Guest column: Focus on session work in Annapolis

The following appeared in the spring 2023 Ocean Pines Report quarterly newsletter: /documents/20124/91011/OP_newsletter_v55no2_web.pdf/1c689745-6978-787a-9c5d-bcac2b1ff3c3

By Mary Beth Carozza Maryland State Senator for District 38 – Somerset / Wicomico / Worcester Counties

As we approach the closing month of the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session, the pace in Annapolis is intense as we work on our Shore priorities.     

The transition from one governor to another, complete with the confirmation of new cabinet secretaries and many new board and commission members, has given me opportunities to share our Shore priorities with the new administration.  

As a member of the Senate Executive Nominations Committee, I am meeting each of the new governor’s nominees for cabinet-level positions and building relationships that are so necessary for a productive session. It was a real highlight to introduce former Salisbury Mayor Jake Day at his confirmation hearing to serve as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development.  

Along with this new committee assignment, I also am excited about the reorganization of my anchor committee – Education, Energy and Environment (Triple E) – with the addition of the energy portfolio. The Triple E Committee is vital to my district when it comes to advancing farming, fishing and forestry.  

My district also includes three major institutions of higher education – Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and Maryland’s Coast provides the opportunity to show that tourism and the environment can work together to benefit all of Maryland. My appointment to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Bays Joint Committee gives me the chance to remind my fellow legislators that our coastal bays are just as important as the Chesapeake Bay. 

Early on, members of the Triple E Committee addressed education with a briefing by the State Superintendent of Schools. I keep pushing for local flexibility regarding curriculum development and teacher preparation, and for more meaningful and early parental involvement. I strongly am opposing SB 199/HB119, which mandates a health/sex/gender curriculum over the objections of local boards of education, local superintendents, and thousands of Maryland parents.  

One exciting piece of legislation I am co-sponsoring is SB 461, the Retirement Tax Elimination Act designed to phase out all retiree state income tax by 2028 for retired seniors at least 65 years old, not employed full-time, and on a fixed income. For 2023, the amount of deduction from income for state tax purposes would be $10,000 and would increase each year to a $50,000 deduction by 2027. This should help those on fixed incomes who have worked all their lives and are now retired, but are challenged with inflation and the high cost of living. 

As violent crime continues to increase across Maryland, I have cosponsored SB 744, which increases penalties for repeat, violent offenders, along with SB 18, which focuses on increasing recruitment and retention of law enforcement. I also have sponsored legislation to support our first responders and police living in Maryland by allowing for a $40 discount on the Department of Natural Resources’ annual State Park Pass. This is a simple way to show appreciation for our first responders and promote their health and well being in our state parks. 

I still return home on weekends to attend local events, including the Ocean City St. Patrick Day’s Parade, held for the first time in three years. It was an amazing crowd despite the wind and cold weather, and I’m grateful for all our Team Carozza volunteers for joining us for this special event. 

When my work in Annapolis prevents me from coming home, I’m glad when my parents, Tony and Mary Pat Carozza, represent me at various events including Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino’s recent town hall and the fabulous Las Vegas-style show benefitting the Worcester County Veterans Memorial, one of my favorite and most cherished places on the Shore. 
 
The Maryland General Assembly wraps on Monday, April 10, and I look forward to making my rounds in Ocean Pines, and visiting with constituents throughout Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset counties. If I can be of assistance to you, please contact me at [email protected].