In this era of the pandemic where lobbying can no longer be face-to-face, the use of digital tools such as Zoom and Advocacy Software has become more than a good idea and has become almost a necessity.
We would love to enable you to have the hassle-free capability to send advocacy messages to your State legislators. Our advocacy software, Muster, enables you to engage your legislators, to let them know which bills are important to you, and to establish an ongoing relationship with your representatives.
Below you will find links to the active Muster Action Alerts. All you need to do after clicking on a topic is add your address information. This is used only for Muster to determine your district and your legislators.
Use as many of these Action Alerts as you wish.
Allow Votes to be Counted.
Maryland’s legislative session is short – only 90 days. And we are over halfway through. One important deadline looms: the Committee Reporting Date, March 16 – next Tuesday. On this date, bills that have been heard by committees but not voted on will be effectively dead.
MAJR supports several important pieces of legislation that are in danger of not making it out of committee. We need your help in asking the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Chairmen of key committees to schedule a vote on these bills before next Tuesday!
Click on this link to send a message to the Chairman of the House Judiciary committee.
Click on this link to send a message to the Chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee.
Remove the Governor from Parole Decisions. Governors in 47 other states do not have veto power over the parole process. Life sentences with possible parole, under Maryland statutes, legally and morally are different than “life without parole” sentences—but Governors’ actions for years nullified the statutory difference by fiat. Parole, which is supposed to be one avenue for release, has been a mere fantasy for many men and women serving life sentences. Despite having worked hard to transform their lives, door has been shut in their faces because parole for lifers has become political.
Ask your legislator to support HB0003/SB0202 and allow the Parole Board to do its job.
Marijuana Legalization. HB0032/SB0708 would legalize marijuana use for adults in Maryland, as well as providing safe regulations comparable to those for liquor sales, and tax revenue dedicate to health, safety, education and the general fund. Alcohol prohibition’s repeal resulted in huge drops in crime and law enforcement costs; this bill will bring the same needed changes for marijuana — scientifically found less dangerous than alcohol.
Ask your State legislators to support this legislation.
Felony Murder. Can people be found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison if the Court knows they didn’t kill anyone? In Maryland, the answer is yes because of our State’s legal-fiction known as the “felony-murder rule.” Ask your legislators to support SB0395/HB0385 which focuses on children who inadvertently became involved in a crime in the past.
Send a message today to your representative to support of this legislation.
Citations instead of Arrest. HB0445/SB0671 permit police the option to issue citations, instead of arrest, for nonviolent misdemeanors such as simple drug possession, when appropriate. Supported by the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association and Maryland Chiefs and Sheriffs, this bill would reduce pretrial detention population, costs, COVID-19 risk, and add more time and efficiency for police.
Ask your representatives to support this legislation.
Improve Maryland’s expungement procedures. Maryland currently offers very limited and burdensome procedures to remove public records, despite ex-offenders having completed their sentences and established lengthy good behavior. HB0238 offers useful steps towards a fresh start for Marylanders who have rehabilitated themselves.
In certain circumstances HB0238 allows individuals to have their records expunged and removed from online databases automatically.
