There were bright spots, however, including legislation I sponsored or co-sponsored that will positively impact our community. One such success is Senate Bill 872. I’m proud to share that this bill was signed into law. Senate Bill 872 authorizes counties and municipalities to give hiring preferences to veterans and their spouses, a critical step in supporting those who have served our country.

Maryland has an estimated 21% unemployment rate among military spouses. Senate Bill 872 allows local governments to offer hiring and promotion preferences or testing credits (10 points or equivalent) for eligible individuals.

This bill helps Maryland better support our military communities. With Aberdeen Proving Ground being the top employer in Harford County, this legislation has timely and meaningful local significance.

In addition to Senate Bill 872, I co-sponsored a package of bills aimed at modernizing and expanding services for military families.

I remain a strong advocate for first responders and correctional officers, who make sacrifices every day to keep our communities safe. This session, I co-sponsored and enacted legislation to expand property tax credits to judicial officers, recognizing their essential public service. Additionally, Senate Bill 502 now extends those tax credits to spouses and cohabitants of correctional officers, with retroactive application to July 2022.

With ongoing staffing shortages at correctional facilities, especially in Western Maryland, this new benefit serves as a much-needed recruitment and retention tool. The bill officially took effect on June 1.

In light of the recent resignation of Vincent Schiraldi as secretary of the Department of Juvenile Services, I believe we are beginning to see a shift in direction, one that prioritizes justice for victims of juvenile crime. I, along with my fellow Senate Republicans, have long called for his removal due to mounting concerns over juvenile crime, community safety and a lack of accountability for youth offenders.

Maryland’s current “catch and release” approach to juvenile justice has failed our communities. I am hopeful that this leadership change signals a renewed commitment to public safety and accountability. I will continue to champion legislation that supports victims and ensures consequences for criminal behavior.

Another pressing public safety issue we tackled this session was squatting, which is a growing concern across Maryland. You may have seen recent headlines about a squatting incident in Middle River. Sadly, these cases are becoming more frequent, involving fake leases and fraudulent rental scams that target unsuspecting renters and leave property owners in legal limbo.

In response, I met with Chief Judge John Morrissey of the Maryland District Court to advocate for legislation that shortens the timeline for hearings in squatting cases. This effort resulted in Senate Bill 46, which I co-sponsored. The bill requires a court hearing to be scheduled no fewer than four and no more than seven calendar days after a complaint is filed. It was signed into law and will take effect on Oct. 1.

While this won’t solve every challenge tied to squatting, it’s a step toward protecting property owners and victims of rental fraud by speeding up the legal process. Criminals are now using social media to post fake rental listings. In just one week, a single account in Baltimore County was linked to at least two such scams, with more cases reported in Baltimore City.

These trends highlight the need for continued vigilance and action at all levels of government to protect homeowners and renters from predatory tactics. Strengthening legal safeguards and closing loopholes is essential to maintaining safe, secure communities.

As the representative of Legislative District 7 in Harford and Baltimore counties, I remain committed to delivering practical, community-focused solutions. Despite the frustrations over new taxes and fees this session, I’m proud of the work we accomplished for veterans, first responders and property owners.

J.B. Jennings is a Republican state senator representing District 7, serving Baltimore and Harford counties.

On Jan. 15, 2025, as required by the Maryland Constitution, Gov. Wes Moore unveiled his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Each year, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee oversee the budget process. After the briefing, both committees will hold public hearings over several weeks, allowing state agencies and stakeholders to present testimony and evaluate potential changes to the Governor’s proposed budget.

This year, Maryland lawmakers face a record-breaking $2.7 billion budget deficit, the largest ever presented to the General Assembly. For context, the state had a $479 million surplus last year and a $555 million surplus in 2023.

It’s essential to emphasize that while adjustments can be made to the proposed budget, the state must maintain a balanced budget and ensure the total amount does not exceed the governor’s initial budget proposal. The budget must be passed by both chambers by March 31, the 83rd day of session.

Maryland’s financial landscape has changed drastically. The state last faced a budget deficit in 2019, with a relatively small shortfall of $62 million. Now, many are questioning how Maryland went from a $5.5 billion surplus at the end of the previous administration, comprising $3 billion in rainy day funds and a $2.5 billion budget surplus, to a multibillion-dollar deficit in just a few years.

