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Join Advocates in Annapolis for a Rally to Save Our DD Services - Today, February 3rd from 7: to 8:15 PM

We are facing an unprecedented threat to DD supports with draconian cuts to funding for people with developmental disabilities and providers of community-based supports. Tonight, come to Lawyers Mall in Annapolis to join the Maryland DD Coalition Rally to Save Our DD Services. Below is some information:

• Date: Monday, February 3rd, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. (please arrive early to find parking and walk over to the rally location to be there by 7 p.m.)
• Location: Lawyers Mall, Annapolis, MD, directly in front of the State House (100 State Circle)
• Who: Everyone affected by The Governor’s draft budget proposal which contains severe funding cuts for DD services. This includes people with disabilities, their families, providers, and allies.
• Theme: Save Our DD Services.
• Signs: The DD Coalition has designed signs and there should be enough for anyone who wants one. If you are bringing a sign of your own, please be respectful of people with disabilities and our government in your messaging: focus on the humans these changes will impact. Do not bring signs with sticks or handles of any kind. 
• What to Wear: It is supposed to be a nice evening (50-60 degrees) so dress accordingly. Wear Maryland colors! In solidarity, we encourage everyone to wear white, black, yellow, and red to symbolize our unity and commitment to protecting our services. 
• Parking: Information on Annapolis parking can be found here. The two closest garages to Lawyer’s Mall are the Noah Hillman garage and the Gott’s Court garage. There is also 2-hour street parking that can be paid for with the Park Mobile app on your phone. 

Hundreds of Advocates Gather To Share Impacts of Proposed Budget Cuts To End LISS (Low Intensity Support Services)

Last Wednesday, several hundred people with disabilities, their family members, press, legislators, and allies participated in a Town Hall to hear about the Governor's budget proposal to cut the DDA Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) program. Participants learned about the impacts of LISS throughout the state, asked questions, and shared stories about what this cut would mean for them and their loved ones.

What came through loud and clear was that these small grants allow families, who have no other services, to live, provide critical services, equipment, and support for their loved ones with disabilities, and keep children safe and on the path to success. You can use the Toolkit below to speak with legislators about the LISS Program, and share that LISS is a lifeline. #LissIsALifeline!

Sold Out - DD Day at the Legislature

Feb 13th in Annapolis

One of the biggest advocacy days of the year is coming up soon - Registration is full for DD Day at the Legislature, but you can still tune in online! On February 13th, check out the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Facebook page to watch a livestream of DD Day. Our waitlist is now closed and we are notifying people as spaces open up. If you were unable to reserve a space at the event, please plan to be down in Annapolis later in the morning on February 13 to join fellow advocates at the Senate and House of Delegates. More information about ways to connect will be in next week's Insider.

Medicaid: A Lifeline for Marylanders with Disabilities - How to Help Protect It

This year, Congress and the new Administration will debate the size and scope of the federal government, including a review of the Medicaid program. The stakes for people with disabilities could not be higher.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance and access to long-term care to more than 1.6 Million Marylanders, including 1 in 3 Marylanders with disabilities.



What Medicaid means for Marylanders:

• Health: Medicaid coverage unlocks access to health care and improves health.
• Financial Security: Medicaid protects families from high healthcare costs.
• Dignity and Community: Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) enable over 100,000 Marylanders with disabilities to live, work, and participate in their communities.
• Federal Investment: The federal government spent $10.6 billion on Medicaid in Maryland in 2023.
• Jobs: Medicaid creates thousands of valuable local jobs in the healthcare sector and increases employment for people with disabilities.
• Stronger Rural Hospitals: Medicaid funding enables rural hospitals and other critical healthcare infrastructure to stay open and provide care to rural residents.

Impact to Maryland’s Economy

• Cuts to federal Medicaid funding would shift costs onto Marylanders, squeezing already tight state, local, and family budgets.
• The state would be forced to make up for the loss in federal funds by raising taxes, reducing eligibility for Medicaid, reducing benefits, increasing costs for individuals and families, paying providers less, or cutting state funding from other areas like K-12 education.
• The risk of cuts to HCBS is especially great because the state spends more on HCBS than any other optional benefit. Maryland already limits HCBS due to constraints on available funding. Over 35,000 Marylanders are currently on a waitlist to receive Medicaid-funded HCBS.
• Without adequate funding for HCBS, thousands of Marylanders with disabilities would lose their independence and be forced into nursing homes or state-run institutions to survive.

