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Legislative & Political Hub

Get involved! To find out about how you can be a part of AFT-Maryland's Political and Legislative Committees, or if you have any questions, contact Todd Reynolds or Denise Riley:

Todd Reynolds (443) 320-4719, AFT-Maryland Political Coordinator
Denise Riley (443) 320-4713, AFT-Maryland Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs


AFTMD Bill and Ballot Blog

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services logo

The state of Maryland has received a $2.5 million implementation grant from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This grant will help Maryland public schools extend services beyond what is provided under a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Services Program (IFSP). This initiative is a critical step toward enhanced healthcare accessibility for students enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

This grant, a product of the work of AFT Maryland in collaboration with Gov. Moore’s staff, is part of a broader federal effort under the Biden Administration. Click here to read more.

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Baltimore City Board of Election Certifies Primary Voting Results

Once again, the members of the AFT Maryland have demonstrated, through their hard work volunteering, that Baltimore is, always has been, and always will be a union town. 

With the Baltimore City Board of Elections certifying the results from last week’s primary election, labor can now officially celebrate the hard-fought victories up and down the ballot. The process that began last year with the construction and compilation of union questionnaires for the candidates and ended with union activists on doors and phones every week for the past 2 months bore fruit.

Read on for more!
 

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2024 Legislative Report AFT Maryland

AFT Maryland Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Denise Riley, and Political Coordinator, Todd Reynolds, present important information about the 2024 Maryland Legislative Session, which closed on April 8, 2024. Many important pieces of legislation affecting our members are detailed below, including information on bills affecting education professionals, state employees, city and county employees, and employees at higher education institutions. 

Read on for more!

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Budget

The only bill that is constitutionally required to pass every year is a balanced state budget. The budget was especially tight this year, as state revenues failed to meet projections, and the state was facing a $700 million dollar shortfall. This year, the originally proposed budget did fully fund the Blueprint for Education, but saw a drastic reduction in funding for our community colleges, moving the state contribution to its community colleges from 29% to 26.5%.

Read on for more...

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Crossover Day 2024

As the Maryland state legislative session approached its Crossover Day, bills moved quickly through both chambers. Crossover is the final day that bills passed in one chamber are guaranteed a hearing in the opposite chamber. If a bill does not crossover, it is not dead, but requires that it go through the Rules Committee to be given a hearing. 

Click through for the status on some of our priority bills after the March 18th crossover day!

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prescriptions

Rising prescription drug prices affect individuals, employers, and all levels of government. As pharmaceutical manufacturers kick off the new year with their annual price hikes, Maryland is stepping up its efforts to tackle the problem head-on.

Read on for more.

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testifying in Annapolis

This past week, leaders from the AFT-Maryland and UAMDCC were in Annapolis to protest proposed budget cuts to the state’s community colleges. Dozens of faculty members from AFT-AAUP affiliated unions sent letters, talked to their legislators, and testified in Annapolis for the “State Aid to Community College” budget hearing. 

Click through for photos and more information.

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Say No to Vouchers

In Governor Wes Moore’s proposed FY2025 budget, he cuts funding for Maryland’s Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program. BOOST is a state taxpayer funded program that provides vouchers for students to attend private schools. While the program is promoted as a means to expand educational options, there are numerous downsides to it.

Read on for more...

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Lobby Night 2024

MEMBERS! Join AFT-Maryland and our members from the BTU, CUB, MCEA, MPEC, MSDFSA, AFT Healthcare-Maryland, AFT/AAUP, United Academics Maryland, BCFPE, BCFPHN, and other AFT unions as we travel to Annapolis to talk with our representatives about our issues in the 2024 Legislative Session.

Read on for information on how to RSVP to reserve your spot on the bus.


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Governor's Budget Proposal

Governor Wes Moore has introduced his FY2025 - $63.1 billion budget proposal. It will reduce the state’s structural deficit for fiscal 2025 by 34%, bringing it down from the projected $761 million to $502 million, according to the Department of Legislative Services.

Read on for more on what that means for our members.

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