House Speaker Adrienne Jones’s (D-Baltimore County) Decency Agenda. “This crucial and timely legislation will safeguard our libraries from becoming the next frontier of censorship, protecting literature and the freedom for readers to choose for themselves,” Del. Dana Jones told the committee. HB785 is crossfiled as Senate Bill 738, sponsored by Sen. Nancy King (D-Montgomery). The legislation establishes fair, reasonable, and inclusive standards for library collections and employee treatment (see previous Up the Street coverage). SB738 was heard in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on Friday.

Grow Your Own Bill Would Invest in Support Professionals Becoming Teachers

MSEA’s priority legislation, a bill to establish a grow your own educator program to support education support professionals (ESPs) who want to become certified teachers, was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. Supporters for House Bill 1157 included Sheila Jones-Wagner, a first-year 6^th grade geography teacher in Howard County, MSEA President Cheryl Bost, the Maryland State Board of Education, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500, and others. They support grow your own as a proven means to increase the teacher workforce, diversity, and teacher retention. Sponsored by Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), HB1157 is crossfiled as Senate Bill 937, sponsored by Sen. Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s). This legislation would revive part of Gov. Moore’s 2023 Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act that was amended before passage last year. Jones-Wagner said it was a grow your own program that enabled her to reach her dream to become a teacher, after being a paraeducator since 2003. She commended grow your own for tapping into a valuable pool of resources. “Who better to be teaching in our schools than the staff who are already placed there, who demonstrate love for our students,” she said. MSEA President Bost emphasized that this legislation would sustainably fund a program that has been working in Maryland, using pandemic-era federal funding that is expiring. SB937 will be heard on March 6 in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee.

Bills to Raise State Revenue

This week the legislature heard a proposal, Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2024 (HB1007) (SB766), in the House and the Senate to raise resources that Maryland communities need while also ensuring that wealthy corporations and individuals are contributing their fair share to the public services from which we all benefit. This bill would close corporate tax loopholes and help ensure millionaires pay their fair share by adding upper income tax brackets and a surtax on capital gains income. This bill would help to shore up funding for important, foundational investments in public schools and other public services for years to come.

School Employees’ Jobs Protected from Private Contractors in Proposed Bill

On Wednesday, MSEA’s bill to prohibit public schools from hiring subcontractors for certified and noncertified staff positions without strong oversight and employee protections will have its first hearing, in the House Ways and Means Committee. House Bill 1175, sponsored by Del. Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard), is the crossfile of Senate Bill 1043, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Gile (D-Anne Arundel). The legislation is needed to keep school jobs filled by educators in the schools, not outside contractors (see previous Up the Street coverage). The Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee will hear SB1043 on March 6.

Blueprint’s Extra Pay for Similarly Qualified Educators to Be Heard in Senate Committee

Also on Wednesday, the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee will hear Senate Bill 545 to expand the career supports in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future that are designed to help with the recruitment and retention of highly qualified educators. SB545 is sponsored by Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel), crossfiled as House Bill 789, sponsored by Del. Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard). The legislation expands the job positions that qualify for salary increases associated with earning a National Board certification and other advanced credentials (see previous Up the Street coverage). HB789 was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on February 14.

Aspiring Educator Stipends Bill Passes House; Emphasizes Hiring, Retention Benefits

This week the House unanimously passed House Bill 75 with amendments, and it has had its first reading in the Senate. HB75, sponsored by Del. Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County), is MSEA’s bill that builds on the governor’s 2023 Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act. If passed, aspiring educators who begin their studies at any state community college would be eligible for stipends that were established by last year’s bill for aspiring educators at some community colleges and four-year colleges. Sen. Nancy King (D-Montgomery) sponsors the crossfiled Senate Bill 377, which was heard on February 14 in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee.

NEWS AND NOTES

Biden-Harris Administration Has Multipronged Approach to Student Debt Relief

The Biden-Harris Administration continues to chip away at student debt, with relief now reaching 3.9 million borrowers. Despite a 2023 Supreme Court ruling setback that prevented the president’s original massive debt relief plan, relief has come through several initiatives. This week $1.2 billion in loans were forgiven for approximately 153,000 borrowers who are eligible for the shortened time to forgiveness benefit under Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. In another approach, the administration has proposed a rule to relieve borrowers who are facing imminent hardship. This plan could be adopted in the department’s rulemaking process, and it would give the secretary of education the authority to consider a borrower’s financial burdens, such as childcare expenses, when granting debt relief.

