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Dear Ariana,
The Maryland General Assembly’s 445th legislative session is in full swing, having convened Wednesday, January 11th. My staff and I are excited to be back in the office fighting for District 16. We’re already preparing for a packed session as the General Assembly expects to debate legislation on abortion access, recreational marijuana regulation, education, and a range of other issues affecting Marylanders today.
It's been a welcome start to the session that on his first day in office Governor Moore released the $3.5 million in funding the assembly approved last year to expand abortion access.
It’s been an honor to step into my new role as the Vice Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee (HGO). I remain committed to prioritizing equitable health policy and reproductive justice in this new position. Stay up to date on what legislation our committee is considering on the MGA website.
I’ve been working on a number of issues that I hope you’ll keep an eye on as the session progresses, including:
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Reproductive Rights - I am leading colleagues in a package of four major bills on reproductive health care that will build on the success of the Abortion Care Access Act and ensure that Maryland is a national leader with a strong response to the devastating Dobbs decision. I'm introducing a bill requiring that all four-year public higher education institutions provide access to contraception and emergency contraception and have a plan to provide or refer students to a comprehensive range of reproductive health services, including medication abortion. Other bills I'm supporting include a ‘shield law’ to protect Maryland providers, patients, and other individuals supporting the provision of abortion against criminal, civil, and administrative penalties. The package will also include a data privacy bill to protect data related to abortion care. Finally, I’ll continue to fight for the Speaker's constitutional amendment enshrining the right to reproductive liberty, including abortion, continuation of pregnancy, and contraception.
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988 Funding - I’ve introduced a bill to create a non-lapsing fund to support the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline in Maryland. The fund will be seeded by a $12 million appropriation in Fiscal Year 2025. 988 is a critical resource in serving those impacted by the ongoing mental health epidemic and we must maintain it as a top budget priority.
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Board of Nursing Reform - I’m partnering with the Moore Administration to introduce a bill to reform the Board of Nursing and to provide it with the infrastructure and staffing it needs to operate efficiently and eliminate licensing delays. These delays have had an overwhelming impact on Maryland's nurses and health care providers who we count on to provide life-saving care.
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Blueprint for Public Health - I’m thrilled to introduce a bill to establish the Commission on Public Health, which will make recommendations to improve the delivery of foundational public health services in Maryland. This Commission is the beginning of a four-year project to improve health equity and access to clinical care in the state. Read more about this in this Washington Post article.
We've got a busy session ahead, but I'm confident that my team and I will see more essential health care legislation passed in 2023 than ever before. I'm grateful for your continued support, and if you happen to be in Annapolis this session, don't forget to stop by the office and say hi!
Best,
Ariana
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