Western Maryland legislative delegation shares takeaways from 2024 General Assembly session

Steven Cohen
·2 min read
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HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) — Maryland senators and delegates have returned to their districts following the latest legislative session.

The western Maryland delegation held a town meeting of sorts on Wednesday at Hagerstown Community College, sponsored by the Washington County-Greater Hagerstown Chamber of Commerce.

The lawmakers shared their perspectives from their months in Annapolis this winter.

Delegate Brooke Grossman (D – Hagerstown) said affordable housing is one of her top concerns, not just for the homeless and “underhoused,” as she put it, but for the middle class.

“The median price for a home in Washington County is $350,000 but the median annual household income is $75,000,” said Grossman. “I would like to see Maryland drive a housing policy for homes to be affordable.”

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Delegate William Wivell (R – Washington County) said he is glad that a lid was kept on taxes this past session, but he was unhappy that doing so came with a catch.

“Governor Moore made a commitment that he didn’t want to raise taxes,” said Wivell. “But fees were raised for motor vehicles and state agencies had free reign to raise fees. Fees are just another term for taxes,” said Wivell.

Delegate William Valentine, a retired police officer, helped take the lead to give Maryland judges privacy protections and fortify courthouse security after Judge Andrew Wilkinson was shot and killed last October.

“My colleagues at the State House know the tragedy that our community went through,” said Valentine. “They don’t want that to happen in their counties or their districts.”

Senator Mike McKay (R – Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties) said he fears that a possible lifting of the gas tax in neighboring West Virginia will have repercussions for Maryland.

“It’s going to be devastating for the Maryland business community,” says McKay.

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