The Maryland General Assembly closed out the 90-day session mid-April after having considered over 3000 bills.  Legislators debated climate change, renewable energy, energy distribution planning, consumer privacy, criminal justice reform and legalization of recreational marijuana.  With a rare budget surplus as the session got underway, decisions to support local building projects and tax cuts were easier to make in 2022.  
Funding to help Maryland families is always important, but never more so than in an election year.  The 10-year census resulted in redrawn election maps that were approved and then challenged in Court. The primary election in June and the general election in November are expected to bring a significant number of new Delegates and Senators to the next meeting of the state legislature in 2023.  And a new Governor will be installed as Governor Larry Hogan completes his very successful, term-limited, 8-year run.  
The 2022 General Assembly session was marked by continued COVID restrictions, brought on by the Omicron variant, which kept committee work virtual for much of the session.  Fewer advocates participated in-person and less opportunity existed for a discussion of issues.  While health and safety must be the driving force, the hope is COVID can be managed going forward and the consideration of new laws returns to a more normal format in the years ahead.  
Throughout the 90-day session, the Choptank Electric Cooperative staff and Board worked with the Eastern Shore Delegation and our team at The Cornerstone Group to evaluate all bills.  We effectively lobbied to protect affordable, reliable electric service and broadband infrastructure investment for our 55,000+ members. To learn more about the Maryland General Assembly session, log onto https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/