Preparing for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session, WDC describes its legislative priorities. Read here.
Read more2023 WDC Legislative Accomplishments
Although the 445th Maryland General Assembly has come to a close, Gov. Wes Moore continues to sign bills into law, some with much fanfare! Click here to read WDC's legislative accomplishments report for the 2023 session. Have a great summer!
WDC 2023 Advocacy Priorities
To read our priorities for 2023, click here.
2022 WDC Legislative Accomplishments
During the 2022 legislative session, members of the WDC Advocacy Committee worked tirelessly to advocate for a total of 44 bills. Of those bills, 14 passed. Although we were pleased with our accomplishments, there is still much work to be done on important bills that did not survive. The fact that there is a new legislature starting in January 2023, makes our work even harder since many of the bills will have to be introduced anew.
On May 27th Governor Hogan vetoed another 18 bills (He vetoed 11 bills on April 8th). This action is particularly devastating since being an election year, the new legislature starting January 2023 cannot override vetoes of legislation passed by previous lawmakers. Two bills WDC directly advocated for were vetoed by the Governor. “The Time to Care Act” veto was immediately overridden by the legislature before sine die on April 9th. The “Act” establishes the Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. The “Stay of Eviction Proceeding for Rental Assistance Determination” bill was vetoed on May 27th. Although the traditional date for enacted bills to go into effect is October 1st, the earliest date for 2022 enacted bills to take effect can be as early as June 1st. In fact, the “Time to Care Act’ was a bill that went into effect on June 1st. Our families thank you!
WDC supported the following bills that ultimately passed:
WDC 2022 Advocacy Priorities
Our 2022 Legislative Priorities, click here to read.
WDC 2021 Legislative Priorities Wrap-Up
Our 2021 legislative Priorities Wrap-Up, click here.
Read moreWDC 2021 Legislative Priorities
The Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club (WDC) is one of the largest and most active Democratic clubs in the County with hundreds of politically active women and men, including many elected officials. WDC members work together to elect Democrats, keep voters informed, advocate for state and local issues of importance to women and their families, and educate our community on critical issues. For the 2021 Maryland State legislative session, the WDC Advocacy Committee will advocate for the following priorities to champion issues that disproportionately affect women and their families. In 2021 we will continue our support for a countywide approach to view legislation through a racial and social equity lens. The theme of equity and justice is not only woven into our approach to the upcoming legislative session but has been a strong focus of the club’s off-cycle and local advocacy activities. Finally, the burden on women and their families in Montgomery County resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic is of urgent concern. Therefore, in addition to advocating for the key issue areas outlined, WDC will prioritize legislation that provides programs and funding to alleviate the impact of the pandemic.
Read moreWDC Testimony RE: AB-771 Ellsworth Drive Abandonment
WDC ‘s position on AB-771, abandonment by the Department of Transportation of Ellsworth Drive, is Support With CONDITIONS.
WDC opposes, specifically, any use of synthetic turf (synturf) on Ellsworth Drive. If the applicant insists on using synturf, WDC opposes the abandonment.
WDC President Diana Conway To Address Senate Police Reform Hearing
Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR) Committee Chair Sen. Will Smith (D20) has announced three days of virtual hearings on September 22, 23 and 24 from 1-5 pm to address 15 police reform bills that Sens. Jill Carter (D41), Charles Sydnor (D44) and Chairman Smith have introduced. WDC President Conway will speak for two minutes between 4:30-5 pm on Tuesday, September 22, regarding JPR 1—Use of Force Standards, sponsored by Sen. Carter.
Update from WDC’s Task Force on Racial Equity in Public Safety (REPS).
On August 12, REPS Task Force Chair, Lisa Henderson, and member, Beth Tomasello, met via Zoom with Councilmember-At-Large Will Jawando and his Chief of Staff, Cecily Thorne. Councilmember Jawando reviewed the provisions of County Council Bill 27-20E (which he sponsored) to discuss how the provisions addressed the #8CANTWAIT use-of-force policing reforms which the REPS Task Force has endorsed as first steps in reinventing County policing. Councilmember Jawando also discussed future legislation needed to address transparency, training, and accountability in County policing, including the need for comprehensive data collection on racial disparities in policing. The County only collects information on traffic stops; however, that data clearly show a great disparity in the number of stops directed at Black men and men of color.
At the recommendation of the REPS Task Force, WDC signed on to two letters sponsored by statewide advocacy groups. The first letter
Read moreUpdate On WDC’s Actions to Repeal Our Confederate State Song
WDC’s advocacy in reaching out to our legislators and asking them to act to repeal our Confederate State Song, "Maryland, My Maryland", is having results. Thank you to all of our members who contacted their elected representatives.
On July 14, the Montgomery Democratic Party passed a Resolution that strongly supports the efforts to repeal "Maryland, My Maryland" as our State Song and urges the Maryland General Assembly to repeal this song in the 2021 legislative session.