Gov. Moore’s proposed $67.3 billion budget reflects a 1% spending increase from the previous fiscal year and includes $987 million in new taxes, fees and assessments, adding yet another financial burden on taxpayers. Despite imposing new taxes and fees, the budget still faces a nearly $3 billion deficit, emphasizing the failure of these revenue-raising measures to address the financial crisis

Key factors contributing to the deficit include: rising entitlement costs, declining federal aid, new spending commitments and economic shifts such as slowed growth and inflation.

Moore’s proposed budget includes several key spending increases, such as $139 million for Medicaid hospital assessments; an increase in climate reduction funding, rising from $90 million to $180 million; and $128 million allocated to advancing Maryland’s competitiveness in quantum computing, cybersecurity and life sciences.

The most alarming budget cut is the $200 million reduction in funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration, which provides vital services to Maryland’s most vulnerable residents, many of whom are unable to advocate for themselves.

The proposed budget also introduces significant tax and fee changes. The addition of two new tax brackets, for instance, will raise rates to 6.25% for Marylanders earning $500,000 and 6.5% for those earning $1,000,000. In the past, similar changes have resulted in $1 billion leaving the state.

While the inheritance tax will be eliminated, the budget lowers the estate tax exemption threshold from $5 million to $2 million. This change is expected to place a heavy tax burden on the next generation, penalizing Marylanders who have worked hard to build financial security for their families.

The introduction of combined reporting for corporate taxes will require businesses to account for profits across all affiliated entities, potentially harming companies operating in Maryland.

Other new taxes include an increase in luxury taxes on casino and sports gambling and cannabis. There is also a host of new fees, including on online deliveries, a cost that will be passed on to consumers, as well as fee increases on vehicle emissions testing and late vehicle registration.

These proposed tax and fee changes will have far-reaching effects on individuals, businesses and essential services. As lawmakers work through this budget crisis, the key question is whether Maryland is achieving the right balance between fiscal responsibility and economic growth or if these changes are unfairly burdening taxpayers and businesses, both already struggling with rising energy costs and inflation on essential goods.

To share your thoughts or to sign up for my weekly Annapolis Updates, navigate to www.jbjennings.com/contact.

J.B. Jennings is a Republican state senator representing District 7, serving Baltimore and Harford counties.

Meeting annually for a 90-day session, starting on the second Wednesday of January and wrapping up on the second Monday of April, the Maryland General Assembly acts on thousands of bills that will significantly impact the daily lives of Marylanders. However, its constitutional obligation mandates the passage of only one bill during each legislative session:  the state’s annual budget. The budget must be approved before the end of the session in a balanced and identical form by both chambers. This year, it must be passed before the session adjourns “sine die” at midnight on April 8.

Approval of the state budget is the foremost task undertaken by the General Assembly in the 90-day session. Not only does the budget serve as a comprehensive state plan detailing proposed expenditures and estimated revenues for the 12-month period from July 1 to June 30 but it also incorporates any surplus or deficit from the preceding fiscal year.

Each year, one chamber assumes the lead in approving its budget version before the other; this year that responsibility fell to the Senate. Last week, the Maryland Senate unanimously passed a balanced and fiscally prudent version of the fiscal year 2025 budget. This came after extensive review by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, on which I serve. Despite a significant downgrade in the fiscal projections for 2024 and 2025 by the Board of Revenue Estimates, resulting from a $255 million decrease in expected sales and personal income tax revenue, the Senate successfully navigated these challenges.

As approved by the Senate, this $63 billion budget, which   is more than $1 billion less than this year’s due to the expiration of federal COVID-19 pandemic aid, implements strategic budgeting measures without resorting to tax increases. These measures include providing the governor with increased flexibility to access the $1.3 billion in the rainy-day fund, which accounts for approximately 9.4% of general fund revenues. Additionally, the budget uses a “revenue volatility fund” designed to collect capital gains taxes for use during economic downturns.

