The 2024 legislative session kicks off this Wednesday, January 10th. Each year, Progressive Maryland’s thousands of members and supporters across the state prepare to take on Maryland’s biggest challenges at the state legislature. Unlike big money interests and paid lobbying firms, our work is rooted in our commitment to grassroots democracy and social justice. The changes in state law we pursue are driven first and foremost by our engaged membership, primarily working class people of color.

In 2024, Progressive Maryland is prioritizing three major changes to state law that will clean up our communities, strengthen our ability to get the healthcare we need and protect us from abusive landlords. 

Progressive Maryland members will meet with elected members of the General Assembly throughout the 2024 session to press for:

• Removal of trash incineration from the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to clean up our air (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2024); 
• New regulations to curtail the ability of insurance companies to deny our healthcare (Health Insurance Transparency Act of 2024); 
• And the passage of “just cause” eviction standards to prevent landlords from retaliating against tenants who are organizing tenant associations.

We are also monitoring additional legislation that we believe will have major impacts on our members’ daily lives, relating to issues areas of healthcare justice, housing justice, support for returning citizens, environmental justice, and more. Stay tuned for more legislative updates throughout session. 

To dive deeper into our 2024 priorities and how you can play a role in achieving strategic and important wins for Marylanders, join us for our 2024 Power Summit on February 10th. The 2024 Power Summit promises to be a groundbreaking event, filled with engaging discussions, presentations from influential speakers, appearances from lawmakers, and powerful direct action. RSVP here.

In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• • PM task forces & issue campaigns: HCTF, EJTF & RCTF

  • Local Chapter Updates: Progressive Harford County

  • Events from Allies
  • State & National news

PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates

Healthcare Justice: Making Our Issues Visible and Viable in 2024

Join us for the Baltimore MLK Parade next Monday, January 15th! Progressive Maryland members will join with fellow supporters of Medicare For All to express our solidarity with Dr. King’s call for ending the injustice in our healthcare system. We’ll gather at 11:30 at  W. Preston Street and Madison Avenue. 

This Wednesday, January 10th, the Maryland General Assembly begins its 2024 legislative session. It’s a critical year and we’ll be pushing our lawmakers to pass:

Measures that will make it much harder for health insurers to deny and delay our care 

The Access to Care Act which will allow ALL Marylanders to access the state health exchange

Legislation that will remove unnecessary barriers to free and reduced-cost hospital care for Marylanders in need  

Steps to empower the Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s work to lower the high cost of prescription drugs

A bill that will create a Study Commission to look at a plan for a single-payer, universal healthcare system.

Upcoming Key Dates:

→Late January: A statewide virtual briefing and conversation about Progressive Maryland’s healthcare issue agenda. 

→In February: Attend our Power Summit and annual member meeting on Saturday, February 10th in Annapolis. RSVP now to secure your seat!  Save the date for the Healthcare Justice Rally in Annapolis on Monday, February 26th that we’re organizing with the End Medical Debt Maryland Coalition.

Contact Patty at [email protected] to learn about our work, our Task Force, and how you can get involved.

Returning Citizens Task Force: 

David Shrank, president of the National Trauma Education and Policy Institute (NTEP) and Founder & CEO of Empowerment Behavioral Therapeutic Services, will give a presentation at RCTF’s first meeting in the New Year on Monday, January 8 at 6:30 pm. The NTEP is sponsoring the Incarceration: Reversing the Trend for Youth and Adults Reentry Conference in February.

And – final reminder:  As part of our re-grant program, we are sponsoring a free online webinar “How to Make Your Website Work for You,” on January 9 from 10:00 – 11:00 am. Register here.

Please contact Kurt at [email protected] for more information.

Environmental Justice Task Force: 

In recent news, the final version of the Maryland Climate Pollution Reduction Plan includes the removal of trash incineration from Maryland’s Portfolio Standard Program and 100% Clean Power Standard. This report will influence Governor Wes Moore’s climate agenda, and it will be referenced to provide insight on how the Climate Solutions Now Act emissions reductions should be implemented.

Meanwhile, the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (RREA) of 2024, legislation that would remove trash incineration from Maryland’s renewable energy program, was cross-filed in the Maryland General Assembly: SB0166 & HB146. To increase momentum around the RREA, the Environmental Justice Task Force, will hold a second letter-writing party later in the month. Stay tuned for details. 

With this year’s historic opportunity to pass the RREA, the EJTF requires your support, If you would like to throw down with us, please click on the volunteer sign-up form here.

Local Chapter Updates

Progressive Harford County

Join Progressive Harford County during their social to kick off 2024. The social will be held on Jan. 26 from 6-9 p.m. at Abingdon Grill. This is an opportunity to network and get to know other Progressive Harford members. There will be a short presentation on how to get more involved with Progressive Harford. There is no entrance fee and attendees are encouraged to buy their own food and drinks from Abingdon Grill. This social will substitute for Progressive Harford's chapter meeting for this month. RSVP here.

Events from Our Allies

From the Silver Spring Justice Coalition:

Rally to Save Anton’s Law and Protect Transparency in Policing: Wednesday, January 10 at 8:30 a.m. @ 50 Maryland Ave, Rockville

On Wednesday, January 10 at 8:30 am, SSJC will join our partners at the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability, advocates from the County and state, and elected officials, to rally ahead of a critical hearing on police transparency in the Montgomery County Circuit Court.  As we’ve shared here before, our local police union sued the County to block the release of police misconduct records and to weaken Anton’s Law – the state law that gives the public access to these records.  Our County government enabled this lawsuit by violating Anton’s Law, giving the police and their union 10 days’ notice before releasing misconduct records.

For over a year, the FOP has been trying to limit the public’s access to the lawsuit itself by trying to keep the case under seal.  We rallied before a hearing about the public’s right to have access to the case a year ago, and the FOP has continued to disregard the court’s orders, with little opposition from the County.  On January 10th, the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability, with other legal intervenors, will appear in court to fight for transparency in this lawsuit about transparency.  Please join us to rally outside the courthouse (the Monroe Street entrance to the Circuit Court, 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville) before the hearing and make sure elected officials around the state know that the public values transparency in our legal system and in policing. You can read more here about Anton’s Law and the lawsuit.

News You Can Use: Issues pile up as the MD Assembly session begins Wednesday; also, the latest state and federal news

Yep, legislators will descend on Annapolis and the State House on January 10 prepared -- maybe -- to grapple with a revenue shortfall and several pricey projects to which they and the Governor remain committed. What issues will roil the session and who will be the roilers? We have hints. Plus the effort to replenish the state employee corps, health care news in Maryland, and how housing costs and poor childcare availability hurt the state's economy. And will we be afflicted by Congressional gridlock and a government shutdown? It's all News You Can Use this week.

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design, etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator Woody.

• NEW TODAY -- Issues pile up as the MD Assembly session begins Wednesday; also, the latest state and federal news
• News You Can Use: Everyone has ideas about the General Assembly session
• News You Can Use: Maryland faces budget problems, road money cuts in 2024 Assembly session
• Transportation fund needs transfusion or surgery, ending contraceptive deserts and more, plus states and fed news you can use

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792