Legislative Bills
The ACLU of Maryland’s legislative program is dedicated to protecting the rights and liberties of all Marylanders and we work with local, statewide, and federal leaders to realize the promise of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. In addition to these priorities, the ACLU acts as our state's first responder on bills that threaten rights.
In Annapolis in 2012, the ACLU was represented by Legislative Director Melissa Goemann, Legislative Associate Steven Waddy, Education Reform Project Director Bebe Verdery, Education Legislative Associate Mark Woodard, Marriage Fairness Field Director Anne Gregory, and the firm Public Policy Partners, and was guided by the ACLU of Maryland's Legislative Committee.
Read the 2012 Legislative Highlights
Recent Activity
Civil Marriage Protection Act
Establish full rights and much-needed legal protections for same-sex couples and their families while confirming the freedom of religious groups to define and recognize religious marriage consistent with their beliefs and practices without state interference.
Issues: LGBT Rights
Good Time Credits for Probationers/Parolees
Legislation providing “good time” or diminution credits for individuals on probation and parole.
Issues: Racial Justice Prisoners' Rights Criminal Justice
Social Media Privacy
Legislation restricting employers from requiring potential and current employees to provide access to personal internet and web-based accounts.
Issues: Free Speech Privacy & Technology
MTA Audio Recording
Legislation that would violate personal liberty by adding audio recording to all Maryland Transit Authority vehicles.
Issues: Free Speech Privacy & Technology
Protect state education funding
Issues: Education Reform Youth Rights Education Funding School Facilities Student Achievement
Modernizing Maryland's school buildings
Issues: Education Reform School Facilities Youth Rights
Protect public money for public services
Work to defeat the “BOAST” voucher bill, which would establish a 75% tax credit for business contributions to private and religious schools.
Issues: Education Reform LGBT Rights Religious Liberty Disability Rights Youth Rights
Parole of Lifers
Support efforts to take Governor out of the process for the parole of those sentenced as juveniles to life with the possibility of parole as well as possibly those that were accomplices.
Issues: Racial Justice Prisoners' Rights Criminal Justice
Repeal the Death Penalty
Although 16 states have officially abolished the death penalty, Maryland is not yet one of them. The ACLU will continue to support efforts to repeal the death penalty in Maryland.
Issues: Racial Justice Due Process Prisoners' Rights Criminal Justice
Decriminalize Marijuana Possession
Legislation to decriminalize 1 oz of marijuana possession or reduce the current maximum sentence from 12 months to 90 days.
Issues: Racial Justice Criminal Justice
Transgender Anti-Discrimination
Legislation to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, accommodations, and housing.
Issues: LGBT Rights
Medical Marijuana
Legislation to decriminalize use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Issues: Disability Rights Criminal Justice
"Ban the Box"
Legislation to ban public employers from asking about criminal background on the initial job application.
Issues: Privacy & Technology Racial Justice Criminal Justice
Pre-Trial Detention of Youth Transferred to Adult Court
Legislation to enact a presumption that youth being tried in the adult system will be detained in juvenile facilities as opposed to adult jail.
Issues: Youth Rights Juvenile Justice
Reproductive Freedom
Any legislation that would restrict women's access to reproductive medical care and autonomy in making reproductive health decisions.
Issues: Women's Rights Reproductive Freedom
Proposed New Regulations for Abortion Care Providers
Issues: Women's Rights Reproductive Freedom
Home Act
Legislation to end discrimination against people renting or purchasing with housing vouchers.
Issues: Fair Housing Racial Justice
Civil Rights Law Protections
Legislation to add a private right of action for citizens’ discriminated against by places of public accommodation.
Issues: LGBT Rights Racial Justice Disability Rights Due Process
Discrimination by Internet Businesses
Legislation to expand civil rights protections to encompass discrimination from internet businesses.
Issues: Free Speech Privacy & Technology
Funding for Voter-Verified Paper Trail
Continue to work to secure funding for voter-verified paper trail system.
Issues: Voting Rights and Elections