You can make real change simply by telling your stories...and encouraging clients, staff, supporters, partners to do the same.
The 2022 Legislative Session is over!
Here's where our priority issues landed...
Big wins this session: These bills are now law!
HB 1080: Healthy Babies Equity Act
HB 724/SB 662: ACCESS TO COUNCEL IN EVICTIONS SPECIAL FUND
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This bill funds legal counsel in eviction cases and specifically requires the Comptroller to distribute $11.8 million of certain abandoned property funds to the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund for fiscal year 2023. Read this one-pager!
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Watch Therapist Case Manager Amanda Wisniewski's testimony (starting at 4:00:43)
HB 6/SB 150: FULL ADULT DENTAL MEDICAID BENEFIT
This bill passed and we hope will become law:
SB 384/HB674: Stay of Eviction Proceeding for Rental Assistance Determination
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- This bill puts a hold on certain evictions while a tenant is waiting for a response to their rental assistance application. Read this one-pager!
These bills didn't pass this year...More advocacy ahead!
While we were disappointed that bills involving such critical issues as gender-affirming care and harm reduction did not pass, we will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to ensure the passage of these lifesaving bills in future sessions.
SB 682/ HB 746: Trans Health Equity Act
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- In Maryland, our Medicaid program categorically denies dozens of gender-affirming services to trans patients. This bill expands Maryland Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care.
- Read the one-pager
- UPDATE: Both SB 682 and HB 746 passed the Health & Government Operations Committee. But despite how far the bill has gotten, Speaker Jones refused to bring the bill to a vote.
SB 637 / HB 935: Behavioral Health System Modernization Act
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- Requires Maryland Medicaid to provide reimbursement for certain behavioral health services, including Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. This is a comprehensive bill. Read the overview.
HB 190: Good Samaritan Law Expansion
HB 481/ SB 509: Drug Paraphernalia Decriminalization
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- This bill decriminalizes possession of items that could be used to consume drugs. This bill will save lives, reduce barriers to housing and employement and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
- Along with our partners at Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC), we successfully advocated to pass this bill in 2021. When the Governor vetoed it, the General Assembly tragically refused to take up overriding the veto.
- Watch Senior Medical Director Laura Garcia's testimony (starting at 3:08:51)
- Watch Medical Provider Katharine Billipp's testimony (starting at 6:52:10)
HB881: Local "Just Cause" Termination Provisions
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- This bill allows local jurisdictions to prohobit evictions without a "just cause." During COVID, when failure to pay rent evictions were largely prohibited or curtailed, we saw a sharp uptick in landlords trying to get around this policy by simply evicting tenants when their lease ended (known as tenant holdovers). This bill is designed to stop evictions based on tenant holdover.
- Read this one-pager!
What does it mean to share a story?
How will these personal examples help?
"No-one wants to hear from me - they want to hear from you! People sharing real experiences with legislators is the most impactful way to influence legislation. They need to know there is a problem to be solved.” - Joanna Diamond, Director of Public Policy
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