CAMPAIGN 2024

Olszewski Gains Ruppersberger, Hoyer Endorsements for Congressional Bid

Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. (D) has received endorsements from U.S. Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-2^nd) and Steny Hoyer (D-5^th) in the race to fill the seat from which Ruppersberger is retiring this year. A complete list of Olszewski’s endorsements is on his campaign website. Others in the race include five Democrats and three Republicans.

Senate Race Predicted to Inspire New Level of Anti-Hogan Voting

Polling continues to favor U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6^th) in the Democratic primary race to fill the seat from which Sen. Ben Cardin (D) is retiring. His lead over his closest challenger, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, has widened to 52% to 31% among Democratic primary voters. That is up since January, when a poll had Trone with 46% to 34% for Alsobrooks. Political experts also anticipate that Democratic voters will be especially motivated to vote against Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan in the general election, to reduce the potential for a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate. Voters who might previously have split their ticket to vote for Hogan as governor and for Democrats elsewhere on the ballot will have to factor in Hogan’s positions on consequential national issues that he had the luxury to skirt as governor. As governor, he could demur, or claim to hold only personal views about federal issues, as he did about reproductive health rights and his opposition to abortion. The consequences of this election are incredibly high, with this seat potentially determining control over a closely divided Senate and impacting a wide range of issues from reproductive health, to judicial appointments, to education, healthcare, and many other topics.

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Maryland

Road condition, traffic congestion in Md. costs drivers thousands, report finds – WTOP News

Published

9 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Road condition, traffic congestion in Md. costs drivers thousands, report finds – WTOP News

A new report by the transportation nonprofit TRIPS found the condition of the roads in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs is costing residents over $3,500 annually.

A new report found the condition of the roads in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs is costing residents over $3,500 annually.

This includes increased wear and tear on vehicles as well as depreciation, wasted fuel, wasted time and the cost of traffic accidents.

Rocky Moretti is the director of development and research at TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. During a news conference Wednesday, he said the average driver in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs is spending an additional 90 hours per year stuck in traffic and wasting an additional 26 gallons of gas.

Statewide, 30% of Maryland roads are in “poor” condition, which Moretti said is significantly higher than the national average. The D.C. suburbs fare somewhat better, with 27% in poor condition, according to TRIP. Another 24% of Maryland’s roads in D.C. suburbs are rated in “mediocre” condition, compared with 21% statewide, the report found.

“I’m sad to say, you know, a lot of that stuff just rings true with me. For a long time, I was a local commissioner back about 20 years ago, in the early 2000s. And we were constantly wrestling with the need to put more money in our traffic infrastructure and just struggling to find the funding for that, as we saw state and federal dollars continue to drop,” said Jim Kercheval, executive director of the greater Hagerstown committee.

The report said the federal transportation program that was last reauthorized in 2021 was a significant boost to Maryland, increasing federal funding for roadways by 29%. Highway construction inflation since that bill was passed, however, has increased 47%. At the same time, the state is seeing decreasing revenues from gas taxes because of electric and more fuel efficient vehicles.

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Maryland

Irish heritage and history run deep in Maryland. Now to celebrate it.

Published

21 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Irish heritage and history run deep in Maryland. Now to celebrate it.

The Delmarva Peninsula, particularly Maryland, has deep historical ties to Irish immigrants.
Ocean City celebrates this heritage with one of the Eastern Shore’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades.
Irish immigrants played a significant role in building American infrastructure, such as the B&O Railroad.

The Delmarva Peninsula is no strange to Irish heritage and history.

Now, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, 2026, here’s a closer look at just how that rich Irish history has shaped Delmarva and one of its most popular resort towns.

Irish immigrants helped shape Maryland infrastructure

The state of Maryland, in particular, has deep historical ties to Irish immigrants.

According to the Delmarva Irish-American Club, thousands of Irish immigrants arrived through the Port of Baltimore seeking refuge amid the Irish Potato Famine during the 1840s and 1850s. Together, the immigrants built railroads, dug canals, and formed tight-knit communities in areas such as Locust Point and Fell’s Point in Baltimore.

Irish immigrants also played a big part in early American infrastructure in Maryland.

Throughout the 19th century, countless Irish immigrants helped construct portions of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the oldest railroad ever to be built in the United States. Even Delmarva Irish-American Club Vice President John R. O’Brien’s great grandfather was a stone mason on the second half of the Washington Monument.

