Advocates Gather in Annapolis for These Are Our Lives Action Night

"These are OUR lives we are talking about!" These words could not be truer as news outlets and others talk about deficits and budget projections. We all know there are real people behind the numbers: people with lives and livelihoods that will be altered with cuts to the FY26 DDA budget.

Last Monday, March 3rd, self-advocates from across Maryland joined together in Annapolis for an Action Night by and for Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with support from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition. News of the Action Night was picked up by multiple news outlets, including CBS News, the Baltimore Sun, Maryland Matters, and WYPR.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special evening! Over these final four weeks of session, our advocacy continues to restore FY26 DDA Budget funding! Be on the look out for action alerts from The Arc Maryland for more opportunities to use your voice/

World Down Syndrome Day Celebration

March 21st from 2 to 5 PM

Join us in Annapolis for a day of advocacy, community, and of course, dancing as we come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day! This year’s theme, "I Am Valuable. Invest in Me!" emphasizes the importance of recognizing the worth, potential, and contributions of individuals with Down syndrome as we advocate to protect and sustain critical disability funding.

Start the celebration with a powerful rally at Lawyers Mall from 2 pm to 3 pm, where self-advocates and allies will share their stories and speak up for people with Down syndrome. Join us afterward at St. Anne’s Parish House & Hall for an afternoon of music, snacks, dancing, and celebration! Space is limited at the House and Hall Celebration and Dance Party, so please register to attend that part of the event below!

Crossover Day Coming Up On March 17th - Contact Legislators to Move these Bills To the Opposite Chamber!

Next Monday, March 17th is the last day for each Chamber (the House and Senate) to send bills it intends to pass favorably over to the opposite chamber. This is known as Crossover Day. In the chart below, Crossover Day is the movement between the first and second row in the Legislative Process.

Many of the bills that we have highlighted this session have not yet crossed over to the opposite chamber, meaning there is advocacy to be done! With many of these bills stuck in committee, we need your help to get them voted "favorable" out of committee, and moved to the floor for final votes in their originating chambers. Today, you can reach out to committee leadership to urge them to move them to a floor vote.

Below, you will find information on top priority bills that are stuck in their committee, along with contact information for committee leaders. If any of these bills resonate with you, now is your time to act on them!

You can also share info on all the bills below with others. Just click the button below to download infographics for them!

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

This bill requires the Maryland Transit Administration to automatically renew the Disability Reduced Fare Program certification of an enrollee who is permanently disabled. Currently, people with IDD (considered a permanent disability) have to renew their Disability Reduced Fair Program authorizations every 3 years. This bill makes it so that people do not have to go through a lengthy renewal process for a condition that is considered, by medical professionals, to be permanent.

Contact APP Chair, Delegate Ben Barnes

410-841-3046 – ben.barnes@house.state.md.us

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

There is currently an age limit of 64 years old to participate in the EID program, which allows individuals with disabilities to work and pay into the program to be covered by Medicaid. This bill removes the upper age limit, which would allow people to continue to work and keep their medical assistance through this Medicaid buy-in program, ensuring people can continue to work, earn a living, and continue to have access to the Medicaid supports they need for health and safety.

Contact HGO Chair, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk

410-841-3502 – joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us

HB0927 - General Assembly - Fiscal Notes - Impact of Reduction in Health and Community Support Services

This bill would require that the fiscal note for a bill that reduces health and community support services funded by the Maryland Department of Health include a certain estimate, assessment, and evaluation of the financial impact as a result of the reduction of services. This is important because it would require departments to disclose their analysis of the human impact of changes they are proposing to existing statutes and proposed new initiatives.

Contact HRU Chair, Delegate Anne Healey

410-841-3961 – anne.healey@house.state.md.us

HB0031/SB0382 - Consumer Protection- Right to Repair- Powered Wheelchairs

It can often take several months for specialized wheelchairs to be repaired. Repairs can be costly, leaving people without access to a safe and reliable wheelchair. Much of this has to do with a lack of cooperation and information sharing from wheelchair manufacturers to repair companies, and a lack of transparency about costs and parts alternatives. This bill would require anyone doing business in Maryland to sell and repair wheelchairs, provide information to consumers, and collaborate for more timely, cost-efficient repairs.

For HB0031, Contact EMC Chair, Delegate C.T. Wilson

410-841-3325 – ct.wilson@house.state.md.us

For SB0382, Contact FIN Chair, Senator Pamela Beidle

410-841-3593 – pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us

HB1204 - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Student Elopement - Notice and Reporting Requirements

This bill would require schools to notify a parent or guardian if a student attempts or accomplishes an elopement from school (wandering away) without permission. It would also require schools to report on incidents of student elopement from school. Currently, schools are not compelled to notify a parent within 24 hours if their child has eloped, or attempted elopement from school. This bill would ensure parents are aware of possible dangers and behaviors of their children for intervention.

Contact W&M Chair, Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary

410-841-3471 – vanessa.atterbeary@house.state.md.us

HB1244 - Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council - Establishment

This bill codifies the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council and clarifies its purpose to advise and provide recommendations to the DDA on system design, service delivery, and quality enhancement. With necessary Sponsor Amendments, it requires the membership of The Arc Maryland and MACS on the Council - two statewide organizations that have been previously excluded from membership by the DDA.

Contact HGO Chair, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk

410-841-3502 – joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us

SB0851 - Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Main Entrance Accessibility and Emergency Planning

This bill is important to improve equal access for students with physical disabilities to use the same main entrance door as their peers. Also, schools are required to have emergency evacuation plans with equipment on site for evacuating students with physical disabilities during emergencies such as a fire. Many schools have reported they do not have this equipment. This bill would require a report for future planning purposes.

Contact EEE Chair, Senator Brian Feldman

410-841-3169 – brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us

HB0703/SB0507 - Criminal Procedure - Diagnosis of Developmental Disability or Intellectual Disability - Evidence

Under existing law, a person’s developmental disability can only be considered during sentencing – after they have already been found guilty or entered a guilty plea. This approach fails to account for how developmental disabilities may impact behavior and understanding from the very beginning of legal proceedings. This bill allows evidence of a disability to be considered at the beginning of a case, not just during the sentencing phase.

For HB0703, Contact JUD Chair, Delegate Luke Clippinger

410-841-3488 – luke.clippinger@house.state.md.us

For SB0507, Contact JPR Chair, Senator William Smith

410-841-3634 – will.smith@senate.state.md.us

HB1097/SB0929 - Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility

This bill would establish the Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility to examine current processes in the State relating to mail-in ballot return, assess the impact on voters with disabilities, collect information about current practices for accessible alternatives to paper mail-in ballot return, and evaluate the alternatives for individuals with disabilities. The Arc Maryland is named as a workgroup member examining these issues and solutions.

For HB1097, Contact W&M Chair, Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary

410-841-3471 – vanessa.atterbeary@house.state.md.us

For SB0929, Contact EEE Chair, Senator Brian Feldman

410-841-3169 – brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us