Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes reflects on legislative session at town hall meeting

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes of Maryland District 37A unpacked her 90 days in Annapolis with her constituents, at a Wednesday night town hall meeting.

After an aggressive legislative session, she said she was able to break down the budget woes, which bills made it to Governor Wes Moore’s desk, and brought in guest speakers from the Maryland Departments of Labor and Natural Resources, for a comprehensive Q&A.

“We talked a lot about budget, we talked about the fees that are in the budget process, and those were concerning to citizens. They’re really struggling their electric bills. They’re also struggling day-to-day with expenses, on top of additional fees that we, in the legislature, have imposed on our citizens,” said Sample-Hughes.

This past winter, energy bills were at the top of many lists of financial worries. Lawmakers passed legislation to give residential rate payers, on average, an $80 refund on their electric bills in the next fiscal year. But Sample-Hughes said the work on that front is not done yet.

“People have experienced their electric bills doubled, or sometimes tripled, so while a good effort has been made to assist everybody, it didn’t go far enough,” said Sample-Hughes. “We have to do something. No one should be able to say that their electric bill is higher than their mortgage.”

While the legislative session is in the rearview, Sample-Hughes did hint at a potential special session, to address more of the issues that are impacting Marylanders on the Shore and beyond.

“It’s important for our citizens to know that while the Maryland General Assembly meets for 90 days, the work continues all year round,” Sample-Hughes said. “When they see that there is a problem that may relate or require legislation, let’s have those conversations and we can figure it out.”