The bill now proceeds to the House of Delegates for consideration and approval. While I am encouraged by the Senate leadership’s resolute stance against implementing new tax increases to balance the budget this session, I am deeply troubled by the House leadership’s insistence on the need for over $1.2 billion in additional taxes, tolls, and fees to ensure fiscal stability for the state budget.

Undoubtedly, Maryland faces significant fiscal challenges. However, these challenges arise not from a lack of taxation but rather from legislative initiatives enacted without a clear long-term funding strategy. These initiatives have resulted in multibillion-dollar deficits projected for future budgets. Many of us in the legislature cautioned against enacting expansive spending policies without a coherent long-term funding strategy.

These legislative initiatives included education policies, climate change efforts and transportation projects that were passed during periods of record budget surpluses, largely fueled by federal pandemic aid. However, legislative analysts now anticipate a $3.4 billion shortfall three years from now, escalating to $4 billion the following year.

In conclusion, as we navigate Maryland’s fiscal landscape, it is evident that the solution does not lie in increasing the financial burden on Marylanders. Instead, we must consider modifying these legislative initiatives to enable revenues from a growing economy to align with the spending required by these policies. By promoting economic growth and ensuring prudent fiscal management, we can navigate these challenges without excessively burdening our residents.

I want to assure you that as your state senator for District 7 — Baltimore & Harford Counties — I am committed to representing your interests and viewpoints. If you have any thoughts, concerns or need assistance with personal or state-related matters, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office via phone: (410) 841-3706 or via email: jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us. Your feedback is invaluable, and I am here to serve you.

J.B. Jennings is a Republican state senator representing District 7, serving Baltimore & Harford counties.

With more than 2,000 legislative bills introduced during this session and adjournment just around the corner, it would be remiss to ignore the major issue driving much of the legislative conversation in Annapolis this year — Maryland’s unprecedented budget surplus.

In an ideal world one would expect the General Assembly to return to Maryland taxpayers the $7.5 billion budget surplus, which was created by higher than expected Maryland tax revenues and a massive infusion of federal funds created by taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, reversing the majority party’s will to spend is an unrealistic expectation.

In reality, the only option left is to work to ensure the surplus is allocated in such a way as to advance legislative proposals that strengthen our communities without launching new programs that will require future tax or fee increases on Maryland residents in order to sustain them.

With this in mind, I support a combination of legislative priorities that incorporate tax relief through a reduction in state sales and retirement taxes while at the same time tirelessly defending Maryland’s small businesses against onerous legislative proposals that may financially devastate these businesses as they continue to recover from post COVID-19.

Moreover, I continue to support public safety measures that impose stricter penalties against violent offenders, while supporting legislative opportunities to make a difference in the lives of Marylanders on issues, such as mental health, that have been exacerbated by the nearly two years of shut downs, school closures and quarantines caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

As the ranking Republican member on the Senate Finance Committee, I am keenly aware of the mental health crisis in Maryland.

According to testimony provided by the Mental Health Association of Maryland before this committee, “nearly 40 percent of Marylanders reported symptoms of anxiety or depression last year, and yet a third of those individuals were unable to get needed counseling or therapy; over 45 percent of Maryland youths aged 12 to 17 who reported symptoms of depression over the last year did not receive any mental health care; nearly 3,000 Marylanders died from a drug overdose last year and another 650 lost their lives to suicide.”

This is why I am particularly proud to announce that I, with my fellow Harford County senators, were able to secure $2 million in funding that was allocated in this year’s state budget for the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center. Founded in 2018, this community crisis center operates a public/private partnership with the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health and provides three levels of care regardless of insurance or ability to pay to those struggling with addiction and/or mental health issues: urgent care walk-ins, residential crisis beds, and an outpatient mental health center. The Klein center is open 24 hours, 7 days a week and provides county residents a more effective alternative to a hospital emergency room. Without this funding 24-hour urgent care would not be possible.

I continue to be awed at the resilience and strength of residents of Baltimore and Harford counties as well as all over the state. Over the past few years, the pandemic has drastically changed each and every one of our lives either personally or indirectly.

While so much has changed, my priorities as your elected state Senator remain the same: to advance common-sense legislative initiatives that make our community a safe and affordable place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

In closing, I want to encourage all to stay engaged in the legislative process and to reach out to me anytime with your comments, concerns and ideas — by phone (410) 841-3706 or via email jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us. It’s an honor to serve you.

