Legislative Session
Quaker Voice has identified its priorities for the 2024 legislative session.
List of all priority bills for Quaker Voice during the 2024 General Assembly; this year we are supporting bills related to Climate Justice, Criminal Justice Reform, Housing Equity, and Water Quality.
List of bills that Quaker Voice considered; bills we were not able to choose as a priority might still be of interest to other Friends.
List of House & Senate committees, including membership, that will be considering our priority bills in 2024.
Priority topics and partners:
Climate Justice: Clean Water Action
Criminal Justice Reform: Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR); Clean Slate Initiative; Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR)
Housing Equity: MD Poor People's Campaign (PPC)
Water Quality: Waterkeepers Chesapeake
Action Alerts
No need for action - our three remaining bills have been voted on and passed Favorable!
Bill Progress Updates & Upcoming Events
Week 13 (4/1 - 4/7)
What happened during Week 13
SB134 (Ombudsman Unit) - Passed Third Reading in the House with amendments (!!!!) Check out coverage from Maryland Matters in February highlighting support from the Attorney General for "significant oversight" of the Maryland correctional system.
HB1101 (Clean Water Justice Act) - This bill is on the way to the governor's desk! The Act restores communities' right to sue to protect the streams and wetlands that lost federal Clean Water Act protection after the U.S. Supreme Court Sackett v EPA decision. With the passing of this bill, enforcement can happen under state law. Stay tuned for a press release from Waterkeepers Chesapeake on Monday, 4/8.
HB693 (Renter's Rights & Stabilization Act) - Passed Third Reading in the Senate with amendments! Check out coverage from Maryland Matters to learn more about what passage of this bill could mean.
Priority Bill Tracking Sheet
Quick Link Resources for Advocacy Work:
Check out this Guidelines document created by the Maryland Association of Counties; helpful information includes when testimony is due broken down by Senate and House committees.
Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform shared this workshop presentation as part of 2023 advocacy training; provides helpful background on the General Assembly process, how to use the bill website, and how to advocate in support of a bill.