Proud to be a cosponsor on this bill. We must be vigilant to the harm our children can receive while using social media. Keep an eye on your child’s activities on the internet and don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Grace’s Law 2.0 will update legislation I fostered in 2013 stoping cyberbullies. Tech advances mean time to reconsider how to help victims & stop those who seek to harm children. #working4md #hocomd #mdga19 #MDPolitics #HoCoMD #working4md #Stronger9B #CourtneyWa

We are hearing the minimum wage bill today in the Economic Matters committee in the House. Hallways are packed with people on all sides of the issue. You can watch online. #Working4MD #MDGA19 #hocomd #mdga19 #MDPolitics #HoCoMD #Stronger9B #Maryland #HowardCounty

First bill vote was this morning! Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins is the sponsor of the bill which adds additional items to a reporting law for the Dept. of Corrections. @SpeakerMikeBusch reminded us freshman that “green is for yes and red is for no”. Thanks Coach! #Working4MD #hocomd #mdga19 #MDPolitics #HoCoMD #working4md

Nick from the student group “Baltimore Beyond Plastic” spoke at the Environmental Summit today. His group helped pass environmental legislation in the city and are now in Annapolis to lobby statewide for a foam free MD. #Working4MD #hocomd #mdga19 #NextGeneration #MDPolitics #HoCoMD #HowardCounty

I attended a briefing by the Mental Health Association of MD last night. This umbrella organization is doing great work to advance bills that address the lack of parity and access to care for people with behavioral health challenges. Highly recommended for anyone working with young people is Youth Mental Health First Aid. An 8 hour training to teach how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. Keep in mind that 64% of youth

Really happy to be with these advocates of the Howard County Public School System in Annapolis including Christina Delmont-Small - Board of Education and Vicky Cutroneo and Colleen Morris where we worked to get my bill to give Howard County BOE the right to set the start date for students approved by the state delegation today. Next step , a hearing in front of the Ways and Means committee. Stay tuned... #hocomd #mdga19 #HoCoMD #working4md #HowardCounty #Education

Today was the State of the State address. The senate and house of delegates heard from the Governor and then a reception was held afterward at the Governor’s mansion. While there will be some disagreements on policy, a great number of things we all agree on and there is always a desire to work together for the citizens of Maryland. #hocomd #mdga19 #HoCoMD #MDPolitics #working4md #Maryland

Thank you to the 100+ people from District 9 in Howard County who made the trip to Annapolis tonight for “District 9 Night in Annapolis”. A busy reception, followed by a tour of the House Chamber, followed by watching the legislative session from the gallery. Howard County was in the House! Katie Fry Hester, Maryland Senate D9 #hocomd #mdga19 #ECStrong #HoCoMD #Stronger9B #CourtneyWatson #working4md

Throughout the campaign for the Delegate 9B seat, I said I believed the the state could, and should, do more to help historic Ellicott City recover from the two catastrophic floods in 2016 and 2018. I identified a dormant program established by law many years ago called the “Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Grant Program”. This program was set up to do exactly what we needed, provide local governments with funds to reduce risk of loss of life and property from flooding. Intende

It was the first full week in the General Assembly. I have cosponsored several bills written by my colleagues including one that restores certain medical benefits for state retirees. In the drafting process, and one that Delegate Eric Ebersole and I will present to our Howard County Delegation, is a bill that would give our HC Board of Education the right to set our school calendar. Did you know Labor Day falls on Sept 7 in 2020? The BOE should have the ability to start schoo