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Greetings!
On Monday at midnight, the 2023 Maryland General Assembly legislative
session came to an end after 90 days of working to pass hundreds of
bills.
Here’s your 2023 Session Recap! ⬇️
This session started with the historic inaugurations of Governor Wes
Moore, Attorney General Anthony Brown, and Comptroller Brooke Lierman,
as well as the swearing in of a new General Assembly. From the start,
the session was overwhelmingly positive with legislators and the
Moore-Miller administration working together to help vulnerable
Marylanders, advance progressive policy and address long-standing
challenges in state agency operations.
The Moore-Miller administration appointed the most diverse cabinet in
Maryland history, with [ [link removed] ]new leadership for every agency. The
administration also led legislative efforts to expedite a $15 minimum
wage, protect our veterans, lift children and families out of poverty,
create a service year, address the educator shortage, increase wages for
state employees and invest in the state economy.
This was the first time in over 8 years that the Governor of Maryland
participated in the legislative process and introduced their own bill
package. We were honored to work with the Governor’s office and many
coalition partners to advance some of these priority bills.
MAJOR SESSION WINS
[ We ]We were proud to work with the [ Our ]Our team also partnered with Tax
Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition to Credits for Maryland Families to
pass the Trans Health Equity Act! As support the Family Prosperity Act,
of October 1, 2023, Maryland Medicaid which Governor Moore signed into law
will be required to cover on Tuesday. The legislation will
gender-affirming care, giving expand the Earned Income Tax Credit
low-income Marylanders access to and the Child Tax Credit, providing
live-saving care. The governor is much-needed support to thousands of
expected to sign the bill into law in working families in Maryland.
the coming weeks.
[ AMD ]AMD supported Renter’s United [ Governor ]Governor Moore also signed
Maryland in passing legislation to another of our priority bills into
prevent unlicensed landlords from law on Tuesday, the Fair Wage Act,
using the courts system for which will accelerate the adoption
evictions. Licensing laws protect of a$15/hr minimum wage in Maryland!
public health and safety through Now, our state will have a $15/hr
periodic inspections. No license? No minimum wage beginning next year.
eviction!
[ A ]A photo collage with a blue border. The photos are of advocates in
Annapolis.
DISSAPOINTING OUTCOMES
Unfortunately, many incredibly important bills didn’t make it over the
finish line.
[ For ]For the 13th year in a row, the bill to end the automatic charging of
kids as adults didn't even get a vote in committee. Next year will be the
bill’s 14th consecutive year being introduced, which means the bill itself
is old enough to be automatically charged as an adult for 33 offenses in
Maryland. We’ll be back next year to keep fighting for Maryland’s youth
alongside the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition.
[ Two ]Two important climate bills didn’t pass: the Climate, Labor, &
Environmental Equity Act (requires our public agencies to consider the
impact on environmental injustice, climate change, & workers when making
decisions) and improvements to Maryland’s EmPOWER energy efficiency
program (recap from Maryland Matters). The work isn’t over, and we’ll be
back next year with our partners at the NAACP MD Environmental and Climate
Justice Committee, MarylandPIRG, Sierra Club MD, Interfaith Power and
Light, and many other climate and environmental justice groups to pass
these and other crucial bills.
[ The ]The Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act, did not receive a
committee vote in either chamber. The bill would have provided protections
for incarcerated transgender Marylanders, who face a disproportionate and
alarming level of violence in Maryland’s correctional facilities. However,
the legislature did take positive action to put reporting requirements
into the budget for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to
provide data on housing and safety regarding incarcerated individuals who
identify as transgender or gender nonconforming.
OTHER POLICY WINS
[ On ]On March 31, 2023, Governor Moore invited dozens of transgender and
gender diverse Marylanders, and allies to the state house in recognition
of Transgender Day of Visibility. In the midst of the ongoing assault on
transgender rights in our state legislatures, and daily threats to our
gender diverse community, particularly youth, this was a particularly
powerful moment. Advance Maryland was honored to attend this historic
event.
[ A ]A group of trans advocates and allies gathered around Governor Moore
in the official reception room in the State House. Everyone is smiling and
joyful.
[ In ]In addition to AMD’s policy priorities, and the Governor’s legislative
package, the General Assembly passed over 800 bills (full list here), with
dozens of important, progressive wins. We are grateful to the legislators,
organizers, advocates, coalitions, and organizations who helped advance
these bills. Right to Reproductive Freedom: Enshrining the right to
reproductive freedom in the Maryland Constitution Safe Storage for
Firearms - Jaelynn’s Law Gun Safety Act: Responding to the Bruen ruling
from SCOTUS on conceal carry Equity Guidelines for Transportation Planning
Clean Trucks Act Child Victims Act of 2023: Removes the Statute of
Limitations POWER Act: Offshore wind expansion Cannabis Reform: Cannabis
Legalization Implementation Prevent Electronic Benefits Theft Act of 2023:
Protecting SNAP and TDAP benefits Public Employee Relations Act Maryland
Educator Shortage Act REDEEM Act Prohibition on using cannabis odor for
stopping or searching a person or vehicle Funding for the Women’s
Pre-release Center
Paid for by Advance Maryland
c/o Progress Now
614 Seymore Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
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