Recent Legislative Successes

Nancy's legislative efforts cover a wide range of needs for our state. As you can see, she is making a positive difference for Maryland.

Key Legislative Areas:

• Taxes -- Nancy sponsored SB739 to rescind the 2010 sales tax, co-sponsored tax credits for folks living near Harford Waste-to-Energy plant, co-sponsored lessening of income tax, has co-sponsored exempting military retirement income, has co-sponsored $3500 tax credit for emergency responders.
   

• Labor -- Nancy successfully worked with local and state officials to negotiate a compromise allowing the Cecil County police to form a collective bargaining unit without binding arbitration, Nancy opposed allowing unions to charge non-members fees, and Nancy opposed unionizing day care providers.
   

• Environment -- Nancy sponsored legislation requiring the state to meet local zoning ordinances for dumping class b biosolids/sewage sludge (particularly in residential areas), supported looking into alternative fuels (task force), and argued for a balance between property rights and protecting the Bay.  She also supported labeling for fertilizers.
   

• Immigration -- Nancy sponsored legislation to allow the parole board to consider legal status, opposed providing in-state tuition for non-citizens and raised questions about counting non-citizens for the purposes of legislative redistricting.
   

• Sex Offenders -- Nancy sponsored Jessica’s Law, retroactive application of sex offender registry, and criminalization of child pornography among other items.
   

• Gangs -- Nancy spent four years working hand-in-hand with the State’s Attorneys Association on toughening Maryland’s previously non-existent gang laws because she recognizes that gang violence plagues our communities.
   

• Children -- Nancy continued to advocate for child protective measures, not only with sex offenders, but also with things like Birth Match.
   

• BRAC -- Nancy has advocated for transparency in the BRAC process, supported BRAC-friendly legislation and supported regional transportation enhancements..

2010:

1)  Gangs Law Updated/SB517 -- Revising definition of gang membership, requiring gang sentencing for subsequent offenses, and prohibiting gang kingpins.

2)  SB622 -- Jessica’s Law Enhancement/increased penalties for 2^nd Degree child rapists mandatory minimum 5-15 years to 20-life.

3)  SB1013 -- Expanded tax credit for individuals living near the Harford County waste-to-energy plant.

4)  SB 517--

4)  Co-sponsored SB652 -- Criminalizing human trafficking/slavery.

5)  Co-sponsored SB280 -- Lifetime supervision of child sexual rapists.

6)  Co-sponsor SB324 -- Move Over law requiring motorists to move over or slow down (when possible) for emergency vehicles

7)  Co-sponsor SB399 -- Nuisance abatement for prostitution houses.

8)  Co-sponsor SB411 -- Castle Doctrine (modified version) allowing someone the right to defend their home with violent force without fear of civil repercussions.

2009:

1) SB421/Birth Match -- Created a computer match/flagging system between birthing records and parental abuse records so that DHR via DSS could follow-up with potential problems and stem them off before they exist.  Endorsed by Univ of MD Baltimore Dean of Social Work.  Etc.  It came as a result of the horrible Bryanna Harris tragedy in Baltimore where a young two year old girl died of a methadone overdose.  Her mother had previously had two children taken away by Social Services, but there was no mechanism in place to determine that she had another child, let alone to protect a newborn.  The proposal was to cross-reference vital records with the social services database and then to send the ‘hits’ to the local social service agencies for follow-up.

2) SB425 -- Sexual Offender Registry Retroactivity -- Fixed a loophole which allowed some offenders to not register because they committed crimes before the registration law was in effect, but were convicted after it was in effect.

3)  Co-Sponsor SB44 -- Sales Tax exemption for veterans organizations

4)  Co-Sponsor SB99 -- Criminalizing the possession of children pornography

5)  Co-Sponsor SB201 -- Adding homeless to group classified under hate crimes.

6) Co-Sponsor of Governor’s Drunk Driving Laws -- Extending supervisory period, mandatory breathalyzer requirements for subsequent pullovers and mandatory license suspension for subsequent violations.

7) Co-Sponsor SB303 -- Creating silver alert program (missing elderly folks)

8) Co-Sponsor SB552 -- Tax amnesty

9) Co-Sponsor SB553-- Chesapeake Bay Phosphorous Reduction Act of 2009

10) Co-Sponsor SB811 -- Increase duration of certain protective orders.

2008:

1)SB937 -- Reduced the age at which Cecil County firefighters become eligible for length of service awards after 25 years of service from 60 to 55.

2)Co-Sponsor SB3 -- Fallen Soldier Privacy Act -- prohibiting someone from using a fallen soldier’s name/image/etc to make a profit.

3) Co-Sponsor SB60 -- prohibit identity theft via mass theft online of data

4) Co-Sponsor SB458 -- Tourism Promotion Act

2007:

1) SB413--Jessica’s Law -- Increased mandatory minimum sentences for child sex offenders

2) SB632--Gang Law -- original anti-gang legislation that defined ‘gang’ and added penalties for gang crimes.  Previous to do it the only use of the word ‘gang’ was in reference to some sort of business and not the violent crime.

3) Co-Sponsor SB621 -- Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels

4) Co-Sponsor SB198 -- Task force to combat influence of drugs and alcohol

5) Co-Sponsor SB100 -- Allowing tax credit for active duty military on vehicle excise tax when entering state as a new citizen.