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Quaker Voice invites you to join us in advocating during the 2025 legislative session.
Quaker Voice invites you to join us in advocating during the 2025 legislative session.
Priority topics, bills, and partners:
Priority topics, bills, and partners:
Climate & Environment
Abundant Affordable Clean Energy | RENEW Act | Reclaim Renewable Energy Act | Maryland Bottle Bill
Partnering with MD League of Conservation Voters, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Choose Clean Water Coalition, and Sierra Club
Criminal Justice
Geriatric-Medical Parole | Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction | Reducing use of solitary / restrictive housing
Partnering with Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR) and Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR)
Protections for Immigrants
Maryland Data Privacy Act | Protecting Sensitive Locations Act | Ending 287(g) Agreements
Partnering with CASA Maryland and other faith-based groups
Access to Housing
Good Cause Eviction (actively advocating) | Housing for Jobs Act (actively educating)
Partnering with Renter's United Movement (RUM) and Maryland Just Power Alliance
Action Alert - Last week of actions - 3/31 - 4/4!
Action Alert - Last week of actions - 3/31 - 4/4!
Take actions this week (3/31 - 4/4) to support Quaker Voice priority bills! Use the links below to get to actions shared by our bill experts. This is the last week before the end of session! Actions are important right now!
Maryland Bottle Bill
Update: This bill had great success being voted on in one of the two House committees it was assigned to but ultimately was not voted on out of Economic Matters Committee in the House. This means it did not move forward after Cross-over Day and at this point is not moving forward to become law this year.
Action: Ensure your legislators are well informed on the bill and know that this is an important issue to you as a constituent, even though this bill will not move forward this year.
SB422 - Keeping Kids Out of Adult Court
Update: This bill was not voted on in Senate Judicial Proceedings committee before Cross-over Day. This means it did not move forward after Cross-over Day and at this point is not moving forward to become law this year. A letter to the editor was published recently in the Baltimore Banner urging Senator Ferguson to bring this bill to a vote!
Action: Encourage Senator Smith (person of power) and your representative(s) to move this bill to a vote in committee; this will better position the bill for success to pass in the future.
Immigrant Protections
Update: Our three priority bills are moving forward after Cross-over Day, and this week the focus is having the bills passed in the House. There are some concerns with harmful amendments, which is why some of the actions talk about a "clean version" of the bill.
Action: Use the daily action link below to take action every day this week! Actions can include contacting your Senator, the Senate President, and the Governor.
Additional Resource Links
Additional Resource Links
List of House & Senate committees, including membership, that will be considering our priority bills.
Quick reference for priority bills, what they are about, and resources where you can learn more.
Quick links to testimony submitted by Quaker Voice of Maryland to support priority bills.
Image: Wikipedia
Bill Progress Updates & Upcoming Events
Bill Progress Updates & Upcoming Events
Week 13 (3/31 - 4/4)
Last full week of session is this week! The goal of this week is to elevate our priority bills that could use extra support before session ends on April 7th. Check out our action alerts (above) for actions you could take this week.
Watch out for Next Generation Energy Act (HB1035, SB0937)! This bill is having success moving forward this session and would allow new gas power plants to be built in Maryland, which is a big concern to advocacy experts like Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Learn more about the bill and concerns in this Maryland Reporter article.
Advocacy event on Friday, 4/4 - Fossil-Free Fridays in Annapolis! Chesapeake Climate Action Network is hosting Fossil-Free Friday Actions every Friday (3/21, 3/28, 4/4) through the end of session from 10 am- 12 pm on Lawyers Mall. This is in response to the Next Generation Act. The purpose of this action is to say No New Gas in MD: Don't Need It, Don't Want It! Learn more about this advocacy event and register to attend.
Stay tuned for last minute action requests to move bills forward! These will be coming to your inboxes in the form of emails if you are on our email list.
Check out our calendar for all upcoming testimony due dates, bill hearings, and events.
Priority Bill Tracking Sheet
Priority Bill Tracking Sheet
The sheet below includes a tab for each of our priority topics: Climate & Environment, Criminal Justice, Protections for Immigrants, and Access to Housing. Scroll across the sheet to learn about committees and bill progress - including upcoming hearings! - and links to advocacy and education resources. This sheet is updated weekly between Jan. - April.
Quick Link Resources for Advocacy Work:
Quick Link Resources for Advocacy Work:
Not sure how to use the Maryland General Assembly website? Want to sign up for witness testimony or submit written testimony? Need tips for monitoring bills? Check out these great videos offered by Friendly Persuasions!
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.
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