MFRW Update 3-31-23

Here is the latest MFRW Weekly Legislative Update with legislative actions through Friday, March 31.  This week will be a flurry of voting activity in both the Senate and House of Delegates.

It is a good idea to check the Agendas of Committees where bills of interest are still being considered.  For instance, HB 119 - County Boards of Education - Curriculum Guides and Courses of Study Requirements had a hearing on 3/29 in the Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee.  However, it has not yet appeared on a Voting List.  We hope it will receive no further action and will remain in the Committee. 

You can find Voting Lists under the Committee menu on the General Assembly Web Site. Choose the Committee, then choose "Meetings."  Scroll down the Meeting Agendas to the upcoming week and check for "Voting List" under the Date. Click to see if the bill has been scheduled for a vote.

In the case of HB 119, MFRW opposes the bill because it removes any flexibility for county boards of education to mold curriculums and courses to reflect local needs and values. It grants dictatorial power to the State Superintendent of Schools.to financially penalize county boards of education by withholding up to 20% of state funding for failing to adopt state policy and guidelines for EVERY element of instruction or for allowing ANY student to opt out of instruction in a manner not approved by the State Board.  Every school and every student are not robots to be stamped out identically. 

Parents and other citizens have a First Amendment right to petition their elected County Boards of Education for needed changes in local school curriculums or policies on opting out of instruction that they find morally objectionable.  Implementation of HB 119 appears to wipe out that freedom by prohibiting any opposition or deviation from State Board policy or mandates, effectively silencing parents.

As you know by now, last week the General Assembly passed several bills of grave moral concern.  All Republicans voted against these bills.  They will undermine any parental knowledge, guidance or authority of the actions of their minor children as young as 12 years old. 

HB 705 and SB 798 - Constitutional Amendment to the Declaration of Rights to add a Right to Reproductive Freedom.  

HB 283 and SB 460 - Maryland Medical Assistant Program - Gender-Affirming Treatment (Trans Health Equity Act). 

Look at the voting sheets ( HB705, SB798, HB283, SB460) to see how your elected officials voted.  Please thank the Delegates and Senators who opposed and voted against these bills.