LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:
Click here to view the suggested dates of interest provided by the General Assembly.
TRACKER: Click here to keep track of all active Maryland bills, their action status, top sponsors, and top committees. You can also view the bills from the previous legislative session. For more detailed updates on this year’s Legislative Session and to search specific bills click here.
Update on some of our priority bills we’re supporting:
Healthcare
Last Friday, HB1337 successfully passed the Senate Finance Committee. We're eagerly awaiting its progression to a floor vote, bringing us one step closer to delivering crucial healthcare reforms to the governor's desk.
Environmental
The EMPOWER Act made progress in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, albeit with amendments. We're optimistic about its eventual passage and hopeful for a prompt floor vote to advance this significant environmental legislation.
Housing
The Tenant Safety Act and Just Cause Eviction Bill are scheduled for their first hearings tomorrow at 1 pm in front of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The Tenant Safety Act aims to ensure rental properties meet basic human habitation standards while providing remedies for any breaches. Meanwhile, the Just Cause Eviction Act empowers counties to prevent unjust lease terminations without valid cause.
Reentry
HB1037, a pivotal bill aiming to establish a task force for creating a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Service in Maryland, passed the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee with amendments. This initiative is essential for streamlining services and support for individuals reentering society post-incarceration.
Additionally, HB37, designed to establish a Commission overseeing reentry programs and services for women, had its first Senate hearing last Tuesday. Although a second hearing is yet to be scheduled, the bill represents a critical step toward ensuring equitable access to reintegration services for women leaving prison.
As we embark on a new month, our hearts are heavy with the weight of recent events. In the wake of the devastating Key Bridge disaster in Baltimore, our thoughts and efforts are first and foremost with the people of Baltimore City. We mourn the loss and upheaval caused by this tragic event, standing in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones and those whose lives have been forever altered. 
