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Friend,

 

Last week, the 2024 Maryland General Assembly legislative session ended!
In total, 2,714 bills were considered, and hundreds passed.

 

There were some big wins for Marylanders this session, with important
bills about gender-affirming care, tenant protections, energy efficiency
programs, and more headed to the governor’s desk.

 

Unfortunately, many great bills didn’t make it across the finish line, and
some that did will do more harm than good. Read on for your 2024 session
wrap-up!

 

[2]GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE SHIELDING [3]EMPOWER PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS In
The passage of SB119 is a huge win the final hours of session, the
for gender-affirming care patients House and Senate passed HB864. The
and providers. Once it goes into bill updates EmPOWER, Maryland’s
effect, patients and providers will energy efficiency program. With the
be protected from legal harassment new improvements, the program’s
and criminalization from other states goals now focus on reducing
like Texas and Ohio. Maryland is the greenhouse gasses, expands the
12th state to pass a shielding law rebate program to cover costs
that includes gender-affirming care! related to electrifying and fuel
Our team is so proud to have played a switching, and adds important
part alongside our partners at the consumer protections. Now homeowners
Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition to can save more on their energy bills
get this done. and pollute less!

[5]REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
TREATMENT OF INCARCERATED TRANS
[4]TENANT SAFETY ACT Another bill PEOPLE We also worked with the Trans
passed on the last day of session was Rights Advocacy Coalition to
the Tenant Safety Act, which gives continue advocating for incarcerated
renters more power to hold landlords trans people by placing reporting
accountable in court and recoup requirements on the Department of
damages for unsafe conditions. Once Corrections. The department is
it’s signed by Governor Moore, required to report details regarding
tenants can more easily withhold rent the policies, conditions, and
for things like broken heating or AC, treatment of incarcerated trans and
rodent and insect infestations, mold, nonbinary individuals, with an
or other dangers. emphasis on housing decisions,
healthcare access, and the use of
solitary confinement.

[ Unfortunately, ]Unfortunately, the General Assembly took steps backwards on youth
justice reform this year rolling back key provisions of the 2022 Juvenile
Justice Reform Act. The bill (HB814) will expand the net of the juvenile
justice system, and make more kids, some as young as 10, 11 and 12,
detention eligible for nonviolent crimes. This bill won’t make our
communities safer – it will only hurt kids. We’ll be back next year to
keep pushing for evidence-based youth justice reform.

[7]Another one of our priority bills didn’t make it past the finish line
this year. The bill would have required the Department of the Environment
to consider environmental justice impacts when evaluating pollution permit
applications. The bill did pass the House for the first time, which is
worth celebrating! We will continue to advocate for environmental justice
in Annapolis next session.

[8]We were proud to support a tax fairness package that sought to close
corporate loopholes, raise taxes on the wealthiest of Marylanders, and
provide tax credits to low income individuals and families with childcare
expenses. While this package did not pass, the House of Delegates did show
their support for closing corporate loopholes by passing worldwide
combined reporting. We know the need for new revenues isn’t going away,
and we will continue to advocate for a fair tax system that ensures
corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share.

Thank you to everyone who filled out an action alert, called their
legislators, and made their voice heard this session. There's plenty of
work to do in the interim, so stay on the lookout for more from us!

 

- The Advance Maryland Team

 

Paid for by Advance Maryland

 

c/o Progress Now

614 Seymore Ave

Lansing, MI 48933

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