WINS

NEEDS MORE WORK

Ensuring democracy for all. The Maryland General Assembly expanded voting rights and made it easier for all eligible voters to cast ballots. A key goal was to make sure historically excluded groups, including people of color, students, and military personnel have easier access to voting. New measures create a permanent absentee ballot list, ensure ballot boxes, set new rules on the siting and operation of early voting centers, ease voting for members of the military and students and contain updated rules on ballot curing.

Making unemployment Insurance easier to access.The Maryland legislature passed bills to improve the state’s unemployment system, making the process easier and speeding resolution of claims. 

Protecting patients from surprise medical debt. A law passed by the legislature ensures that no one who qualifies for free or reduced-cost care can have their wages garnished because of a hospital medical debt, guarantees that no patient will lose their home to a lien by a hospital, and puts a one year moratorium on all lawsuits from hospitals on medical debt until January 2022. The new law is the most comprehensive in the US. 

Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. Maryland Rise joined the call for expansion of EITC benefits to all taxpayers, regardless of citizenship status. Maryland now has the most generous EITC benefits in the country.

Closing corporate tax loopholes. Better than expected revenues for the state and an infusion of funding from the federal government gave legislators an excuse to not act to close corporate loopholes and create a more equitable system of taxation.

Establishing Paid Family and Medical Leave law to protect jobs and families. Despite the pandemic and overwhelming need for family friendly policies, the Maryland General Assembly failed to act on paid family and medical leave. We are advocating for a law that would provide at least 12 weeks of leave and replace a substantial share of workers’ usual wages while protecting workers against adverse consequences for taking leave. Maryland Rise is a member of the Time to Care Coalition which continues to make the case and work toward passage of the policy in the 2022 legislative session. More information about the campaign here.