We hope you had a restful holiday break and are staying cozy and safe today in this weather. A snow day feels fitting for kicking off the new year—complete with the Maryland Legislative Session just around the corner and exciting football playoffs ahead (go Ravens and Commanders!).

We’re back from the break and gearing up for a monumental start to 2025. The Maryland General Assembly convenes this Wednesday, January 8, at 12 PM, officially launching the legislative session. Our team has been working tirelessly on the priorities we shared at December’s Making Meaning event, advocating for bold new bills and rallying support for previous ones that didn’t make it out last year.

One major priority this session is the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025. After years of dedication from our Environmental Justice Task Force, we’re determined to make this the year Maryland removes trash incineration from the “green energy” list, taking a critical step toward combating environmental racism. We expect this bill to be the first of our priorities officially introduced in the Senate very soon.

Our other legislative priorities include Good Cause legislation to protect renters from unjust evictions, the Fair Share Act to ensure the wealthy pay their share, and tackling the healthcare crisis by addressing insurance denials and improving hospital staffing practices. As the session progresses, we’ll also have additional priority bills to share.

We’ve got a lot of work ahead, and we need your voice! Mark your calendar for Lobby Night in Annapolis on February 24th, where we’ll meet with lawmakers to advocate for these critical priorities. Register here to join us! 

Very soon, there will be numerous ways to get involved, from rallies and press conferences to petitions, testimony opportunities, and community events. Read on for updates from our task forces and campaigns, along with the latest state and national news to keep you informed.

We’re excited to start this year alongside you.

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• Legislative Updats
• PM Events
• Issue Campaign Updates
• Local Chapter Updates
• State & National News
• PM Job Openings

2025 Legislative Session: Stay in the Know

The 2025 Maryland General Assembly officially convenes this Wednesday, January 8th, at 12 PM. Click here to view the suggested dates of interest. It’s the start of an important session, and we’re ready to advocate for bold, progressive change.

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. 

Throughout the session, this section of the memo will be your go-to for updates on major developments, including the bills we’ll officially support and advocate for as they’re introduced. Stay tuned as we fight for our legislative priorities together!

PM EVENTS:

Join Us for Lobby Night in Annapolis

Be part of the action at our first big event of 2025: Lobby Night on Monday, February 24th. This is your chance to meet with lawmakers, share your voice, and advocate for the bold progressive policies our communities need.

Together, we’ll push for critical legislation on renters’ rights, environmental justice, fair taxes, and more. Legislators need to hear from you—your stories and perspectives make all the difference.

RSVP now to join us and help make change happen!

Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates: 

Healthcare Task Force: People are demanding that Insurers Stop Denying Our Care! 

We agree! That’s why we’re organizing on the national and state level to limit the power of health insurers in our system. It’s time to Cover Our Care! We have a great opportunity to expose and push back against insurance company greed during this legislative session. Our grassroots supporters give us the numbers and power we need to win – take a minute to sign up 

Please join us for a national organizing call next Thursday, Jan. 16th. We’ll share some exciting updates from around the country and make time for a breakout session to discuss the campaign here in Maryland and how to get involved:https://ppls.ac/organize 

Thank you! We look forward to working together in the new year!

Local Chapter Updates:

Harford County

Starting in 2025, Progressive Harford is debuting committees! Each committee will be focused on organizing towards a specific goal in each of our core issue pillars. Our inaugural committees will be a Racial and Social Justice Committee focused on chartering Edgewood; an Environmental Justice Committee; and an Events Committee. Although we don't want to stop there. We want to eventually build our way up to having an Economic Justice Committee, a Communications Committee, an Electoral Committee, or committees focused on other issue areas that our members want to pursue.

Progressive Harford is having a committee kickoff meeting on Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This meeting is open to anyone who wants to help get the committees off the ground. During this meeting, members will meet and start organizing together towards their committee's goal.

Click here to register.

News You Can Use -- lawmakers back at work as the snow falls on Maryland and D.C.

Lawmakers, just like the rest of us, were greeted on the opening of the first real week of 2025 by a rather impressive snowstorm, which we shared with many other parts of the country. It might give the lawmakers, like the rest of us, breathing space to consider just what we are up to as the year that ends the first quarter of the 21st century begins to complete itself.

In Maryland and elsewhere, a little thought before action is always recommended.

The calendar of busyness around the country is full: "The first three months of an odd year is the busiest quarter of a legislative cycle. By the end of January, 44 states will have kicked off their sessions," we were reminded by our friends at the Pluribus news outlet in our Weekender just this past Saturday. Check that out, as well as our Boxing Day catch-up post to make sure you didn't miss an important newsbreak affecting you and your community.

States and their lawmakers are getting ready for the scuffle, and Congress is trying to figure out how not to trip over their own majorities as the always-gyrating MAGA forces assemble their crew. We'll keep you aware of the serious side of the circus right here in News You Can Use.

PM Careers

Chapter/Membership Organizer

District 8 Community Organizer

Racial and Economic Justice Organizer

Social Media Coodinator

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 – News You Can Use -- lawmakers back at work as the snow falls on Maryland and D.C.
• Money Doesn't Talk, It Screams as MD fights budget woes and incoming TrumpWorld forces promise less than no help
• News You Can Use: Still More State and Local Action to Keep TrumpWorld at Bay

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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