2024 Legislative Session
Maryland's 2024 Legislative Session is over! See where the bills we advocated for landed.
Big wins: These bills passed!
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Access to Care Act | HB728 + SB705
- To allow immigrants, regardless of immigration status, to purchase health insurance plans through Maryland's insurance market.
- Watch Population Health Nurse Shannon Riley testify in favor (1:07:05)
- To allow immigrants, regardless of immigration status, to purchase health insurance plans through Maryland's insurance market.
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Legally Protect Gender-Affirming Treatment | SB0119
- To protect providers of gender-affirming treatment in Maryland from civil, criminal or disciplinary action from other states or licensing boards.
- Read coverage of the bill: WMAR 2 News | Maryland Matters
- To protect providers of gender-affirming treatment in Maryland from civil, criminal or disciplinary action from other states or licensing boards.
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Support Language Access to behavioral health | SB991
- To provide grants to local behavioral health authorities to reimburse behavioral health providers for language assistance services for children with limited English proficiency accessing and receiving behavioral health services.
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CREATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL FAMILIES | SB370 + HB428
- This bill creates a $10 million rental assistance program for families whose children are enrolled in community schools and who are facing eviction. Families may receive assistance for up to 12 months. The program is administered by the Department of Education, and eligible families are identified by the on-site community schools coordinator.
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TENANT SAFETY ACT | HB1117
- This bill will allow groups of tenants to join together to sue for repairs of dangerous housing defects common to multiple units.
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Additional Wins
- $6.4 million in the state budget to expand the Medicaid supportive housing waiver (ACIS)
- Governor's renters' rights bill | HB 693
- Governor's density bonus bill | HB 538
- SNAP benefit increase from $40 to $50 | HB 666 + SB 035
- 340B protection bill | HB 1056
These bills didn't pass this year...More advocacy ahead!
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Establish Community Health Worker Appreciation Day | HB0568
- This bill will establish May 8 as Community Health Worker Appreciation Day; and lift up the importance of CHWs in improving access to care and support. The bill passed the House, but did not pass the Senate.
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Allow Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS) | SB427 + HB1096
- In 2011, there were 26 recorded deaths just from fentanyl in our state. By 2020, there were 2,342 deaths, with the largest increases in Black and Hispanic communities. We support the introduction of Overdose Prevention Sites in Maryland, where people can use substances with immediate access to life saving interventions, medical care, emotional support and non-judgmental, therapeutic relationships.
- Read a Q&A with RN Kathy Pretl and Senior Peer Recovery Specialist Vicky Stewart about their visit to an operating Overdose Prevention Site in NYC.
- Watch MAT RN Sarah Barry testify (around 1:53:00) and watch Senior Peer Recovery Specialist Vicky Stewart testify (around 1:04:18)
- Watch Harm Reduction Manager Molly Greenberg, RN testify in favor of OPS (starting at 57:36). “In this system, what we do falls short of what people need and deserve. These deaths are preventable, and every single one is a policy failure.”
- In 2011, there were 26 recorded deaths just from fentanyl in our state. By 2020, there were 2,342 deaths, with the largest increases in Black and Hispanic communities. We support the introduction of Overdose Prevention Sites in Maryland, where people can use substances with immediate access to life saving interventions, medical care, emotional support and non-judgmental, therapeutic relationships.
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Decriminalize Drug Paraphernalia | HB706
- We support decriminalizing the possession of items that could be used to consume drugs, such as syringes and needles. This saves lives, reduces barriers to housing and employment and prevents the spread of infectious diseases. With our partners at Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC), we successfully advocated to pass this bill in 2021. The Governor vetoed it and the General Assembly refused to take up overriding the veto. In 2023, HB173 passed in the House but did not make it through the Senate.
- Watch Medical Provider Katharine Billipp testify (around 2:44:40)
- We support decriminalizing the possession of items that could be used to consume drugs, such as syringes and needles. This saves lives, reduces barriers to housing and employment and prevents the spread of infectious diseases. With our partners at Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC), we successfully advocated to pass this bill in 2021. The Governor vetoed it and the General Assembly refused to take up overriding the veto. In 2023, HB173 passed in the House but did not make it through the Senate.
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Enable local "Just Cause" Eviction Prevention | HB477 + SB644
- Helps provide renters with the protections they need from unjust, discriminatory, and arbitrary eviction. This year, the bill (changed to "Good Cause") passed the House but did not pass the Senate. This is the farthest it's gone to date, and we anticipate seeing this bill next year.
- Read District 20 Representative Jheanelle Wilkins' Op Ed supporting Just Cause laws in The Baltimore Banner
- Helps provide renters with the protections they need from unjust, discriminatory, and arbitrary eviction. This year, the bill (changed to "Good Cause") passed the House but did not pass the Senate. This is the farthest it's gone to date, and we anticipate seeing this bill next year.
See our 2023 priorities and where they landed