It’s that time of year. The Governor is making his final decisions on which bills will become law and which ones will get vetoed. And yes, some of the bills we supported are already on the chopping block.
Just last week, the Governor vetoed the RENEW Act, one of our key environmental bills. While the version that passed was scaled back from what we originally pushed for — a bold $9 billion fee on the top fossil fuel polluters — it still laid critical groundwork for future climate action. We also saw the veto of the reparations bill championed by our allies at the NAACP.
Tomorrow is the final scheduled day for bill signings, and we’re excited to share that the Governor’s list includes our long-fought environmental justice win to end subsidies for trash incineration, along with several of our priority healthcare bills. Sign up here to join us at the bill signing tomorrow at 12pm in Annapolis to celebrate these becoming official.
Curious about what really went down this legislative session? Join us for our Legislative Debrief this Wednesday, May 21 at 6pm on Discord. It’s an informal 30–45 minute discussion where we’ll break down behind-the-scenes moments, highlight major takeaways, and open up space for you to share your thoughts and reflections.
There’s lots more inside this week’s memo, including updates from our issue campaigns, key ways to get involved, and state and national news you won’t want to miss.
In solidarity,
The Progressive Maryland Team
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Corner Juice Bar (Baltimore City)
Yudaguru Integrative Wellness (Ellicott City)
Gina Ling Chinese Dance Chamber (Howard County)
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Environmental Justice: EJTF Testifies at Taxpayer Night
Last Thursday, May 15, members of Progressive Maryland's Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) participated in the Baltimore City Council's Taxpayer Night. During the hearing, Iman Habib, PM's Climate Policy Analyst, testified, pointing out that Mayor Scott's budget includes a higher fee for long haulers dumping waste at Quarantine Road Landfill, which is projected to bring in $8.4 million for the city. She also mentioned that the city's Department of Public Works had requested $4.1 million for yard waste collection but was denied. Furthermore, SirJames highlighted a 2018 report from the Institute For Local Self Reliance, which states that in Maryland, processing every 10,000 tons of compostable waste at composting facilities generates about 4.1 full-time jobs, compared to 2.1 jobs at landfills and 1.2 jobs at incinerators. |
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In addition, tomorrow, May 20th, the EJTF and its allies will be present to see Governor Wes Moore sign the Next Generation Act, which has been combined with the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act at the Maryland General Assembly, starting at 12 PM. To sign up, register here. This is a historic moment, and the Win Waste incinerator will no longer receive financial incentives to harm frontline communities in South Baltimore.
Lastly, the EJTF is planning a victory celebration to honor this major legislative success in defeating incinerator companies, so keep an eye out for updates on the event date. |
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Housing Justice: Join Us in Rockville for a Citywide Day of Action!
On Saturday, May 24, we’re leading a citywide Day of Action to demand real rent stabilization in Rockville and we need you on the ground with us.
We’re proud to be hosting multiple actions, including canvassing, community outreach, and lawn sign distribution. These are powerful ways to make our movement visible and connect with neighbors who care about affordable, stable housing. Whether you join us for an hour or stay all day, your voice matters.
Huntington Tenant Association Canvass Knock doors with our tenant leaders at King Farm and help build momentum for rent stabilization across Rockville.
Hometown Holidays Outreach
Twinbrook Canvass (Hosted by MoCo DSA)
Let’s show up strong for housing justice. |
Meet at the Huntington at King Farm leasing office
10 AM – 2 PM
12 PM – 3 PM|
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News You Can Use: Maryland, other states backfill as fed money is cut off
The GOP House in Congress, we see below, is still struggling to pass a tax and spend bill -- question is how mean can they be without being too mean for GOP "moderates" feebly protecting Medicaid funding but definitely fighting for more tax breaks for the owners of pricey houses in high-tax Blue states, where their reelection footing is precarious. How will this turn out? Megan E, federal affairs expert for People's Action, follows the play-by-play below. Failure is not an option for Speaker Johnson and his minions but (considering the bill hits lower-income families hard and enriches the already wealthy) would be a pleasure for us.
Here in Maryland, the federal fund cuts (and state cuts) are hammering universities with layoffs and food programs like food banks with a millions-of-meals deficit and hundreds of thousands of families short of food. The tariff effect is predicted to devastate the Port of Baltimore in the very near future, with empty-shelf effects on our supply chain. Other states are doing no better, as we'll see.
It's bad news for sure, but News You Can Use. |
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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.
>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org
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Don't forget to follow us on social media! |
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