2020 Legislative Accomplishments
WDC Members Attend Our 2020 Annapolis Day
During the 2020 Maryland State Legislative session, the Senate introduced 1,081 bills and theHouse introduced 1,663 bills for consideration. Of that total, 636 bills were passed by the legislature. Unfortunately, due to the economic fallout from the pandemic, Governor Hogan aggressively vetoed legislation requiring significant levels of new or increased spending. WDC advocated for 19 unique bills, including 18 House bills (most of which were cross-filed with
Senate bills) and one Senate bill that was not cross-filed. Many of these bills were sponsored or co-sponsored by our Montgomery County Senators or Delegates. Ten bills that WDC supported were passed by the state legislature and presented to the Governor. The Governor vetoed 3 of the 10 bills, leaving 7 fully enacted. WDC also supported the bill priorities of its partner, the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW).
GOVERNOR HOGAN SHOULD REVERSE HIS DECISION TO HOLD A TRADITIONAL ELECTION AND ORDER BALLOTS MAILED TO ALL MARYLAND VOTERS!
The Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club is Concerned that Governor Hogan’s Decision to Hold a Regular Election in November During an Active Pandemic will be Detrimental to the Health and Welfare of Maryland Women and their Families and is a Form of Voter Suppression. We encourage Governor Hogan to modify his decision to mail ballots directly to ALL registered voters.
If you believe this issue is important to you and for Maryland, reach out to Governor Hogan's office and make your voice heard.
WDC Creates Racial Equity and Public Safety Task Force (REPS)
Photo by Janavi Dhyani. Image was taken at Black Lives Matter Plaza during DC Freedom Fighters March on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
WDC President Diana Conway recently appointed a Task Force on Racial Equity in Public Safety (REPS) to lead WDC’s work in supporting greater racial justice in law enforcement. As a first measure of reform, WDC is supporting the immediate implementation of the policing reforms known as #8CANTWAIT (#8CW) as a first step in an overall re-imagining and re-structuring of law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County. Lisa Henderson, Co-Chair of the Partnerships and Outreach Committee, is heading the REPS Task Force. Dr. Angela Davis of American University, a recent WDC speaker, has agreed to serve as an informal adviser to REPS.
Read moreWDC Annapolis Day Rocks the Maryland General Assembly
An energetic team led by Advocacy Chair Leslie Milano hosted a lively, activity-packed Annapolis Day for WDC members and state legislators on February 26 at the House Office Building in Annapolis. The day began with a pre-event (optional) visit to the weekly Women’s Caucus meeting, where newly elected House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped by to greet WDC members, sharing their support for several WDC priority bills and applauding our legislative activism.
WDC President Diana Conway launched the official program, with a welcome to members and guests and a quick outline of the day’s events. Advocacy Committee issue captains then briefed …
Read moreWDC Takes a Stand - Retire Our Confederate State Song This Session!
WDC members Ginger Macomber and Fran Rothstein visit the State Capitol to testify for HB0181.
Did you know that our State Song - "Maryland, My Maryland" - glorifies the Confederacy and honors our State's slave-holding and segregationist past? Did you know that the Southern Poverty Law Center includes Maryland's State Song on its list of shame as a public symbol of the Confederacy that distorts history by honoring a secessionist government that waged war to preserve white supremacy and the enslavement of millions of people, including the ancestors of our fellow citizens?
Marylanders deserve a State song that makes us all proud and reflects who we are in 2020! Our WDC Advocacy Committee has been working hard to convince our legislators that, after nine failed attempts since 1974, it is long past time to retire "Maryland, My Maryland" - and you can help.
Read more2019 WDC Legislative Accomplishments
During the 2019 Maryland State legislative session, WDC submitted testimony on twenty-six bills related to WDC’s priorities. Many of these bills were sponsored or co-sponsored by our Montgomery County Senators or Delegates. Fourteen bills were passed by the State legislature and enacted into law. As of this writing, three bills have been signed by the Governor. One bill was vetoed by the Governor and overridden by the legislature. The Governor must veto a bill passed by the legislature by May 28 or the bill becomes law. WDC also supported the bill priorities of WDC’s partner, the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW). WDC monitored the status of four bills but did not submit testimony. To view the current status of all legislation introduced in the 2019 session, click here for House bills and here for Senate bills.
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | April 2019
The 2019 State legislative session ended on Monday April 8 (Sine Die) with the passage of over 850 bills, and on a sad note with the passing of long time House Speaker Michael Busch.
WDC submitted testimony on 26 important State bills that significantly impacted women and their families. WDC also submitted testimony on two County bills.
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | March 2019
View more photos on our Facebook page.
On Wednesday, February 27, 35 WDC members traveled to Annapolis for WDC’s 2019 Advocacy Day. Each member received an information packet with summaries of WDC’s priority legislation, the legislative process, tips for meeting with legislators, and a schedule of legislator meetings. The day began with the morning session of the Women Legislators’ Caucus, where members heard presentations about child abuse and human trafficking in Maryland.
Read moreAdvocacy Committee Report | February 2019
The 2019 State Legislative session began January 9 and will end April 8. During this time our State legislators will consider several thousand bills. WDC sent letters to Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch asking them to support legislation that addresses WDC’s priorities. WDC’s Advocacy Committee will identify bills that are directly relevant to women and their families and address each of our six priority issue areas (Affordable Housing, Aging, Children and Youth, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Health, and Working Families). WDC will submit testimony requesting a favorable vote for these bills. Be sure to sign up for WDC’s Advocacy Alert Team (link) to receive notice of WDC’s testimony and help WDC advocate for passage of these bills.
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