Maryland General Assembly
2012 Session
For over two decades, clients and staff of Health Care for the Homeless have joined community partners in Annapolis during the annual 90-day General Assembly Session to advocate for sensible solutions to poverty and homelessness. Our policy priorities include:
- Expanded health insurance coverage
- Increased availability of affordable housing
- Improved access to emergency shelter and services
- Enhanced availability of appropriate incomes
- Expanded reentry services and opportunities
- Expanded access to health-related services
Homeless Persons’ Lobby Day – Thursday, March 1 – is an opportunity for HCH supporters to join hundreds of clients, staff, community partners and legislative champions to advocate for policies and programs that reduce the incidence and burdens of poverty. The day begins at 9:30am with a rally in Lawyers’ Mall, just outside the State House. Afterwards, participants can meet with elected officials, talk about key proposals being considered in legislative committees, discuss ways to make the experience of homelessness rare and brief. For more information – and to sign-up to ride the buses from HCH – contact Adam Schneider at aschneider@hchmd.org or call 443-703-1398.
State legislation and budgets directly impact HCH’s work. Throughout the Session, staff and clients of HCH testify at many hearings. HCH’s policy and advocacy staff – together with the agency’s coalition partners – track closely many other legislative and budgetary issues during the session.
Priority Budget Hearings:
- Maryland Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid): Senate/House
- DHMH/Mental Hygiene Administration: Senate/House - HCH testimony
- DHMH/Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration: Senate/House - HCH testimony
- DHR/Family Investment Administration: Senate/House
Priority Bill Hearings - Click here for a chart of the bills we are following (with information and synopses) and HCH's positions and testimony. Updated weekly.
We work together with a number of partner organizations who are also active during the General Assembly, and track legislation that is of shared interest. Please check out their legislative pages as well:
- Maryland Alliance for the Poor (MAP)
- Jobs Opportunity Task Force (JOTF)
- Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute
For information on previous sessions - click here.