Jennings is Republican senator for District 7 representing Harford and Baltimore counties.

Today we are at day 45 — the halfway mark of the 90-day legislative session — but not one major crime bill has made it out of a committee and onto the Senate floor for a vote. Yet somehow, we’ve managed to prioritize banning the release of balloons. I acknowledge that every piece of legislation serves a purpose, but I also think it is time that we as legislators get our priorities straight for the good of the people.

A mere 30 miles north of our capital, “Rome is burning,” as President Emeritus Miller so eloquently stated last month, with a steady uptick in almost every violent crime category there is: homicides, shootings, rapes, car jackings, robberies and assault.

So far this year there have been over 40 murders in Baltimore, which puts 2020 on pace to exceed the 348 murders that occurred in 2019. Violence knows no bounds in our city, where its most vulnerable — children and the elderly — are frequently caught in crossfire, and hard-working people live in a harsh reality that has been compared to those of third-world countries. Visitors, new business opportunities and potential residents — key components to the success and vitality of any major city — are constantly deterred from coming to Baltimore because of violent crime.

This should not be the case for a city with so much to offer, like world-renowned medical, biotechnical and educational facilities, amazing cultural institutions, attractions, and sporting venues, and some of the best restaurants in the region. We can and must do more to put an end to this crisis.

You may be wondering why a Senator that represents Baltimore and Harford counties is so impassioned about fighting crime in Baltimore City. The truth is, every Marylander has a stake in making Baltimore a better, safer place to live, work and visit. Not only have taxpayers pumped over $6 billion of local aid into Baltimore in the past five years alone, those of us who don’t actually live there still feel the ill effects of its turmoil. The entire State of Maryland had a 7.1% increase in homicides in 2019 compared to the previous year, the most noticeable increase occurring in neighboring Baltimore County — which is part of my district.

Like so many of you, Baltimore is my hometown. I may be biased, but this City the heart of Maryland and arguably the most integral cog in our state’s economic machine. When Baltimore succeeds, so does Maryland.

Above all, the good, hardworking people of our City deserve better.

It is imperative that violent offenders be held accountable for the crimes they commit, and tougher penalties must be imposed when someone commits a crime with a firearm. Under current State law, theft of a handgun is only classified as a misdemeanor; I won’t rest until it’s a felony. I have also co-sponsored legislation that would significantly increase sentences for those who repeatedly carry illegal firearms — including convicted gang members who illegally possess guns — as well as tougher penalties for witness intimidation.

Furthermore, it’s time we hold the system more accountable. Passing the Judicial Transparency Act would require that sentencing records of judges in violent crime cases be made public. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.”

We cannot afford to wait another year to act while crime and violence plague our streets and tear Baltimore apart. I urge the legislature to come together in the spirit of bi-partisanship and for the good of the people we were elected to serve to address this issue. There’s no limit to what we can accomplish together over the next 45 days.

Several bills that could help Baltimore start to rebound from this madness have been introduced, and I stand ready and eager to act. My hands are tied until the democratic chairs of the Senate committees where these bills continue to collect dust finally decide to send them to the floor for to be voted on.

Until there is action, I have one simple question for my fellow lawmakers who continue to ignore the crisis in Baltimore: Where is your sense of urgency as Rome continues to burn? Your silence is deafening.

J.B. Jennings is a Republican member of the Maryland State Senate representing District 7, and is the Senate Minority Leader.

One need look no further than our rust-belt neighbor to the west, Pittsburgh, to find an American city that successfully made such a transition. Pittsburgh, once in dire economic straits after the decline of American steel, found a way to reinvent itself into Fast Company’s 2019 “Smart City of Future” through outstanding technology investments that transformed the city into an ecosystem of innovation.

By leveraging real-time traffic flow data to determine when traffic lights should turn red or green, thanks to smart traffic light technologies, intersection wait times in Pittsburgh have fallen by up to 40%, travel times by as much as 25% and auto emissions by up to 20%.