How You Can Help

1. Contact Congress to let them know: Medicaid is a lifeline for people with disabilities!
2. Share Your Medicaid Story with The Arc US on why it is important to you or a loved one.
3. Sign a Petition To Protect Medicaid for millions of children and adults with disabilities who rely on it to live in their communities.

Tuesday, February 4th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0367 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Supportive Housing and Health Services

Tuesday, February 4th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0312 - Criminal Procedure - Incompetency to Stand Trial

Tuesday, February 4th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0317 - Election Law - Curbside Voting - Pilot Program

Tuesday, February 4th at 2 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0221 - Department of Information Technology - Maryland Digital Service - Establishment
• HB0300 - State Government - Grants and Contracts - Reimbursement of Indirect Costs

Wednesday, February 5th at 1 p.m. in House EMC

• HB0559 - Food Establishments - Portable Chemical Toilets

Wednesday, February 5th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0468 - Petitions for Emergency Evaluation

Wednesday, February 5th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0066 - Election Law- Polling Place Procedures- Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters with Disabilities (Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland)

Wednesday, February 5th at 2 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0355 - Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program - Delay of Implementation
• SB0372 - Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025

Wednesday, February 5th at 2 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0432 - Criminal Records - Expungement and Maryland Judiciary Case Search (Expungement Reform Act of 2025)
• SB0466 - Vulnerable and Senior Adults - Theft of Property by Caregiver, Family Member, or Household Member - Prohibition

Wednesday, February 5th at 2 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0477 - Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers - Adult to Child Ratios - Alterations

Thursday, February 6th at 1 p.m. in House E&T

• HB0436 - Vehicle Laws - Medical Exemption for Enhanced Tinted Windows - Repeal of Time Limitation

Thursday, February 6th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0382 - Consumer Protection- Right to Repair- Powered Wheelchairs

Friday, February 7th at 1 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0507 - Criminal Procedure - Diagnosis of Developmental Disability or Intellectual Disability - Evidence

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in House APP

• HB0458 - University of Maryland, College Park Campus- TerpsEXCEED Program Funding
• HB0502 - Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative - Established

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0604 - Vulnerable and Senior Adults - Theft of Property by Caregiver, Family Member, or Household Member - Prohibition
• HB0677 - Criminal Procedure - Out of Court Statements - Vulnerable Adult Victims and Witnesses
• HB0703 - Criminal Procedure - Diagnosis of Developmental Disability or Intellectual Disability - Evidence

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0465 - Health Care Facilities - Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Programs - Video Recordings

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0430 - Employed Individuals With Disabilities Program - Upper Age Limit - Prohibition

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0756 - Petition for Guardianship of the Property of Alleged Disabled Person - Stay of Civil Actions and Proceedings

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0488 - Public Schools - Discipline-Related Data - Collection and Publication
• HB0488 - Public Schools - Discipline-Related Data - Collection and Publication
• HB0495 - Education - Antidiscrimination Policies - Policy and Notice Requirements
• HB0583 - Primary and Secondary Education - Virtual Schools - Alterations
• HB0630 - County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in Senate B&T

• SB0429 - Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0429 - Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act

Wednesday, February 12th at 2 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0252 - Child Care Centers – Certificated Staff Ratio Requirement – Repeal
• SB0386 - Primary and Secondary Education - Definition and Notification of Reportable Offense - Alterations
• SB0452 - Child Care Affordability Commission - Establishment

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in House E&T

• HB0707 - Vehicle Laws - Licenses, Identification Cards, and Moped Operator's Permits - Notation of Nonapparent Disability (Eric's ID Law)
• HB0727 - Motor Vehicles - Driving Records - Disclosure of Medical Diagnosis (Safeguarding American Families Everywhere Act)

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0542 - Adult Protective Services - Investigations and Disclosure of Information

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0560 - Public Health - Maryland Commission on Health Equity - Membership and Purposes

House of Delegates:

APP - Appropriations

EMC - Economic Matters

E&T - Environment and Transportation

HGO - Health and Government Operations

HRU - Rules and Executive Nominations

JUD - Judiciary

W&M - Ways and Means