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Health & Fitness

BLOG: Follow Legislation From the Comfort of Your Home

Ever wonder what happens during the 90 day session? A step by step "How To" is offered for your participation.

If you ever wondered what your legislators are doing for the 90 days of session, here's a great way to discover what is going on. The best part is that you can listen or watch from the comfort of your own home computer.  Following is a short "how to" on how to discover what is happening with your local legislators. 

Each legislator is assigned to a committee, subcommittees and various additional assignments throughout their term in office. Want to know who represents you?  Visit http://mlis.state.md.us/ and click on the first option in the second column titled "Contact or find a Legislator". If you are not sure who your legislator is, simply type in your address under "Find a Legislator" and you will be directed to your representatives. 

Click on the name of the legislator you are interested in, found in the left hand column and learn about your representatives. What about hearings on all those bills that legislators brag about. 

Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Go back to the mlis page and check under Hearings (Schedule)  (Listen/View ) or House and Senate Proceedings (Listen). Those camera-shy senators will only allow you to listen to the proceedings, but if it is facetime you long for, tune into the House of Delegates hearings which allow you to watch and listen. The website offers a chance for you to be involved with legislation and to contact your representatives offering opinions on bills being proposed this session.  There are more than 1,500 introduced each year, and I have always believed a second set of eyes is a good thing. Give it a try! 

Check into Bill Information and Status, read the text of a proposed bill and offer your feedback.Let's all get involved.  The legislative process is supposed to be about "We the people", so let's get busy!

Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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