Stay up to date on legislation through our Bill Tracker! View position statements, access bill text, and check hearing times and dates.

Maryland’s FY25 DDA Funding Largely Restored - Keep up the Advocacy for FY26 Funding Restoration!

Last week, Governor Moore and Budget leaders in the Maryland General Assembly committed to restore 94% of the cost containment measures for the DDA FY25 budget. The Arc Maryland and our partners at the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition are grateful for the restoration while emphasizing we have much work ahead to address the proposed cuts to the FY26 DDA Budget.

The proposed budget cut of $457 million in FY26 remains a hurdle that must be overcome for developmental disability services to remain viable. Be vigilant - it will take all of us to educate and advocate for the preservation of our services! Check out the advocacy opportunities in this Insider, and stay tuned for action alerts!

Senate DDA Budget Hearing

Last week, our Executive Director, Ande Kolp, fellow Coalition members, and countless others testified in front of the Senate Budget and Taxation's Heath and Human Services Subcommittee to advocate for access to vital DD services for thousands of Marylanders. Another budget hearing is set to follow on Friday the 28th, and we hope for a similar turnout from advocates. Read about how to make an impact in the next section below!

House DDA Budget Action Days

February 26th, 27th, and 28th This Week

This Friday, February 28th is another important day for the future of Home and Community-Based DD Services in Maryland. At 2 p.m. in the House APP Health and Social Services Subcommittee (Rm.120), a DDA Budget hearing is happening, and we need to make our voices heard! On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, please reach out to members of the House of Delegates to share information about what these cuts would do to you, your family, and/or the people you support. Tell them we are counting on them to Save Our DD Services.

Wednesday, February 26th - Writing & Sending Your Story To Legislators

This Wednesday, testimony is due for the DDA Budget's House hearing. You can submit tesitmony on the MGA Legislative website here, but note that you must set up an account to do so! Check out the guide on using the MGA Website below to get started! On Wednesday, log into MyMGA and select "Witness Sign Up". Scroll down to see the House Health And Social Services Hearing (it will be under a blue header).

Positions you may select for your testimony are:

• Favorable (you agree with and support the Governor's draft budget as written);
• Favorable with Amendment (you agree with parts of the budget but do not agree with certain parts of it and want them to be changed/have changes to suggest);
• Unfavorable (you disagree with the budget bill), or;
• Letter of Information (you are not taking a formal position, but want to express your opinion or provide information that may be helpful to the budget discussion).

The Arc Maryland is taking a Favorable with Amendment Position, and asking our budget committee to reject the budget cuts and cost containment proposals.

Testimony for for the DDA Budget Hearing will only be accepted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday! Use our Proposed Budget Fact Sheet below to learn about budget impacts as you write your story. You may also wish to use the testimony template attached.

We also encourage you to email members of APP, and the Health and Social Services Subcommittee through their contact information below! You should send your message to your own district representatives as well. You can find their information using the Find My Representatives tool through the button below. Enter your address and scroll to the bottom where it shows your Legislative District, state Senator, and State Delegates. You can click Email to message them all together!

Thursday, February 27th - Calling Legislators

This Thursday, we invite you to reach out to Legislators who are part of the Appropriations Committee, specifically its Health and Social Services Subcommittee. You can call their offices to share how budget cuts would affect you or a loved one. Our message is that while we expect we may need to come to the table with some alternative solutions, we cannot take a 22% budget cut! We are counting on them to "Save Our DD Services." Those contacts and their phone numbers are listed above!

Friday, February 28th - The DDA Budget Hearing In Annapolis

On Friday, advocates from across Maryland will be in Annapolis to attend the DDA Budget hearing at 2 p.m. in the House APP Health and Social Services Subcommittee. You can attend in person in the House Office Building, Room 120. You can also watch the hearing online here, where you can click the LIVE button next to the subcommittee name once they begin. If you attend in person, know that the room will fill up quickly, so arrive early, and do not be dismayed if you do not get a spot - your presence is still important, and you can use this time to stop by your representatives' offices to drop off copies of your letters.

Monday, February 24th at 11 a.m. in House W&M

• HB1097 - Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility

Tuesday, February 25th at 1 p.m. in House APP

• HB0450 - Maryland Transit Administration - Disability Reduced Fare Program - Renewal for Permanently Disabled Individuals

Tuesday, February 25th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0696 - State Boards, Committees, Commissions, Task Forces, and Workgroups - Elimination of Citizenship Requirements and Establishment of Diversity Requirements

Tuesday, February 25th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0526 - Primary and Secondary Education - Definition and Notification of Reportable Offense - Alterations
• HB0620 - Primary and Secondary Education - Reportable Offense - Alteration
• HB0689 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Use of Reimbursement Funds by Schools
• HB0694 - Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Main Entrance Accessibility and Emergency Planning
• HB0702 - County Boards of Education - Special Education Service Delivery Models - Publication Requirement

Wednesday, February 26th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0615 - Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures
• SB0685 - Election Law - Local Boards of Elections - Language-Related Assistance
• SB0838 - Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Signature Requirements and Verification
• SB0929 - Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility

Thursday, February 27th at 1 p.m. in House APP

• HB0352 - Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025

Friday, February 28th at 12 p.m. in Senate B&T

• SB0321 - Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025

Friday, February 28th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0544 - Food Establishments - Portable Chemical Toilets

Friday, February 28th at 2:00 p.m. in House APP Health and Social Services Subcommittee

• DDA Budget Hearing

Monday, March 3rd at 11 a.m. in House W&M

• HB1179 - Montgomery County - Board of Education - Student Cellular Phone Policy MC 13-25
• HB1180 - Education - Primary and Secondary Schools - Alternative School Options (Right to Learn Act)

Monday, March 3rd at 2 p.m. in House HGO

• HB1328 - End-of-Life Option Act (The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass Act)

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

• SB0945 - Community-Based Residential Facilities - Licensing Entities - Provision of Licensing Criteria and Single Point of Contact

Tuesday, March 4th at 1 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0782 - Criminal Procedure - Verdict of Not Criminally Responsible - Eligibility for Evaluation for Discharge

Tuesday, March 4th at 1 p.m. in House APP

• HB0499 - Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program - Funding

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

• HB0499 - Criminal Records - Expungement and Maryland Judiciary Case Search (Expungement Reform Act of 2025)

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

• SB0506 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Use of Reimbursement Funds by Schools
• SB0851 - Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Main Entrance Accessibility and Emergency Planning

Wednesday, March 5th at 1 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0707 - Vehicle Laws - Medical Exemption for Enhanced Tinted Windows - Repeal of Time Limitation

Wednesday, March 5th at 1 p.m. in House APP

• HB0912 - Institutions of Higher Education - Instructor Training - Accommodations for Students With Disabilities

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

• HB1053 - Developmental Disabilities Administration - Self-Directed Services - Parent Providers
• HB1136 - Community-Based Residential Facilities - Licensing Entities - Provision of Licensing Criteria and Single Point of Contact
• HB1244 - Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council - Establishment

Wednesday, March 5th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB1194 - Public Schools - Injury Incidents - Requirements for Tracking and Reporting
• HB1204 - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Student Elopement - Notice and Reporting Requirements
• HB1313 - Education - Student Behavior - Parent and Guardian Notice and Required Counseling (Parent and Guardian Accountability Act)

Thursday, March 6th at 1 p.m. in Senate B&T

• SB0599 - Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program - Funding

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