Legislative Session

Update on priority bills!

• Priorities include three returning bills and three new bills! We are working on Environment & Health, Immigrant Protections, and Criminal Justice Reform bills this session; check out the list on our website. We welcome F/friends to join us on the bills we are focusing on AND we want to support personal advocacy leadings on other bills - check out our website for general advocacy resources, join future Friendly Persuasion sessions, or reach out to connect!

• Immigrant Protection Bills to end 287(g) Agreements are on the move! HB 444 and SB 245 have been voted out of their committees, without weakening amendments, and we have a clean bill to end 287(g) agreements in both chambers going to the floor for a vote. Also, these bills are becoming emergency legislation, meaning they would be in effect upon the Governor's signature.

• Hearings the week of 2/2 - 2/6 - Youth Charging Reform Act SB 323 has a hearing on 2/4 in the Judicial Proceedings Committee - testimony is due Mon., Feb 2 @ 6PM! Interested in submitting written personal testimony? Check out testimony guidelines here.

Reminder on upcoming advocacy events!

• Feb 2 @ 4-6pm - MD Youth Justice Coalition Lobby Night in Annapolis! Join the coalition in lifting up youth voices in Annapolis, and bringing constituents from across the state to advocate for ending the traumatic and racist practice of charging children as adults. The Youth Charging Reform Act is a Quaker Voice priority; details on our calendar and register to attend. 

• Feb 5 @ 7-8pm - MD Sierra Club Virtual Lobby Night Training! This kick-off event is to prep for a lobby night on Feb 9th. Learn about MD Sierra Club's 2026 legislative agenda (including the MD Bottle Bill) in preparation for the lobby night. Quaker Voice promotes MD Bottle Bill advocacy; details on our calendar and register to attend. 

• Feb 8 @ 1-2pm - MD Legislative Forum at Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting - Join for the whole day or just for the forum! Presenters will include Quaker Voice of Maryland, MD Alliance for Justice Reform. Learn more and register.

• Feb 12 @ 9am - 12pm - Interfaith Day of Action in Annapolis @ Lawyers Mall! The focus of this day will be immigrant protections. Learn about the priorities and register to attend.

Check out our calendar for all events.