Maryland's Black lawmakers on Thursday highlighted a series of measures that prioritize improving health, housing access, business opportunities for minorities, education and criminal justice reform.
Rep. Janelle Wilkins, chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, said the caucus, which includes 66 of the 188 members of the Maryland General Assembly, is the largest caucus of its kind in the nation. He said that there is.
“Our agenda aims to address the health disparities, maternal health and cancer that plague our communities and lead to high mortality rates,” Wilkins, the Montgomery County Democrat, said at a news conference. said. “We strive to increase access to housing and create a more stable environment for renters and Marylanders.”
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Here are some of the measures the caucus is prioritizing.
health
The caucus supports measures to improve the health of pregnant women by streamlining post-discharge medical forms and connecting patients to community-based services.
Black lawmakers have also added support for a bill that would expand the authority of the Maryland Prescription Drug Pricing Commission to set statewide prescription drug payment caps. The caucus also wants to do more to increase public awareness about the availability of cancer screening.
Janelle Wilkins, chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, speaks during a press conference on January 18, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
housing
Lawmakers are backing a bill that would give local governments the power to require just cause for refusing to renew leases and establish clear criteria for evictions to protect tenants. Another bill would limit housing providers from discriminating against potential tenants with criminal records by banning landlords from conducting criminal background checks for three years after release.
criminal justice reform
The caucus aims to expand criminal record expungement laws. One measure would allow courts to decide whether a person's record can be expunged, even if the crime falls outside the current legal limits. Advocates argue that while the state has made progress on the right to revoke, there are still many misdemeanors that cannot be revoked, such as driving without a license or no insurance.
The caucus also supports legislation that would create an Office of an Ombudsman for correctional systems to give inmates and their families a voice on conditions in correctional facilities.
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education
The measure, backed by the caucus, would ensure that Maryland would not approve duplicate programs already offered by the state's four historically black universities.
The caucus also expressed opposition to Gov. Wes Moore's proposed budget, which would require copays of up to 7% of household income to participate in child care scholarship programs. Rep. Stephanie Smith, D-Baltimore, said the possibility of co-pays “could actually dilute the value of the scholarship program.” The governor's office said it is proud of Moore's largest-ever investment in the program, and the governor looks forward to continuing the dialogue with legislators, local leaders, and advocates.
minority business
The caucus highlighted legislation that would increase transparency in the awarding of state contracts. One measure would be to create an interactive public dashboard for state public utility commissions, which approve most state contracts. Another measure would increase prime contract opportunities for minority businesses.