Pittsburgh’s also a testing ground for autonomous vehicles after Uber picked the city to introduce driverless cars into its fleet. Driverless car-sharing reduces the number of vehicles in operation, and thus the amount of infrastructure expansion that’s needed within a city. Plus, it allows for the cancellation of nonprofitable city transportation services, so cities can deploy driverless shuttle services at much reduced costs.

Last year, Carnegie Mellon University partnered with Pittsburgh International Airport “to make it the smartest airport on the planet,” with sensors, apps and other smart technologies helping travelers navigate the airport hassle-free — from finding a parking space to obtaining the optimal time to arrive at airport security via your cell phone.

Our call-to-action to fast track Baltimore smart city investments comes with a sense of urgency regarding transportation. Traffic congestion alone costs Baltimoreans more than $1,300 a year, according to a recent evaluation of urban traffic patterns. Last year the city was listed as No. 8 on the 10 worst cities in America for longest commute times, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and it was the lowest performing of all mid-sized cities. Incredibly, a typical Baltimore resident can only get to 11% of jobs in the region within one hour if they use public transportation, with an average commute time of 55 minutes.

Despite the challenges, there’s reason for optimism. Incremental investments are working. Dozens of Baltimore intersections are now equipped with Transit Signal Prioritization (TSP) to improve travel times by prioritizing city buses in traffic, extending green lights to shorten commute times and speed up public transit. This single change has already resulted in a 20% improvement in travel speeds during the peak morning rush hour. MDOT is now looking to expand the program along Route 1 between the heavily-traveled Baltimore to Washington, D.C., corridor.

The Baltimore Vision for a smart city program proposes leveraging smart city technologies to better connect low-income communities, struggling with limited access to internet and smartphones, to economic opportunities through smart transportation options like shareable electric vehicles, bikes and ridesharing programs. Data from users’ mobile devices and smart infrastructure sensors will be integrated to support access to real-time travel information, passenger trip planning, performance monitoring and decision-making. The plan includes smart grid infrastructure and next-generation city logistics.

Importantly, earlier this year, Baltimore was among five cities that won the Smart Cities Readiness Challenge enabling it to receive expert guidance to augment its smart city plans. Baltimore’s Smart Cities Committee was recognized for its “data-driven, collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life for city residents.”

Fortunately, city and state agencies, universities, nonprofits and corporate partners are joining forces to make the smart city vision a reality for Baltimore. That’s key, as a holistic approach to the deployment of IoT and smart technologies is critical. But these investments need to be fast tracked. A recent study showed achieving smart city goals can raise a city’s GDP per capita by more than 20% in just five years. Baltimore needs to get ahead of the curve.

Let’s not waste any time in embracing the world of inter-connectivity to ensure the myriad of smart city benefits, realized in Pittsburgh, can be reaped by the citizens of Baltimore as soon as possible.

J.B. Jennings (jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us) is the minority leader of the Maryland State Senate. Mike Deittrick (mdeittrick@dminc.com) is the senior vice president of digital strategy and chief digital officer at DMI, a global leader in mobility solutions and business transformation.

Next month marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Since then there have been countless incidents in schools across the nation, including right here in Maryland, when an armed person has entered a building with the intent to do harm. Yet, unlike the understandably swift response to 9/11, our schools continue to be extremely vulnerable targets. As both a father and a legislator, nothing is more important to me than keeping our children as safe as possible at school. And, when I ask myself if everything in our power is being done to accomplish this, the answer is “no.”

According to the Department of Emergency Services for Harford County, the average time it takes to respond to an incident once a 911 call has been dispatched is nearly 8 minutes. As we all sadly know, a lot of damage can occur at the hands of an active shooter in that amount of time. If you need a reason to prove the importance of School Resource Officers, look to the incident that occurred right here in Maryland last year. An armed SRO assigned to Great Mills High School was able to engage an active shooter within 1 minute and is credited with preventing greater devastation and loss of life.

And, as many students, teachers and parents can attest, SROs don’t just make our schools safer — they become ingrained into the school community and foster positive relationships between law enforcement and youth.

Here in Harford County, the SRO program started 20 years ago with six officers and has recently grown to include one in every middle and high school in the county. Harford County might be ahead of the curve — and I’m proud that we are leading the state with school safety — but there is still more to be done here and across the state.

