A sign at the news conference that marked the first-ever joint event by six Maryland legislative caucuses Monday, to push for passage of bills they are backing as the clock ticks down on the “crossover” deadline to get bills out of one chamber or the other. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)
Maryland lawmakers made history Monday when six legislative caucuses came together as one, with a simple message for their constituents and the Trump administration: “We are Maryland.”
Members of the Black, Jewish, Latino, Women’s, Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), and LGBTQ+ caucuses summarized legislative priorities, which include making sure diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, remain vital in the fourth-most diverse state in the nation.
President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Jan. 20, his first day in office, ending those program at the federal level, including in federal agencies and at schools and other institutions that receive federal funds.
“At a time when chaos and attacks from Washington threaten the rights of our residents and the progress we made in our country and our state, we are stepping up to protect and deliver for our communities,” said Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, in the press conference Monday in the House of Delegates building in Annapolis.
Dozens of bills are being pushed by the various caucuses, and a handful are endorsed by all of them. But those bills are running up against the March 17 “crossover date,” the deadline by which a bill has to pass out of one chamber to be guaranteed consideration in the other. But some of caucuses’ priorities are lagging in their respective chambers.
There are two specific measures each caucus does support.
Emotional testimony has been received in hearings in the House and Senate on the Second Look Act, which would allow a person who has served at least 20 years of a prison sentence to petition the court for a sentence reduction. If denied, they could petition again after three years. An incarcerated individual could not file more than three petitions.
Despite getting hearings in both chambers, that bill has not yet passed out of committee.
The other measure is House Bill 930 sponsored by Del. Lesley J. Lopez (D-Montgomery), a former president of the Women’s Legislators of Maryland, received a favorable recommendation by the Health and Government Operations Committee last week. The bill seeks to establish a public health abortion grant program in the state Department of Health to reimburse providers for abortion cost.
A Senate version of the abortiong bill, sponsored by Sen. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard), chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee, was heard before the Finance Committee last week.
The caucus chairs endorsed joint resolutions in the House and Senate that to ensure the state’s public schools acknowledge the importance of a culturally diverse curriculum. The House resolution was heard last Monday before the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and the Senate measure heard Friday before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee.
Other bills are backed by some combination of the caucuses, like Senate Bill 632/House Bill 1198, a bill to establish a pre-release center for incarcerated women, that is supported by the Black and Women’s caucuses. The legislation that has been heard in both chambers.
There’s also intersectionality amongst legislators on various caucuses such as Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George’s). He chairs the Latino Caucus and a member of the Black and LGBTQ+ caucuses.
“We come here with a very simple message and urgent demand: Pass our damn bills,” he said to a rousing applause. “These aren’t just words on paper. These are bills about safety, dignity and the fundamental rights of Marylanders who deserve to live free from fear.”
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