At his second bill signing of 2025, Maryland Gov.Wes Moore signed transformative legislation aimed at reforming the state’s expungement process and giving incarcerated individuals a meaningful second chance. The Expungement Reform Act and Second Look Act address long-standing racial disparities in the justice system, offering new hope for thousands of Marylanders seeking redemption and opportunity.
Category: Maryland Government
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland Sen. Van Hollen meets with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador amid court fight over US return
Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador on April 17, weeks after Abrego was deported by the 47th president’s administration despite a court order blocking his removal. The case has sparked partisan conflict in the U.S., with Democrats demanding his return and due process, while Republicans back his detention amid unproven gang allegations.
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Wes Moore announces additional employment support for impacted federal workers
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has launched a new hiring initiative to streamline applications for hard-to-fill state government roles, aiming to support job-seeking federal workers affected by layoffs. The program simplifies hiring for positions in HR, procurement, accounting and fiscal services, offering an expedited application process to quickly connect qualified candidates with job opportunities.
Posted inMental Health
Funding restored to Maryland youth mental health initiatives
By Sasha Allen Maryland mental health advocates and providers are relieved coming out of this year’s legislative session, where state lawmakers decided against a drastic cut in funding to the state’s year-old, big-money program aimed at improving the mental health of its young people. The Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, created under the state’s ambitious […]
Posted inMaryland News
Fight over return of wrongfully deported Maryland man heats up
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said in an April 14 news conference that he will not return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father wrongly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison last month. The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered the government to facilitate his return, but officials in both countries continue to pass off responsibility on who should initiate Abrego Garcia’s trip back to America.
Posted inMaryland News
Testimonies at Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final hearing call for reparations, healing and accountability
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) held its final public hearing to examine the enduring legacy of racial terror lynchings, with testimonies advocating for reparations and police accountability. Experts, advocates, and community members emphasized the need for radical reparations and a shift in how law enforcement engages with Black communities, urging both acknowledgment and concrete action to repair historical harms.
Posted inMaryland Government
A step toward justice: Maryland legislators approve reparations commission bill
During the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session, the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland successfully led an effort to establish a reparations commission to address the historical harms of slavery in the state. Senate Bill 587, now awaiting the governor’s signature, will create a commission to study and propose recommendations on reparations, with findings expected by 2027.
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Moore holds first bill signing of 2025 with focuses on workforce growth
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) held his first bill signing of 2025 on April 8, hours after the close of the 90-day general assembly session. Over 800 bills were passed this legislative session.
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland General Assembly legislators work to finalize bills on last day of session
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Staff Writertmcqueen@afro.com Maryland legislators worked throughout the day to pass as many bills as they could before session ended at midnight on April 7. The legislative session was an eventful one with drastic federal actions looming over Maryland and balancing the budget remaining the topic of discussion throughout the 2025 session. Around […]
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland faces pressure over new bill to limit state liability in child sex abuse cases
A new bill in the Maryland General Assembly would cap the state’s financial liability for child sexual abuse claims, cutting the maximum payout for survivors from $890,000 to $400,000 for suits filed after Oct. 1, 2025. Critics, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, argue the measure would deny justice to thousands of victims, many of whom suffered abuse in state-run facilities.
Posted inMaryland News
BWI’s growth under Ricky Smith: A look back as he heads to AtlantaÂ
After nearly a decade of leadership, Ricky D. Smith is stepping down as CEO and executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration to take on a new role as general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Before his departure, Smith reflected on his accomplishments at BWI Airport, including expanding capacity, fostering minority business participation and enhancing airport amenities.
Posted inOpinion
The politics of harm: How conservative policies disguise their impact on our communities
Dayvon Love is public policy director for the Baltimore-based think tank Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. This week he discusses how conservative political forces have historically promoted policies that harm Black communities while claiming to act in their best interests. For example, advocates for harsh sentencing often cite protecting victims while ignoring how such policies disproportionately fuel mass incarceration. Such right-wing stances reflect a broader indifference—or even hostility—toward the systemic oppression faced by Black people.
