Dear Friend,
Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility! We are celebrating the joy and resilience of trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive people everywhere. It’s a day to honor the strength it takes to live authentically and remind ourselves of the work left to ensure that transgender Marylanders can thrive. It's critical that we all work towards ensuring the safety of trans residents. We are committed to supporting, uplifting, and loving our trans friends, neighbors, and family members not just today, but every day.
Today is also Cesar Chavez Day, a U.S. federal commemorative holiday proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014. This holiday celebrates the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez on March 31 every year.
As we prepare to enter the second quarter of the year, we’re excited to share our 2024 Annual Report. 2024 was such a transformative year for Progressive Maryland, and we’re already preparing for our next phase of organizing and base building, especially as 2025 marks our 25th year of serving working families in Maryland!
And on this Saturday, April 5th, we are taking a stand with one demand: HANDS OFF! Join us on this National Day of Action by standing up against the billionaires in power. You can attend an event near you.
Additionally, we’re down to just one week until Sine Die, the final day of Maryland’s legislative session. Our staff and leaders are still working hard to get our priority bills across the finish line, and as always, we have important updates for you in the legislative updates section. 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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Ally Events
- State & National News
- PM Job Openings
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Women Who Won’t Back Down: Lt. Governor Aruna Miller
As we close out Women’s History Month, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring and uplifting women every day of the year. Women have shaped this country through their resilience, leadership, and advocacy—fighting for justice, equality, and opportunities for future generations. Recognizing women’s history is not just about celebrating past achievements, but also about acknowledging the ongoing work needed to ensure equity and inclusion for all.
This week, we’re highlighting Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, who made history as the first South Asian woman elected lieutenant governor in the United States, as well as the first Asian American lieutenant governor and first immigrant to hold statewide office in Maryland.
Born in India and raised in the U.S., Lt. Governor Miller is an engineer by trade and a longtime advocate for infrastructure improvements, education, and public safety. Since taking office, she has focused on advancing initiatives to improve transportation systems, expand STEM education for young girls, and champion mental health resources across Maryland. Her leadership continues to pave the way for more diverse voices in government, and we’re proud to recognize her impact and dedication to our state.
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📣 Here are Our Bill Updates Following Crossover! 🔹 Healthcare -
Safe Staffing (Hospitals) Act of 2025 (SB720): Hearing this Tuesday, April 1, at 1:00pm in the Senate Finance Committee. The next step for advocates after the hearing is making sure the Committee gets to vote on it. We’re doing a statewide call-in day on Wednesday, April 2nd. Look for the action alert then and make your call to Chair Beidle! Safe Staffing Saves Lives!
- Regulating AI in Health Insurance (HB820): This bill, which would help the state better understand and regulate the use of AI in insurance decisions, passed unanimously in the House (135-0) and had a hearing in Senate Finance last week. Stay tuned!
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SB776/HB995 –Creating A Work Group to Study The Rise in Health Insurance Denials: We’ve had a 67% increase in denials of care by health insurance carriers over the past 10 years. That’s why we’ve been pushing for action and intervention from state regulators and lawmakers. This bill is a good step as it gives key agencies a way to drill down on how to hold insurers to account. The public can attend the Work Group sessions, which are expected to begin sometime in June. We will want to bring our voices to this process.
🔹 Environmental Justice -
Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (HB220/SB10): We’ve received confirmation that our bill to remove incineration subsidies (RREA) has been folded into a larger bill called the Next Gen Act. The Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee passed it unanimously and it will move onto the second reader. We are eagerly waiting the House Economic Matters Committee vote this week.
🔹 Housing Justice -
Tenant Possessions Recovery Act (HB0767/SB0442): This bill, requiring landlords to give tenants notice of the scheduled date of eviction and a chance to reclaim their belongings, passed the House committee vote and we are now awaiting a Senate committee vote this week.
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Good Cause Eviction (HB0477/SB0651): Unfortunately, this critical bill did not make it through the session. We’re deeply disappointed by legislators failing to pass this essential protection for tenants.
🔹 Criminal Justice - Second Look Act (HB853/SB291): This bill, which provides incarcerated individuals with a second chance, made it through crossover. It already passed in the House with a vote of 89-49. As of last Friday, it has now also passed out of the Senate committee.
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Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates: |
Healthcare Task Force: State and National Health Care Fights!
✤ Urge the State Senate Finance Committee to vote on the Safe Staffing Act this week. They have a hearing tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm, and once done, the Chair needs to call a vote! This is the last week of the session, so it’s urgent! Write to Chair Pam Beidle. This policy will help Maryland, which has ranked worst in the country in ER wait times for the past 9 years, fix the problem.
✤ Medicaid Fight: We’re fired up to be in this fight with scores of other groups and the tens of millions of people who use Medicaid for their health care. The planned in-broad-daylight robbery of Medicaid will steal $880 billion from everyday seniors, people with disabilities, children, and people who can’t afford insurance. It will crush families, communities, health facilities, and the healthcare workforce. What’s behind it? GREED!! They’re taking from our health for their wealth: Tax Breaks for Billionaires. We need everyone in this fight to stop this plan! We’ll be making phone calls, door-knocking, holding rallies, and sign-making parties. Sign up now! Contact Patty for more information at [email protected].
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Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They're taking everything they can get their hands on & daring the world to stop them. On April 5th, we're taking to the streets nationwide to say: HANDS OFF! Join us on this National Day of Action by standing up against the billionaires in power. You can attend an event near you.
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Maryland, other states struggle to contest domestic terrorism a la Trump
Tough times are upon us, as Maryland and other DMV areas lose federal civil service jobs by the hundreds, daily. For (and from) those who spend some time on history, the rest of us have learned how Trump-style oligarchy is built – by dividing the ordinary working folks who are most affected. Solidarity among billionaires is welcomed and encouraged, including with invitations to the stately pleasure dome at Mar-a-Lago. But not solidarity for working folks, for whom the oligarchs’ goal is isolation and that alone, must-be-my-fault feeling. When we let that isolated feeling overtake us, Trump and his domestic terrorists win – the result, as has always been true of post-industrial capitalism, is blaming yourself for what is actually the greed-riddled economy’s failure to sustain community. Under these conditions it is harder than usual for folks to push themselves to solidarity and resistance. But we must. Here and there, as we see in this week’s News You Can Use, patches of solidarity are emerging and pushing back. We need many more.
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Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792
United States
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