Dear Friend,
Today is a pivotal moment in the legislative session—it’s Crossover Day in the General Assembly. By the time lawmakers adjourn this evening, any bill that hasn’t passed out of its original chamber will no longer have a path forward this session. That’s why Progressive Maryland members and staff are in Annapolis, engaging with legislators right up to the last moment, fighting to push our priorities across the finish line.
One of our biggest priorities, the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (RREA), has not yet passed. We need to drive calls to Senate President Ferguson’s office today, urging him to pass RREA as a standalone bill rather than lumping it into other legislation. Making this call takes just a minute, and we’ve made it easy. Use our tool now to quickly call in and demand action.
Check out our Legislative Updates section below for exciting updates and more details on where our priority bills stand. We’ll have even more updates next week as we assess the full impact of Crossover Day—but right now, let’s make sure our voices are heard! In solidarity, The Progressive Maryland Team |
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Here’s what’s in today’s memo: -
Women's History
- Legislative Updates
- Issue Campaign Updates
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Events from Allies
- PM Job Openings
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Women Who Won’t Back Down: Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson, a groundbreaking environmentalist and writer, penned her seminal work Silent Spring from her home in Silver Spring, Maryland. In this book, she exposed the dangers of chemical pesticides, highlighting their devastating impact on the environment. Silent Spring sparked a national conversation, leading to the eventual ban of DDT and fueling the modern environmental movement. Her legacy continues to inspire environmental advocacy today and is honored at the Rachel Carson Conservation Park in Montgomery County.
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We’re in a critical stretch of the legislative session, and Crossover Day will determine which bills move forward. Here’s the latest on our priorities:
🔹 Healthcare -
Safe Staffing (Hospitals) Act of 2025 (SB720): We’re pushing the Senate Finance Committee to move the bill forward. We’re hosting a Call-In Day on 3/19 to urge them to take action.
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Prescription Drug Affordability Board Expansion (HB424/SB357): Victory!
This bill passed in the Senate last week (35-12), moving us closer to lowering drug costs for high cost drugs for all Marylanders. We expect it to be signed into law soon. -
Hospital Debt Prevention (HB268/SB981): Great news! The bill passed the Senate unanimously 47-0 —we’re almost at the finish line!
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Regulating AI in Health Insurance (HB820): This bill, which will help the state understand more about the use of AI and algorithms in health insurance decisions and that guardrails are put in place passed unanimously in the House (135-0)!
Strengthening Review and Oversight of Insurance Carriers with high denial rates (HB848/SB474): The bill passed unanimously in both chambers (House 137-0, Senate 44-0) and will have one final hearing in the opposite chambers’ committees this Thursday.
Workgroup on Health Insurance Denials (HB995/SB776) : In response to the dramatic rise in health insurance denials over the past ten years and after our efforts to sound alarm bells, this bill was developed–a workgroup to study why insurance companies are increasingly denying care and recommend solutions. It has a hearing this Thursday, 3/20, at 1 PM.
Medicaid Funding in the Budget: We’re closely monitoring the state budget as some cuts to Medicaid have been proposed. Dozens of groups have signed on to a letter urging that no one lose coverage and that no cuts in services be made. Stay tuned for updates and calls to action to protect Medicaid funding.
🔹 Environmental Justice -
Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (RREA) (HB0220/SB0010): This bill, which redirects ratepayer subsidies to real clean energy sources, still has a chance to pass. But we’ve heard conflicting plans from the House and Senate. Our local leaders are in Annapolis today pushing Senate President Ferguson, the bill’s sponsor, to pass it as a standalone bill.
🚨 URGENT ACTION ALERT – We Need Your Help Now! 🚨
We need as many people as possible to call and email Senate President Ferguson’s office today and demand a vote on RREA. If you’ve already called or emailed— please do it again! Every contact matters.
Use our quick-action tools now: Email Ferguson | Call Ferguson
🔹 Housing Justice -
Good Cause Eviction (HB0477/SB0651): This bill is expected to die in the Senate. After Senate President Ferguson pushed for a harmful amendment that would have undermined local rent stabilization laws, advocates withdrew their support.
🔹 Criminal Justice Reform -
Second Look Act (HB853/SB291): This bill, which offers certain incarcerated individuals a second chance, has had its third reading—we’re pushing for it to be brought to a vote today in the House.
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Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates: |
Healthcare Task Force: Great News on Lowering Rx Costs! Updates On Insurance Reform and Medicaid
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May the road rise to meet us all during these difficult times.
SB 357 passed the Senate last Wednesday, March 12th! Congratulations to the Maryland Health Care For All’s Prescription Drug Coalition for leading the fight to create and expand Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Since the House version of the legislation passed last month, both bills will need to go through a few steps to reconcile their language, and then the final bill should be on the way to the Governor. The measure gives the Prescription Drug Affordability Board the authority to set upper payment limits on certain high-cost drugs for ALL Marylanders.
In other healthcare advocacy news: -
We continue to urge the Senate Finance Committee to vote on the Safe Staffing Act this week. You can help by calling the Committee Chair, Pam Beidle, to ask her to bring the vote. Call Senator Beidle Now!
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This is a key time in the campaign to get three significant Health insurance reform measures across the finish line (see above) Bills that will start to crack down on carriers with high rates of denials, that will require more transparency in reporting about the use of AI from carriers, and will set up a work group to dig into the huge rise in care and claim denials in our state.
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Medicaid Fight: We protested in D.C. last week against the Musk/Trump/Johnson plan to cut $880 billion from our country’s life saving and life sustaining Medicaid program. We’re just getting started, please join us in this fight! Here in Maryland Medicaid cuts may also be considered in Annapolis. This is not the time for our state to kick people off healthcare or reduce their services: https://pgmd.us/hcvolunteer
Contact Patty if you have any questions [email protected] |
📢 PGCEA’s Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools – Introductory Meeting
Join the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association for a virtual meeting on March 19 at 7 PM to learn about the PG Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools and how you can get involved in the fight for stronger public schools. Click here to sign up |
Don't forget to follow us on social media! |
Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792
United States
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