OCEAN CITY – Sen. Mary Beth Carozza said her focus remained on her constituents this legislative session despite a challenging environment in Maryland’s General Assembly.
Carozza said she used her committee assignments to support local initiatives and advance Eastern Shore priorities during the legislative session that ended Monday. Several bills she sponsored passed this session, including the ones for the Ocean City promoter’s license and state park pass discounts for first responders, and others she opposed on behalf of constituents failed to move forward. She said she tried to focus on impacts for her constituents as she adjusted to a different environment in Annapolis.
“This was the first session in eight years with Democrats in control of the governorship and the super majority in the Maryland General Assembly,” she said. “As a result, an aggressive legislative agenda was pushed through including passage of major initiatives on gun control, cannabis reform, offshore wind energy, and abortion.”
Nevertheless, a variety of the bills Carozza supported for Worcester County passed. House Bill 113, which established an Ocean City promoter’s license in Worcester County, passed and is expected to allow for safer alcohol sales at special events in the resort. It will authorize the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners to issue a promoter’s license to for-profit organizations wishing to sell and serve beer, wine and liquor at special events, provided that the event is located within the corporate limits of Ocean City, held on town-owned property and approved by the Ocean City Police Department and the Mayor and Council.
Carozza was also able to report success with a bill to allow the Crisfield Police Department to enroll in the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System, a bill to give a state park pass discount to first responders and bills to allow Sunday hunting until 10:30 a.m. in Wicomico and Worcester counties, among several others.
I wouldnt call this a win. let OP fund their own bs FD! same for Perdue and their stadium, and the airport? who even is dumb enough to fly into this area? i would rather see you lower my taxes then give money to such bs entities!
This year’s capital budget included a $250,000 Senate legislative bond for Atlantic General Hospital as well as $75,000 for Diakonia and $75,000 for the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department’s South Station. In Wicomico County, the Salisbury Regional Airport Terminal received $150,000 for terminal rehabilitation, $100,000 for Perdue Stadium boiler replacement, and $95,000 for the Horizons Delmarva/Salisbury School amphitheater.