Next week is an exciting week as I have three greatly anticipated hearings in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs committee hearing room.  These bills will help the Maryland wine industry grow, save local governments money, and assist podiatrists in the state.

My first hearing of the week begins Tuesday afternoon, March 6^th.  The proposed legislation seeks to add a member to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Maryland Wine and Grape Growing.  The new members would be from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.  With the right tools, I believe that Maryland wineries have the potential to compete with other regional wine industries. Consequently, I think it is vital to include someone in the advisory commission who will make Maryland wineries a top priority.

The second hearing of the week is the Political Subdivisions- Legal Notice Requirements- Posting on Web Sites bill, which will also take place on March 6^th.  This bill will require all counties and municipalities to publish all legal notices in a newspaper of general circulation for publish with specified advanced notice.  It also seeks to have these legal notices posted conspicuously to the county or municipality’s internet website in order to meet the demand of how people access their news today.

The third bill proposed to the Senate is entitled the Health Occupations- Licensed Podiatrists- Scope of Practice.  This legislation aims to alter the definition of “practice podiatry” to include the surgical treatment of acute ankle fracture in the scope of practice of licensed podiatrists.  This hearing will take place on March 7^th.