MLAW’s Fall Agenda Conference

The MLAW fall conference will be held in-person on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building, Great Hall.

The Conference will provide information and strategies to activate and energize participants to successfully advocate for legislation impacting women and families during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session.

Join us to:

• Listen to a Panel Discussion addressing how recent actions at the federal level of government have states stepping into protect the rights of women and families. Learn what legislation is being proposed here in Maryland to fill the gaps. Speakers TBD.
• Gain valuable insights from Advocates and Legislators presenting 2023 Legislative Proposals
• Network with other MLAW supporters from around Maryland about these important issues.
• Tickets are $35 until 11/1/22; late registration is $40 after 11/1/22. Sponsorship opportunities are available and encouraged. For more information, call 443-519-1005 or email us at mdlegagenda4women@yahoo.com. Ticket sales will close at 5pm on Wednesday 11/9/22. Due to safety considerations, there will be no on-site registration. Please register now.

Morning refreshments such as coffee and continental breakfast items will be provided during arrival and registration. Lunch will not be provided, however, there are many dining options within walking distance to the conference site for attendees to enjoy after the conference. Feel free to bring a snack or beverage/water bottle to enjoy during the conference.

Safety Precautions: To keep our staff, speakers, and guests safe, we ask that all participants wear a mask when entering the venue and checking in. Masks should be worn unless eating or presenting. Our venue has ample space, and we ask that attendees spread out and choose seats leaving some empty seats clustered throughout the hall. We will have masks and hand sanitizer available at multiple locations throughout the conference. MLAW reserves the right to close registration early if ticket sales exceed a safe capacity for the space.

The SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a devastating blow to a fundamental human right that people in this country have been able to access for decades and generations.  Removing access to abortion will have dire, life-threatening consequences for women across this country.  Overturning 50 years of precedent significantly undermines reproductive freedom and a woman’s bodily autonomy.  

The evisceration of this human right significantly limits health care for women, deepens racial disparities, will increase maternal mortality rates, and will have particularly dangerous consequences for low-income women and women of color. The travesty of this politicized decision will overwhelm mental health services, foster care providers and social services agencies with potentially disastrous outcomes.

Forcing pregnant people and minors to carry a pregnancy to term, regardless of circumstance, or worse, having to prove that a rape or incest has occurred, is not only invasive but unnecessarily cruel and dehumanizing.  Women deserve better than that.

Make no mistake, this decision is just the tip of the iceberg to take away the most basic human rights, and we stand ready to work with our partners in protecting the autonomy and privacy of Marylanders’ lives.

We are proud to have supported the successfully passed Abortion Care Access Act in the 2022 legislative session. This bill, which will expand abortion providers and training, will be necessary to help ensure that Maryland women as well as pregnant people who come to Maryland from across the country receive the vital care they need when they are making the most deeply personal choices of their lives. 

As we have for decades, MLAW will continue to support Marylanders’ full autonomy and vociferously put our full weight behind supporting Marylanders’ access to abortion. 

Tonight is our Legislative Wrap Up Happy Hour! Thank you for joining us. Below is the Agenda for tonight that you may wish to download. Also, here is the Zoom link in case you misplaced it: Join Meeting

MLAW is pleased to share our 2022 Agenda Final Report. Click here to download a copy:

Click here to download the packet for our 2022 Legislative Briefing.