In what ways does Ocean City celebrate Irish culture?

Ocean City, Maryland’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade took place in 1980. Since then, the parade and accompanying festival have grown into one of the Eastern Shore’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Following the influx of Irish immigration during the 1840s and 1850s, many individuals of Irish descent began to settle throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. Now, that heritage is reflected in local organizations, churches, music traditions and community-wide events such as Ocean City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The procession will begin at noon at 57th Street on Coastal Highway, marching south to the 45th Street Shopping Center.

How can people honor their Irish heritage at home?

There are many ways people of all ages can honor their Irish heritage and history alongside friends and family at home.

A few Irish-centered activities include:

Listening to traditional Irish folk music
Baking Irish soda bread or stew
Learning about family genealogy
Reading Irish literature and mythology
Sharing Irish stories and folklore with children
Decorating with Celtic symbols and shamrocks

Fun Irish phrases such as “Sláinte” (meaning cheers or good health), “Céad míle fáilte” (meaning a hundred thousand welcomes), and the Irish blessing “May the road rise to meet you,” can also be incorporated into daily vocabulary.

What is the Delmarva Irish-American Club?

The Delmarva Irish-American Club was founded in 1980 by a small group of friends with the vision of celebrating the Feast Day of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, with a grand parade.

The club’s first membership drive resulted in 75 members. Today, there are nearly 300. The club is open to anyone who is Irish, of Irish descent, or likes all things Irish, Delmarva Now previously reported.

The Delmarva Irish-American Club — a 501(c)(3) social organization — is an all-volunteer, local charity that works year-round to celebrate and preserve Irish history and culture on the Eastern Shore.

“Our goal is to celebrate Irish heritage and share those traditions with the broader community while keeping them alive for the next generation,” Vice President John R. O’Brien shared.

The club is largely responsible for the Ocean City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and also supports Irish music, dance and cultural events throughout the year. To learn more, visit www.delmarvairish.org.

Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

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Maryland

Maryland parents push to hold drug dealers accountable in overdose deaths

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Maryland parents push to hold drug dealers accountable in overdose deaths

Parents who’ve lost their children to fentanyl overdoses went to Annapolis, Maryland Tuesday in search of accountability.

They want a new law that would hold drug dealers accountable when someone dies from an overdose. Their efforts have met strong opposition in the past, so this year, lawmakers are making changes.

Isis Flores held photos of her 16-year-old son, Yader, who died from a fentanyl overdose.
The Montgomery County mom pleaded with lawmakers to pass legislation that would hold drug dealers accountable when someone dies from an overdose.

“A mother who lost a child in 2022 to this horrible drug,” she said. “This is something horrible and that a child passed through — my son was one of them.”

Scott Broadfoot Sr. spoke through tears about his 21-year-old son, Scottie, who also died from an overdose. While prosecutors say there was a suspect in his son’s death, the person could not be charged under current Maryland law.

“Losing Scottie is a devastation unlike any other,” Broadfoot said. “The pain that follows, his passing, is something our family carries every day.”

These families are supporting a bill that would make distribution of heroin or fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death a felony in Maryland. Supporters say it’s needed to hold people accountable for overdose deaths.

“We can’t bring these brothers, sisters, moms, dads back,” said Maryland Del. Chris Tomlinson, who represents Carroll and Frederick Counties. “But we can take this small step to keep this poison off the streets and hold drug dealers accountable for selling a lethal product that results in death of those we cherish the most.”

This is the third year in a row this legislation has been introduced, but because of the opposition, supporters have made changes. They’re hoping those changes will make a difference in getting it passed this year.

Among the concerns from opponents is the bill could punish those struggling with addiction who need help and treatment they won’t get through the prison system.

The biggest change supporters made to the bill is that a suspect must have a prior drug manufacturing or distribution conviction in order to face this new felony charge.

Supporters say dozens of other states already have similar laws.

“It is time that House Bill 1386, that this bill be passed so Maryland can join the vast majority of jurisdictions that already see the dangers of fentanyl and already have drug-induced homicide laws” said Stuart Welch with the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.

In previous years, the bill has not come up for a vote. Supporters say they’ll keep coming back until the bill passes.

“How many lives must we lose?” Broadfoot said.

The maximum sentence for anyone convicted under this new law – if it passes – would be 20 years in prison.

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