Dear Friends,
Today marks the end of the first week of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly legislative session. I am pleased to continue serving on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee where I will have the new opportunity to chair the Subcommittee on Public Safety, Transportation and the Environment and will continue serving on the Capital and Pensions Subcommittees.
Over the coming weeks, we will share my legislative agenda, but here are a few bills that I have pre-filed that will likely have hearings early in session.
Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act – SB20 – The bill follows the approach used by many states: if the court has found enough risk to issue a domestic violence protective order, that risk finding is sufficient to temporarily require firearm surrender. The House version of the bill is sponsored by the new Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Delegate Sandy Bartlett. (Bill hearing is scheduled for 1/20)
Transportation Climate and Alignment Act – SB59 – I’ve worked on this bill for two years with Delegate Mark Edelson, and it ensures that we are planning the state’s large transportation projects consistent with our climate goals.
Board of Public Works – Contract Review – Climate and Sustainability Information – SB116 – the Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer serve on the Board of Public Works (BPW) and are responsible for approving large state expenses. This bill ensures that the BPW has information about whether certain projects are consistent with our environmental goals. I’m working on this bill with Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, Marc Korman.
The Governor will introduce his budget next week and the Senate has the first opportunity to work on it (the House and Senate alternate who goes first each year).
While I expect budget and affordability issues will be front and center this year, we will also be spending time and attention on energy – what we can do to both protect Marylanders from its rising cost and expand our access to clean energy. Finally, I am very concerned about the safety of our immigrant community – and frankly, the safety of us all – in the face of recent and horrific actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We will consider legislation to both unmask law enforcement and ensure our local law enforcement is acting consistent with our values.
If you’re interested in following the happenings of the General Assembly, exploring our website is a good place to start. If you’d like to follow my bills, you can do so here.
Finally, please join us – in person – at Shelly@thedeli or at our first District 11 District Night in Annapolis! Scroll down for our flyers and details. Feel free to share far and wide.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at 410-841-3131 or shelly.hettleman@senate.
Shelly L. Hettleman
Senator, District 11
Check out the full newsletter here.
Recent Comments