Individuals
Linda Dean Fihelly
Erin Prangley
Laurie-Anne Sayles
Michelle Siri
Alexis Solis
Margery Sullivan
Karen Ware
Delegate Nicole Williams
Nakia Wright
Teresa Saavedra Woorman

Organizations
AAUW Maryland
Al Salaam Center
Anne Arundel County NOW
AWFCS LLC
Baltimore County Commission for Women
Benjamin’s Publishing House 1776
Charles County Commission for Women
DABS LLC (Theresa E. Barrett)
Emerge Maryland
For All Seasons
Human Capital Focus
Koba Consulting
Law Office of Sara El-Shall
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Maryland National Organization for Women
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Montgomery County Commission for Women
People’s Commission to Decriminalize Maryland
Planned Parenthood of Maryland
Stella’s Girls Inc.
The Hatcher Group
Women’s Equity Center and Action Network (WE CAN)
Women’s Law Center of Maryland
Zonta Club of Annapolis

Click here to sign up as a sponsor of the 2022 MLAW Legislative Briefing: https://2022mlawbriefing.eventbrite.com

In November, leaders of state-wide organizations and advocates addressing issues of concern to women of Maryland participated in a conference to identify potential legislative initiatives for the 2022 Maryland General Assembly. Fifteen bills were presented at the conference for consideration. A ballot was sent to MLAW members who voted on the top priorities which will make up our official 2022 Legislative Agenda.   The MLAW Board of Directors reviewed the results of the balloting and affirmed the bills that will comprise the 2022 MLAW Legislative Agenda. The issues selected are listed below and described here:   

Click here to download the 2022 Agenda document:

The eight bills selected are:

• SB___/HB___ – Abortion Care Access Act of 2022
• SB33/HB153 – Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Repeal of Spousal Defense
• SB275/HB8—Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment (Time to Care Act of 2022)
• HB626/SB___ – Pregnant Person’s Freedom Act of 2022
• HB833/SB___ – Criminal Law – Victims of Child Sex Trafficking – Safe Harbor and Service Response
• SB328/HB148 – Criminal Law – Stalking – Definition
• SB280/HB296 – Interim and Temporary Protective Order – Electronic Filing and Video Conferencing Hearings
• HB454/SB___ – Correctional Services – Pregnancy and Postpartum Support (Prevention of Forced Infant Separation Act)
  
  

One of the most powerful advocacy tools for the Agenda is your signature as a supporter. Organizations and individuals are invited to sign on as a supporter of the 2022 Agenda. We also encourage you to invite your friends and colleagues to sign on. A list of supporters will be attached to the document before it is distributed to legislators and the public, as well as included on our website. The document will be released at our Legislative Briefing and will be distributed to all legislators. Cooperative action is the basis upon which MLAW operates. One voice is important but the collective voices of many impacts public policy and enables advocates and legislators to demonstrate concern and support for women’s issues. Make your voice count for women and their families in the 2022 session of the Maryland General Assembly.  To add your name to the list of supporters, complete this simple online form. If you would like to add multiple names of friends or colleagues who give you permission to add their names, please email them as well. Spread the word and ask others to support this agenda. You do not need to be a member of MLAW to add your name.
Finally, make sure to attend our Legislative Briefing on Thursday, February 3rd. We will official unveil the 2022 Agenda at the briefing. For registration information or sponsorship opportunities, click here. Thank you for your support. We look forward to receiving your signature of support for the 2022 Agenda by 1/27/2022.

Thursday, February 3rd @ 5pm 
Zoom

MLAW’s Annual Legislative Briefing will be held online on Thursday, February 3rd at 5pm. Please join us as we announce our 2022 Legislative Agenda. Hear from legislators and advocates who will present each of the bills on the 2022 Agenda and explain how they will impact Maryland women and families. You will hear what you can do to help pass these bills and become involved in the legislative process. Your voice in Annapolis is needed! 

This year’s briefing will be virtual and hosted on Zoom. There is no charge to attend the briefing, but you must register in order to receive the link to the briefing.  

We invite you or your organization to co-sponsoring the briefing. Your sponsorship supports our legislative efforts in Annapolis. Sponsorship includes your logo displayed in the published Agenda, on our website and our Facebook page, and recognition during the online briefing. Click here to co-sponsor. 

Questions? Contact us at mdlegagenda4women@yahoo.com. We hope to see you at the virtual briefing on February 3rd!

Click here to download our Conference Packet.