Maryland General Assembly Legislative Update for January 23, 2024

Last week, Governor Wes Moore unveiled his proposed FY25 Budget and it is a disaster.  While economists and lawmakers warn of an impending budget crisis, he is continuing his reckless spending streak with hundreds of millions of dollars being thrown at new programs.  Meanwhile, to pay for it, he is proposing raiding the state's rainy day fund, slashing funding for core government services, and allowing the budget deficit to continue.  The legislature will now spend the next several months debating, reviewing, and amending the budget, and it is critical for our state's fiscal future that we fight against these proposals. 

Outside of the budget, though, there are plenty of other important bills being considered in the MGA in the coming weeks on the topics of public safety, education, and election integrity that you have the opportunity to advocate on:

Upcoming Bills You Can Support
 

HB142 & HB192 - Election Laws - Voter ID laws that establish mandatory presentation of a verifiable form of identification, government-issued or otherwise, to vote. Hearing scheduled in the Ways & Means Committee on 1/25, contact Delegate Bob Long for information on how to deliver oral or written testimony: bob.long@house.state.md.us, or contact other committee Delegates in support. 

HB202 - Election Law - Law that requires signature verification on mail-in ballots.  Hearing scheduled in the Ways & Means Committee on 1/25, contact Delegate Bob Long for information on how to deliver oral or written testimony: bob.long@house.state.md.us, or contact other committee Delegates in support. 

HB47 - Fairness in Girls Sports Act - Law that requires high school sports to be designated by biological sex, prohibiting biological males from playing in Girl's Sports, and establishing co-ed sport teams for students who prefer not to play on the boys or girls teams.  Hearing scheduled in the Ways & Means Committee on 1/31, contact Delegate Kathy Szeliga for information on how to deliver oral or written testimony: kathy.szeliga@house.state.md.us, or contact other committee Delegates in support. 

SB39 - Gun Theft Felony Act - Part of the Republican Public Safety Agenda, a law that classifies the theft of a firearm as a felony and will help get illegal guns off the streets.  Hearing scheduled in the Judicial Proceedings Committee on 2/1, contact Senator Justin Ready for information on how to deliver oral or written testimony: justin.ready@senate.state.md.us, or contact other committee Senators in support.  

HB25 - Education - A law that prohibits sexually explicit materials from public school libraries and media centers unless approved as instructional material for family life instruction.  Hearing scheduled in the Ways & Means Committee on 1/31, contact Delegate Nino Mangione for information on how to deliver oral or written testimony: nino.mangione@house.state.md.us, or contact other committee Delegates in support.