Even committee chairs stood in the line outside the Clerk’s Office.

Today’s the deadline to introduce your legislation and be guaranteed a public hearing.  (A vote on your bill still remains within the discretion of the committee chair.)

I was in that line – with four more bills, for a total of 29.

All of those great ideas – policy initiatives, solutions to constituent problems, and bell ringers (to bring people to the table) – need to be submitted by 5:00.

Legislation introduced after today can clear all of the hurdles to passage, but time is your enemy in this process.

A good letter can mean no bill hearing.

This summer, a constituent complained that he had to get a license in every county where he conducted his liquid waste hauling business.  Why not a single state-issued license instead?

I had a bill drafted.

Last month, I met with a representative of the Maryland Association of Counties.

He wrote me today that MACO is willing to meet with my constituent and any other affected stakeholders and in good faith try to address his concerns.

I withdrew my bill.

I will attend the meetings with my constituent.

A second bill would have required a state agency to issue a report every six months on its oversight of a project it is funding.

I asked a high level official if the department would commit to such a study by letter. The Secretary has agreed to do so.

I will not introduce the bill.

I will share the reports with interested – and more knowledgeable than I am, parties.

This morning, I received the Cas Taylor Award. It’s presented to a sitting member of the House of Delegates for steadfast commitment to public service and the integrity of the House of Delegates.

My thanks to my constituents, advisers, mentors, family, and staff who helped me earn this honor.

This is what Speaker Busch and I said at today’s floor session of the House of Delegates.

Speaker: The last award goes to one of our own. And this individual during their time in the General Assembly has been a tireless worker, has a broad knowledge of all the issues, has distinguished himself on the floor of this great House, and has played an intricate role in moving the state of Maryland forward. He is one of the longest serving members of this body. This year’s Speaker’s Society Award goes to someone that gives the Opening Day prayer, that we joke about his [being a] utility player, that can serve on any committee (and that has served on just about every committee) and has done it with distinction and knowledge. Today’s recipient of the Cas Taylor Award for the Speaker’s Society is the outstanding member of this chamber, Delegate Samuel Rosenberg, better known as Sandy.

Del. Rosenberg: There’s my family, my mother and my brother. You all may recognize my brother. And I wouldn’t be in my ninth term if it weren’t for my mother because she organized Election Day and we still have the paper- no computer Mr. Chairman [Vallario] – we still have the paper forms that we used for every precinct. I had no idea so there’s no prepared text. I tell people that I love my job and I mean it because here we can make a difference. This isn’t Washington, we get things done, collegially and in a bipartisan way. The many issues that I’ve had the pleasure of working on and the Speakers that I’ve served with from Ben [Cardin] who was my district [mate], Clay [Mitchell] was my first Chairman, Cas [Taylor] clearly a mentor and I take his Bible with me to Israel, and my coach [Mike Busch], and all of you. Thank you very much.

Sometimes a letter will do.

But legislation may be needed to get that letter written.

A constituent was upset that the licensing permit issued by Baltimore City for his business was not valid in other counties.

Why should he have to pay for additional permits?

I shared my bill draft with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO).

When we met yesterday, the MACO representative was very open to seeing if this problem could be solved by a work group.

I asked for a written response before February 10.

My bill hearing is that day.

I have drafted legislation that would require a state agency to submit an annual report to the General Assembly summarizing the results of the work it is legally obligated to do on a certain matter.

That report would enable the legislature and other interested parties to evaluate the agency’s performance.

If the agency head were to provide me a satisfactory written commitment to submit such a report, I would not pursue this legislation.

No hearing date for this bill yet.