Bills moving through House, could reach Senate next week

A package of bills designed to move Baltimore City forward has high-powered support.Download the WBAL appThe package of bills is reportedly $290 million, which Senate President Mike Miller said the state can afford.The Baltimore City agenda, created by House Speaker Michael Busch and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh, now has Miller's full backing. Support from top State House leadership almost guarantees passage."Well, it's going to do more than make everybody say, 'Wow.' It's a step forward, making a great city greater," Miller said.The package of legislation restores funding to the Delegate Pete Rawlings Scholarship Program. Rawlings is the late father of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The program provides college scholarships to poor students statewide who sign up as eighth-grade students and satisfy all the criteria."It's going to be an exciting package, not just for the city of Baltimore, but for the youth of Baltimore," Miller said.The $290 million five-year package includes money to establish the Strategic Demolition Smart Growth Impact Fund. It will award grants and loans for demolition plans and site development. It creates the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative Fund to provide home-buying and rehabilitation assistance.The legislation will help extend library hours, beef up after-school and summer programs and increase open space for parks and recreation.Another measure opens an adult high school for those seeking a diploma rather than a GED.Another measure gives institutions such as Morgan State University, the University of Maryland-Baltimore and Baltimore City Community College grants to move in and help develop blighted areas.Several of the bills are currently working through the House and could be in the Senate next week."I'm on board with the entire package," Miller said.What's not known is whether the Baltimore agenda will be a tough sell to the rest of the state.

A package of bills designed to move Baltimore City forward has high-powered support.

Download the WBAL app


The package of bills is reportedly $290 million, which Senate President Mike Miller said the state can afford.

The Baltimore City agenda, created by House Speaker Michael Busch and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh, now has Miller's full backing. Support from top State House leadership almost guarantees passage.

"Well, it's going to do more than make everybody say, 'Wow.' It's a step forward, making a great city greater," Miller said.

The package of legislation restores funding to the Delegate Pete Rawlings Scholarship Program. Rawlings is the late father of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The program provides college scholarships to poor students statewide who sign up as eighth-grade students and satisfy all the criteria.

"It's going to be an exciting package, not just for the city of Baltimore, but for the youth of Baltimore," Miller said.

The $290 million five-year package includes money to establish the Strategic Demolition Smart Growth Impact Fund. It will award grants and loans for demolition plans and site development. It creates the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative Fund to provide home-buying and rehabilitation assistance.

The legislation will help extend library hours, beef up after-school and summer programs and increase open space for parks and recreation.

Another measure opens an adult high school for those seeking a diploma rather than a GED.

Another measure gives institutions such as Morgan State University, the University of Maryland-Baltimore and Baltimore City Community College grants to move in and help develop blighted areas.

Several of the bills are currently working through the House and could be in the Senate next week.



"I'm on board with the entire package," Miller said.



What's not known is whether the Baltimore agenda will be a tough sell to the rest of the state.