By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Members of the Maryland business community gathered in Annapolis, Md. for Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Day. The session took place on Jan. 15, and served as a time to also recognize the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
Former House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Md.-10) was honored and the new House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Md.-21) was recognized.
During the event, attendees heard from and spoke with lawmakers about their businesses and various legislative initiatives that may impact the business community.
“Our chambers play a critical role in Maryland’s economic system, building the bridge between our local businesses and our state government,” said Sandi Pruitt, CEO of People for Change, a membership organization that represents the nonprofit and minority business sector in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Florida. “Advocacy days like this matter…they are essential. It’s an opportunity for us to present a clear and unified legislative agenda. It’s an opportunity for us to share real world impacts of proposed policies.”
“We are grateful to our legislators who listen, who engage and who understand that good policy is strong when it is informed by the people and the businesses that it affects,” said Pruitt.
Pruitt encouraged chamber members to build meaningful relationships, share stories about their businesses and nonprofits and speak with legislators so they understand the work chamber members are doing and how they are making an impact.
With the current session featuring new delegates, changes in committee leadership and a new House speaker, the Alliance of Business Owners, Business Organizations and Supporters emphasized the need for collaboration. The Alliance is a statewide group consisting of advocates, business leaders, chambers, entrepreneurs, organizations and supporters.
This event took place on the second day of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session. Over the next 80-plus days, hundreds of bills will be introduced—some will pass, some will stall and some will fail.
Peña-Melnyk spoke to attendees about some of the upcoming legislative priorities and encouraged them to be involved in this year’s session.
“This is a session where we are focusing on the bread-and-butter issues for people,” she said.
Those issues include affordability, especially when it comes to housing, health, energy bills and balancing the budget, which is facing a $1.5 billion deficit during fiscal year 2027.
“Unless you come to committee and participate in the democratic process of using your voice, giving testimony, making a call, writing an email, letting us know your position on a bill, how it may affect you or not, we won’t know,” the Speaker said. “Please, I urge you to be a part of the process.”
According to a report by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce from Sept. 23, 2025, Maryland ranks 32nd overall in CNBC’s 2025 “Top States for Business,” declining 10 spots in two years. The high costs of running a business and living in Maryland via taxes, regulations and policy uncertainty, drives companies to expand their businesses outside of the state.
Peña-Melnyk said she plans to partner with the chambers of commerce.
“I want you to know that I know the importance of the chamber,” she said. “I know the importance of businesses, I know the importance of making sure that we streamline a lot of these permits and rules that make it difficult for people to be here and invest in Maryland.”
“We want you to thrive and we want you to do well,” said Peña-Melnyk. “You have a friend [in the Legislature]. My door is open.”
The 2026 Maryland General Assembly is expected to end on April 13.