In 2018, I introduced legislation to place an armed SRO in every public elementary, middle and high school in Maryland. My bill was rolled into The Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018.

Unfortunately, this compromised legislation that passed the General Assembly was not as strong as the bill I proposed and merely requires that county school systems to file a report with the state that includes: (1) which public high schools have a dedicated armed SRO; or (2) the plan the school system has created to have police coverage for each public high school instead of a dedicated armed SRO. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, this requirement for SRO/local law enforcement coverage extends to all public schools in accordance with local plans developed by the school system and law enforcement to provide adequate coverage.

Last month, I introduced Senate Bill 884, Public Schools — School Resource Officers — Firearms Required, which would encompass the entire State of Maryland by requiring all county SROs — including Baltimore City School Police Officers — to carry a firearm while on the premises of the school to which the officer is assigned. Baltimore City is currently the only jurisdiction in Maryland that prohibits SROs from carrying service weapons in the school building.

February’s incident at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore is yet another unfortunate example of why passage of this bill is so critical. While I’m encouraged by the recent vote by the city school board to reverse their ban on arming SROs, the measure still needs to pass the legislature in Annapolis. Our work is far from over.

There will be two public hearings in the Senate on this bill: Tuesday, March 12, at noon in the Judicial Proceedings committee and Wednesday, March 13, at 1 p.m. in the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committee. Please contact my office at jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us if you would like more information on attending or testifying at the hearings.

The safety of our children is the highest priority of every parent. One can only hope that my fellow legislators in Annapolis feel the same way. School safety isn’t a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. It’s a common sense issue. We are 20 years late to addressing a serious public safety crisis. The time is now.

Republican Sen. J.B. Jennings represents District 7.

The National Guard, led by Major General Linda Singh, was quickly organized and had “boots on the ground” within three hours. In all, 3,000 Army and Air National Guard members from every corner of the state put their lives on hold to secure peace in Baltimore. Without any hesitation, they donned their uniforms, hugged their families, and reported for duty. I am proud to have been one of those called.

As a member of the Air National Guard, I knew I could be activated to deal with natural disasters in Maryland, such as a hurricane or a blizzard, but I never thought I would be deployed to deal with rioting in Baltimore, a city I love. Though the city is often criticized and debased, I have always been proud to say I am from Baltimore. It is a beautiful city that has undergone significant rebirth in areas like Federal Hill, Canton, and Harbor East, but unfortunately some neighborhoods still need help.

While we saw the tragic result of that need unfold on TV last week, we also saw the hopeful side of the city. As I stood with my fellow National Guard members, I witnessed firsthand a family with young children who gave us ice water from a wagon they were pulling with a sign on it that read, “Thank you for protecting our city” and then again from a mother and daughter who were shaking the hand of every police officer, soldier and airman they saw. Signs of support were displayed on balconies, and many people thanked us personally as they walked by.

We must move forward and begin the process of building a better Baltimore. If we have the will, we can do it. During the riots, we saw that will in the community leaders who put themselves between the rioters and the police trying to squelch the anger. We saw these same community leaders put themselves between the rioters and businesses to try prevent looting and restore peace. Elected officials like Sen. Catherine Pugh and Congressman Elijah Cummings spent every night trying to get people to obey the curfew and get off the streets so peace could be brought back to the communities. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we have the people with the determination to make Baltimore better.

Now that I have returned home to my family, I have had time to reflect on the causes of last week’s rapid deterioration of civil order. Although the death of Freddie Gray in police custody ignited the protest, the roots of that ailment lie in the deplorable economic conditions in West Baltimore, and are reflected by its nearly 40 percent unemployment rate. Some say poverty is the most violent crime of all.

Maryland taxpayers pump millions of dollars every year into programs designed to lift these communities out of poverty. These programs are not working. To achieve a goal, a plan must be devised, executed and evaluated. If the evaluation shows the plan is failing, then a new plan must be devised, executed and evaluated. It’s time to devise a new plan.

We can step up and make the changes that must be made, or we can continue to pour money into a well that has no bottom and pay for programs that get no results. The choice is ours.

J.B. Jennings is a Republican Maryland state senator representing Baltimore and Harford counties.