The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland held a press conference announcing its legislative priorities for the 2024 general assembly session.
The priorities fall into five major issue areas: Health & Environmental Justice, Housing & Transportation, Black Wealth & Black Businesses, Education Equity, and Justice & Public Safety.
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
- Maryland Maternal Health Act of 2024
- Prescription Drug Affordability Act
- Prostate, Breast, and Lung Cancer Screening Campaign
- Impact of Environmental Permits & State Agency Actions
HOUSING & TRANSPORTATION
- Authorize Just Cause Eviction for Lease Non-Renewals
- Ban the Box on Lease Applications
- Increase Oversight and Compliance on Eviction
- Protect Access to Transportation for Black Communities
BLACK WEALTH & BLACK BUSINESSES
- Redevelop Maryland Small Business Online Resources
- Board of Public Works MBE Accountability & Transparency
- Improvements to State Contract Forecasting
- MBE Prime Contracting Expansion
EDUCATION EQUITY
- HBCU Program Duplication Legislation from Program Duplication Workgroup
- Equitable Funding for Land Grant Institutions
- Expansion of Community Schools
- Preserve Affordability of Childcare Scholarship Program
JUSTICE REFORM & PUBLIC SAFETY
- Establish a Correctional Ombudsman Office within the AG’s Office
- Expungement Expansion Bill Package
- Supporting the Success of Returning Citizens
- Protect recent policies and laws related to juvenile justice and cannabis odor, and support evidence-based and data-driven solutions to public safety and crime, including funding and support for violence intervention & prevention
Additional Details:
LBCMD 2024 Priorities Press Conference
Additional Media Coverage:
The Baltimore Sun – Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus pushes for changes to expungements, housing policy in 2024 session
