The Annapolis legislative session is about half over. There are a number of bills that we are supporting that will promote justice, democracy and the environment. Here is a summary of where they stand in the legislature. Please consider taking action to support these bills.

The Maryland Pretrial Justice Reform Act of 2017 - HB1390/SB880

The cash bail system in Maryland is broken and unjust. It imposes jail time on those who have not yet been tried. Cash bail has a disproportionate impact on black communities and communities of people living in poverty. HB 1390 and SB 880 have the most potential to truly ameliorate the implications of Maryland’s unjust cash bail system, while creating community based alternatives and institutions which provide an alternative to incarceration.

Update: Hearing before Senate Judical Proceedings Committe 3/1 (Video Here), Hearing Before House Judiciary Committee 3/7

Action: Contact Your Senators and Delegates and ask them to Support The maryland Pretrial Justice Reform Act of 2017

Contact Person: Andy Ellis, Baltimore City Green Party, s.andrew.ellis@gmail.com

Common Sense Ballot Access - HB707

The legislation is very simple. It changes one of two means for a political party to maintain its qualification for the ballot. Under current law, a party can remain qualified if it has 1% of the total registered voters in the state by the end of the year. Our bill replaces the 1% of registered voter standard with a flat 10,000 registered voters, matching the re-qualification standard with the original qualification standard.

Update: Hearing before House Ways and Means Committee 3/2 (Video Here), bill is still in subcommittee.

Action: Contact Members of Ways and Means Committee and ask them for a favorable recommendation on the bill, with no amendments. Find information for contact here

Contact Person: Nancy Wallace, Montgomery County Green Party safevote5@yahoo.com

Earned Paid Sick Leave-HB1/SB230

The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act allows for employees at businesses with more than 15 employees to earn paid "sick and safe leave" -- and unpaid leave for businesses with 14 or fewer workers -- when the employee or a family member is sick, with few exceptions.

Update: The Bill Passed the house this week with a veto proof majority, it passed out of the Senate Finance committee with some minor but diluting amendments. It will likely be going to a senate floor vote this week.

Action 1) Email your State Senator this week and call them to tell them that you support the bill with no further diluting amendments

Action 2) Show up and Rally in Annapolis on March 7th at 9:00 AM

Contact Person: Robert Eoin Smith, Anne Arundel Green Party, robert.eo.smith@gmail.com

Fracking Ban SB740

This bill would permanently ban fracking when the state moratorium expires in October.

Update: The House bill (HB 1325) passed out of committee on Friday afternoon with a vote of 18-4, including four Republican yea’s. It’s on the schedule for the full House this week and will likely be voted on before the end of the week.

Action: Please keep up the pressure and call Senator Miller

Contact Person: Thomas Meyer, Food and Water Watch, tmeyer@fwwatch.org

Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Marijuana SB891/HB1236

HB 1236 and SB 891 call for a constitutional amendment providing Marylanders over the age of 21 a right to use, possess, and cultivate Cannabis. If this bill passes both chambers of the General Assembly by a ⅗ majority, the question would go to voters during the 2018 general election. In the case that the constitutional amendment passes, residents of Maryland would be able to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants. The purchase and sale would be regulated by the state of Maryland.

Update: Senate hearing before the Judicial Proceedings Committee on 3/2(Video here). House hearing before the Judiciary Committee on 3/7

Action: Contact your state delegates and state senators (Sample letter)

Contact Person: Justin Schoville , Montgomery County Green Party, Jschoville89@gmail.com

State Funding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities SB 712

Maryland systematically underfunded Historically Black Colleges and Universities, essentially starving them and making it impossible for HBCUs to compete with the predominantly white colleges. SB 712 will begin to correct the long-term racially unfair actions of Maryland by providing supplemental financial assistance to HBCUs to ensure they are comparable and competitive with the majority white four-year public institutions in Maryland. The state needs to give HBCUs the resources they require to succeed because doing so is in the best interests of all students in Maryland.

Update: Senate Hearing is 3/7 at 1:00 PM before Budget and Taxation Committee. HBCU night in Annapolis is 3/21

Actions:

1) Share Baltimore Green Party Informational Video with Rashad Stanton and DeJuan Patterson of the HBCU Coalition

2) Go to Annapolis on 3/7 for hearing and 3/21 for HBCU Night

3) Contact your State Senator and tell them you Support SB 712

Contact Person: Andy Ellis, Baltimore City Green Party, s.andrew.ellis@gmail.com

Oppose Minimum Wage Preemption HB317

We oppose this bill that would prevent counties and municipalities from raising the minimum wage independently from the state.

Update: This bill has not moved out of committee

Action: No action at this time

Contact Person: N/A

Thank you for your support!

Maryland Green Party

http://www.mdgreens.org/