Landmark Status For Ciliberti, A Reminder To Be Kind And Carbon Posturing, In Political Notes

By Rhiannon Evans, Maryland Matters

April 10, 2026

At this late point in the legislative session, it can be dangerous to make even the smallest of changes to a bill, since that can add steps to the process of final approval when there’s no time to spare. But there’s a pretty good chance the amendment made in committee Thursday to Senate Bill 641 won’t get in the way of final passage.

It might even improve the bill’s chances.

The House Government, Labor and Elections Committee voted to change the name of SB 641 from the mundane “State Procurement — Exceptions — Historic Preservation Services” to “The Honorable Barrie S. Ciliberti Historic Preservation Act of 2026,” in honor of the soon-to-be-90-year-old delegate who is retiring at the end of this term.

Del. Vaughn Stewart (D-Montgomery), who introduced the renaming amendment, said it was appropriate for Ciliberti, who “has been eligible for landmark status for years.”

Before the committee vote, Stewart read a short biography on Ciliberti, a Frederick Republican, that included him driving his Oldsmobile to Annapolis, his phone ringing during committee meetings and Ciliberti being the Republican who voted the most in favor of Stewart’s bills.

“There is only one man I have ever served with in all eight of my legislative sessions,” Stewart said. “I learned a great deal from him. About history, about the importance of never leaving food unattended within his reach and about the dangers of climate science. When I think of him, one word comes to mind: Historic.”

Ciliberti, who turns 90 on July 27, is the oldest member of the General Assembly and will not seek reelection this year. First elected in the GOP sweep of 1984, when Democrat Parris Glendening was governor, he was unseated four years later and spent 16 years out of office before being elected to House again in 2014, when Republican Larry Hogan was governor. He has remained in the House since.During his turn

When his turn came to vote on the bill, Ciliberti said, “I got to vote yes.” He said to a reporter after the committee meeting, “I still can’t believe that happened, but it was nice.”

The committee voted 15-1 to advance the newly renamed bill to the full House. The Senate passed the bill unanimously on March 19. Its sponsor, Sen. Paul Corderman (R-Washington and Frederick), said Thursday evening he knew about the plan to honor Ciliberti and had no problem with it.

The bill is scheduled to be presented on the House floor Friday.

A reminder to be kind

After a heated debate over the proposed No Kings Act on the House floor Thursday, delegates had to be reminded to be kind.

The Senate bill, which would let an aggrieved party to sue federal officials who attempted to deprive their rights or privileges — an outgrowth of clashes with federal immigration agents over the past year — faced fierce pushback from House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy (R–Frederick), who said he had much to say about who’s been violating his constitutional rights.

That brought a gentle reminder from House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D–Anne Arundel and Prince George’s) that delegates should “remember to be kind during the whole day.”

And they were, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, at least. For the rest of the morning floor session, when delegates rose, they alluded to the notion of being kind, including comments by Del. Marc Korman (D– Montgomery), who said he had a question for the floor leader on a bill, “but I promise to be kind.”

Del. Matt Morgan (R–Calvert and St. Mary’s) ended debate on the bill by saying he’d save more comments for a third reader argument, where he’d have a lot of fun.

The speaker chimed in, saying, “As long as we have the fun in a nice way, that would be great. I would even join.”

A middle school biology lesson

Del. Brian Chisholm (R-Anne Arundel) stood tall in the House chamber Thursday night during debate on a carbon removal technology bill to ask: “Is carbon dioxide a pollutant?” It’s a regular argument for Chisholm.

Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery) tried to say that his question was irrelevant since the bill would require the Maryland Department of the Environment to adopt technology and practices that would capture carbon from the atmosphere.

Chisholm quickly interrupted, saying that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant since “we need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, correct?”

Foley laughed and again said that Chisholm’s point was irrelevant, and that all the bill aims to do is require the MDE to develop regulations so carbon-capturing technology can be used.

Del. Kent Roberson (D-Prince George’s) came to the rescue, saving the biology lesson, confirming, “I just wanted to say that, yes, CO2 is pollution.”

School boards association names new chief

The Maryland Association of Boards of Education has tapped former board President Joseph Goetz as its new executive director, taking over for Milton (Milt) Nagel, who stepped down in December to become vice president for administrative services at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills.

New Maryland Association of Boards of Education President Joe Goetz. (Courtesy photo)

Goetz’s “broad past experience in both private-sector management and school board governance, as well as his past presidency of MABE, represent an ideal combination,” MABE President Diana Hawley said in the release announcing the choice. He is scheduled to begin on April 27.

“Having worked with Joe during MABE efforts for several years, I can say without a doubt his leadership style and consensus-building abilities are real strengths that will surely benefit the entire MABE team,” Hawley said. “He is known for working collaboratively with education influencers and policymakers, while helping advance effective, non-partisan local board governance solutions.”

Goetz was a member of the Kent County Board of Education for eight years and has been active in MABE during that time, serving as the association’s president in 2023. He also chaired MABE’s Ad Hoc Committee for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, served on the MABE Budget Committee and was a trustee of its group insurance pool. He has also been with the Kent County Chamber of Commerce for several years, serving on its board and as its president in 2025.

Goetz said he intends to focus on growing MABE’s existing advocacy efforts to support public education; providing practical, relevant professional learning opportunities for membership; and communicating the association’s value to education stakeholders, among other goals, according to an association statement. He said he will also work on cost-effective health insurance solutions for school districts, and plans to spend a good portion of time in the counties of school board members.

“MABE has played a central role in my public service journey, making me genuinely excited to help lead the association into its next chapter,” Goetz said, adding that he was “honored to be a part of their collective efforts” of MABE staff and local school board members.

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