Week 6 of the 2025 Session
A Quiet Week in Annapolis is a Welcome Sight
While work continued this week, there was not much going on beyond normal bill hearings and regular testimony. This week I had five of my bills heard and my committee, Judicial Proceedings will be finishing up bill hearings until crossover. We will now be getting down to voting sessions in committee where we will vote on different bills.
Republican Caucus Public Safety Bills
This Session, the Joint Republican Caucus continues to put forth a public safety agenda that emphasizes common sense and accountability for offenders. Again this year, juvenile crime continues to be a challenge as the Department of Juvenile Services continues to flounder under the leadership of Secretary Vincent Schiraldi. I am pleased to have joined my colleagues in introducing one of those bills.
Senate Bill 454 The Juvenile Offender Protection Act, will prohibit those convicted of the worst violent crimes (murder, sexual assault, child sex offenses, human trafficking, etc.) from being employed by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. It is important that juveniles in the custody of the state are safe and protected. We have read the heartbreaking reports of abuse at juvenile facilities across the state from the 1980s into the 2010s. We have also seen the troubling reports of convicted violent criminals working at the highest levels of the Department of Juvenile Services. Violent criminals should not have access to or power over our children, period. As we work to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, we must also keep them safe.
Senator Smiles Bill Highlight: SB456 Dental Services
As I mentioned in a previous week, no Session in Annapolis is complete without a dental bill coming from your Senator Smiles (formerly your Dental Delegate). Dental health is something I feel is vital to everyone and I continue work to make sure it is available easily for every Marylander.
This week I am highlighting Senate Bill 456 which alters the eligibility criteria for Higher Education Loan Assistance Grants under the Maryland Dent-Care Program. This bill will include dentists and dental hygienists employed on a part-time basis. The Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Office of Student Financial Assistance collaborate with MDH to establish allocated loan repayment assistance for any part-time dentists/dental hygienists participating. The Maryland Insurance Administration will also conduct a study on whether insurance carriers are using online credentialing services voluntarily.
In this week’s video I go into full detail on both bills and my intent down with bringing them forward. You can see my presentation before the EEE Committee here.
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.