PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY
PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY PRIORITY FOCUS:
- Increase Women Candidates Running for Political Office
- Voter Education, Registration, & Rights
- Issue Timely Policy Alerts
- Issue Position Papers related to our Public Policy and Advocacy Issues
EMAIL: publicpolicy@ncbwpgc.net for more information.
MLAW hosted its annual Fall Agenda Conference Eyes on the Prize: When Women Vote, We All Win on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Here is what was covered:
LEARN ABOUT THE 2024 PROPOSED AGENDA HERE
LEARN WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 WITH BILLS PASSED HERE
Our work continues, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Prince George's County Chapter membership led by our Public Policy & Advocacy Committee will continue to push for key legislation be passed that benefits and creates equity for women and girls, especially Black women and girls.
In the state of Maryland, BIPOC women are significantly disproportionally impacted by current or non-existing laws that product reproductive rights, access to healthcare, protection against intimate partner crimes, fair wages, and so much more!
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BILLS THAT PASSED the House in 2024
HB148 - Department of Transportation - Human Trafficking Awareness, Training, and Response (See Someone, Save Someone Act): Requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to develop and implement a certain training program for certain transportation-sector employees on the identification and reporting of human trafficking victims; requiring, by January 1, 2025, and each January 1 thereafter, employers to certify that all their employees have completed the training; requiring employers to provide a new employee with the required training within 90 days after the date of hire; requiring employers to establish certain reporting procedures; etc. Passed in the House 136-0; https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/
HB583 - Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention - Establishment: Establishing the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention in the Maryland Department of Health to reduce firearm violence, harm from firearm violence, and misuse of firearms in the State by partnering with federal, State, and local agencies and affected communities to implement a public health approach to firearm violence reduction; requiring the Center by May 1, 2025, to submit to the Governor and General Assembly a preliminary State Plan for a Public Health Approach to Reducing Firearm Violence; etc. Passed in the House 103-34; https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/
HB1082 - Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Implementation – Funding and Independent Evaluation – Alterations: Requiring, in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, each county board of education to provide for the salary and benefits of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future implementation coordinator in the county; requiring the implementation coordinator's salary and benefits to be paid for by the State and the county in a certain proportion; altering the dates by which the entity contracted to perform an independent evaluation of the implementation of the Blueprint is required to report to the Board; etc. Passed in the House 113-23; https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/
HB37 - Services for Formerly Incarcerated Women - Commission and Pilot Program - Establishment: Establishing the Commission on Reentry Services for Women overseen by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to create a comprehensive reentry plan for formerly incarcerated women; requiring the Commission to study the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated women, gather data from counties, identify service gaps, and report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by June 30, 2025; establishing the Reentry Pilot Program for Formerly Incarcerated Women to connect formerly incarcerated women to supportive services; etc. Passed in the House 134-4: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/
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BILLS THAT PASSED in 2023
HB 148/SB 328 ▪ Criminal Law – Stalking – Definition Alters the definition of stalking to include conduct that occurs in person, through electronic communication, or through the use of a device that can pinpoint or track the location of another without the person’s knowledge or consent. PASSED. Signed by the Governor.
HB 296/SB 280 ▪ Temporary Protective Orders – Electronic Filing and Video Conferencing Hearings Enables a petitioner receiving medical treatment at a hospital to electronically file a petition for a temporary protective order while at the hospital and requires hospitals to refer petitioners to certain programs. It also enables a petitioner to electronically file a petition for a temporary protective order from certain programs and centers. It also requires a court that receives an electronically filed petition to hold a hearing through video conferencing either the same or next business day. PASSED. Signed by the Governor.
HB 937/CH 56/SB 890 ▪ Abortion Care Access Act Establishes the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program in the Maryland Department of Health to ensure that there are a sufficient number of health professionals to provide abortion care, including physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives/certified midwives, and physician assistants. Establishes the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Fund, including provision and coverage requirements for abortion services for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and certain insurers (no deductible, coinsurance, copayment or other cost-sharing required). Requires the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,500,000 to the Program. PASSED. Vetoed by the Governor but overridden by the General Assembly.
SB 275/CH 48/HB 8 ▪ Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Establishment (Time to Care Act of 2022) Establishes the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in the Maryland Department of Labor to provide benefits to individuals who take leave from employment for certain purposes (e.g., new children, family members with serious health conditions or disabilities, or themselves). Establishes the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, requiring that beginning October 1, 2023, certain employees, employers (over 15 employees), and self-employed individuals to contribute to the Fund. It also requires the Secretary to establish the total rate of contribution and the percentages of the total rate of contribution to be paid by employees and employers. PASSED. Vetoed by the Governor but overridden by the General Assembly.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
HB 153 ▪ Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Repeal of Spousal Defense/SB 33 ▪ Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense and Spousal Defense The original version of this bill would have repealed the law allowing marriage as a defense to sex crimes. Conference committee reached agreement but failed to make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
HB 454/SB 776 ▪ Correctional Services – Pregnancy and Postpartum Support (Prevention of Forced Infant Separation Act) This bill would have allowed incarcerated women in prerelease status to relocate to the prerelease unit for women throughout the duration of their pregnancy and allowed an inmate in prerelease status who recently gave birth to a child to reside in the in the prerelease unit for women up to one year following the birth. It also provided for the father or secondary caretaker of a child residing in the prerelease unit liberal visitation with the child if legally allowed. The bill established a Healthy Start Bonding Program to facilitate strong bonds between incarcerated women and their children. No vote in House Judiciary or Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees.
HB 626/SB 669 ▪ Pregnant Person’s Freedom Act of 2022 This bill would have prevented pregnant people or those who have experienced pregnancy loss or termination as well as individuals who assist or provide aid to pregnant people seeking abortion care from criminal penalties or civil liabilities. No vote in House Health and Government Operations or Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees.
HB 833/SB768 ▪ Criminal Law – Victims of Child Sex Trafficking and Human Trafficking – Safe Harbor and Service Response This bill would have provided a safe harbor for child victims of sex trafficking and prevent further victimization by connecting them to services and preventing criminal charges that are a direct result of their being a victim of sex or human trafficking. Conference committee reached agreement but failed to make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
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The Prince George's County Chapter has signed on to the ERA Affirming Resolution Letter to Legislators. To read the letter, click on
ERA Affirming Resolution - Letter to Legislators.pdf
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Throughout our program year, we engage with community leaders, influencers, and other women-serving organizations to advocate for various legislation that will benefit our community. We particularly monitor closely, the workflow and progress of important legislation that impact women, girls and their families.
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The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Inc. Prince George's County Chapter advocates on behalf of Black women and girls. We are unapologetic in our quest for equity in all forms - health, economic, social justice, education, and more. Our voice is amplified through a collective effort. Read critical legislation we are tracking and advocating for. Learn how to track legislation of interest to you.
For more information about the legislation supported by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Prince George's County Chapter, please contact publicpolicy@ncbwpgc.net
Click here to establish a "MYMGA Tracking Account" on the Maryland General Assembly website to track and learn more about the following bills and other legislation.
