Legislative

Across the state, Marylanders have made significant sacrifices in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic. As public employees, health care professionals, and education professionals, you know how vital and essential the public sector is to Maryland. That’s why NOW is the time for the federal government to invest in America and not forfeit the future. The HEROES Act (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, HR 6800), does just that. Maryland would receive $9.6 billion in direct aid to states and $5.6 in direct aid to local governments if the Senate passes the HEROES

For the first time since the Civil War, the Maryland Legislative Session ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, legislators were able to pass an emergency bill to provide funds to deal with the healthcare crisis before Sine Die.

The early adjournment was only one of the reasons the 2020 session was historical. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (SB 1000/HB 1300), a comprehensive bill to adopt the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission, passed and awaits the governor’s signature. The Blueprint, over three years in the making, will establish a world class education system in

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (SB 1000 / HB 1300) is the Kirwan Commission recommendations in legislation. The bill passed, and now waits on Governor Hogan’s desk for him to sign, veto, or take no action, which will make it go into law by default.

The bill is the first major economic plan for Maryland in probably decades. As our economy changes so must the education and training of its citizens. Maryland is one of the first states to recognize this need and has spent a great deal of time and research to catch-up to other countries in order to compete with them economically on a global

The efforts to #flattenthecurve of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, meant that the General Assembly suspended the Maryland legislative session in mid-March and this has increased the speed at which the legislature has worked to pass their most important bills. The Blueprint bill, commonly referred to as Kirwan, passed both chambers of the General Assembly and now waits on Governor Hogan’s desk for his signature. This landmark bill overhauls Maryland’s education system first by demanding greater state and local spending on education. BTU executive board member Corey Gaber

With a little over three weeks left in the legislative session, and the looming challenges of interpersonal interaction posed by the discovery of more COVID-19 cases, the AFT-Maryland March Legislative Committee meeting took on a heightened sense of importance. Several AFT-Maryland locals including BTU, BCFPE, CUB, and BCFPHN were represented. AFT-Maryland Legislative Director Denise Riley led the meeting and gave a thorough accounting of the important legislation that each local intended to pay attention to, while also noting the numerous revenue sharing bills that would affect the entire

The union’s legislative arm is strongest when members are the advocates lobbying for themselves. Legislators listen with a closer ear and a more compassionate heart when public employees share their experiences from their worksites. Members of AFT Healthcare-Maryland did just that when they took to Annapolis to lobby their legislators on important legislation that would positively affect the pay of a number of state health care professionals.

One piece of legislation is for Pay Rates and Staffing Requirements (HB1474/SB693). The union is grateful that state Sen. Guy Guzzone, who is the