Week 3 of the 2025 Session
Hearings Begin on Various Legislation
The third week of the 2025 Session is in the books. We have begun bill hearings in all of our various committees and the General Assembly is beginning to break down the priorities for this year’s legislative session. Not only does this involve the very tight budget, but it involves what bills do we as Senators want to bring up and pass.
A New/Old Administration Comes to the White House
On Monday, January 20th, 2025, it was a refreshing sight to see President Donald Trump return to the White House. It was very different than eight years prior when he took office in 2017. The political landscape is very different and as has been stated, a referendum is now being fulfilled for the American people. With the President comes new faces and with only one week into his second administration, he has already started to fulfill his promises he made on the campaign trail. Radical agendas pushed by the previous administration have ended, certain individuals have been fired, unfairly prosecuted pro-life advocates have been freed, and so many confirmations are just a few of the great first steps!
I have great confidence that more is to come and I am happy that many on both sides of the aisle are actually looking positively towards the 2nd Trump Administration. There is much for the President to accomplish and do but I feel we are on the right path.
Bill Highlight of the Week: SB 399 Natural Resources – Wildlands – Overhead Transmission Lines
(Correction from not protected to are protected) This particular Session, we have an important topic of concern that affects many Marylanders, particularly our farmers. The Piedmont power line proposal was brought forth in the interim (between last year’s legislative Session and this one) and caused a lot of controversy. It would cut through farms that were mainly owned by family farmers, and would stretch from Harford into Frederick Counties.
In response to that, I brought forth a bill that would clear a path for another transmission line through Garrett and Allegany Counties. NextEra Energy Transmission LLC is proposing this line; the difference would be this would NOT go through farmland whatsoever. It instead would go through wildlands that *are protected by the state or the federal government. As a result it would not be as big an issue for our counties’ residents. I do want to stress that the plans for this are in the beginning stages only and NextERA, as well as myself, want to make sure that the problem that occurred with Piedmont DOES NOT repeat itself.
We are being cautious so that way we will make sure your voice is heard as well as local governments should any concern arise.
I spoke about this bill and proposal on my weekly video here as well as an interview with WCBC Radio (that you can also find at this link).
I also want to hear from you. As you all know, I serve Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties and all of your voices are important to me. The best way to represent you is to have your voice heard. Please feel free to contact my Annapolis Office at (410) 841-3565 or my District Office at (240) 362-7040. My public email address is now mike.mckay@senate.state.md.us. Please feel free to email me at anytime. I also have a District Office at the Williamsport City Hall. It is on the second floor in the first office. Our mailing address below remains the same however.
I continue to be your voice and advocate in Annapolis so I want to hear from you. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or what I can do to help you. I am on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Executive Nominations Committee. All of our hearings are streamed live on Youtube and the MGA website.
If you are interested in seeing where my bills are in the process, you can create a MyMGA account or you can click here to view bills I am sponsoring by clicking “Legislation” under my name. You can sign up to testify on any bill you wish.