The Women's Law Center of Maryland

?? TODAY: Tell legislators to support HB1495! ?? ?? Hearing TODAY (3/13) at 1 PM in the House Health & Government Operations Committee ?? Take action: Email legislators now! ?? Read the alert: https://conta.cc/3XHuaM4 ?? Send an email: https://bit.ly/3DBt6m9 ?? Early detection saves lives. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women—and for many, it’s diagnosed too late. HB1495 ensures insurance covers preventive screenings without cost barriers, helping more people detect ovarian cancer early when it’s most treatable. No one should have to skip life-saving screenings because of financial concerns. #DetectEarly #HealthCareForAll #OvarianCancerAwareness

?? Barbers and hairstylists build trust. That trust can save lives. ?? TODAY, Maryland legislators are hearing HB1547, a bill to train barbers and cosmetologists in recognizing and responding to domestic violence. ?? Hearing TODAY (3/11) at 1 PM in the House Economic Matters Committee ?? Read the alert: https://conta.cc/3XHuaM4 ?? Send an email: https://bit.ly/3DBt6m9 ?? A simple, one-hour training gives beauty professionals the tools to help survivors access support. ?? It’s free, easy, and could save lives. ??? Tell lawmakers: Vote YES on HB1547!

?? TODAY: Tell legislators to support HB1164! ?? ?? Hearing TODAY (3/11) at 1 PM in the House Judiciary Committee ?? Read the alert: https://conta.cc/3XHuaM4 ?? Send an email: https://bit.ly/3DBt6m9 ?? Housing is safety. Criminalization is not. Survivors of domestic violence often become homeless after leaving an abuser. Many have no safe shelter available and are forced to sleep in cars or public spaces. HB1164 stops local laws that punish people for sleeping outside, instead pushing Maryland to focus on real solutions like housing, safety, and support. #RightToRest #EndHomelessness #SurvivorsDeserveBetter

?? TODAY: Tell legislators to support SB1031 – the Ny’Kala Strawder Act! ?? ?? Hearing TODAY (3/11) at 1 PM in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee ?? Read the alert: https://conta.cc/3XHuaM4 ?? Send an email: https://bit.ly/3DBt6m9 ?? Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and a major driver of intimate partner violence fatalities. In Maryland, guns were used in 75% of IPV-related deaths from 2019 to 2023—and unsecured firearms put survivors and children at even greater risk. SB1031 strengthens accountability for unsafe firearm storage to prevent tragedies before they happen. #SafeStorageSavesLives #EndGunViolence #ProtectSurvivors

?? TODAY at 11:30 AM! Maryland lawmakers are hearing HB1055, the Commission on Nondiscrimination—a critical bill to strengthen civil rights protections and eliminate gaps in Maryland’s laws. ?? No one should fall through the cracks. Tell legislators to vote YES on HB1055! ?? Email them now! https://conta.cc/3Fs7SHQ ? HB1055 will: ?? Monitor federal actions that could weaken protections ?? Ensure all communities have legal remedies against discrimination ??? Recommend legislation to expand and enforce justice

?? Protect Abortion Access with Sustainable Funding ?? Hearing: TODAY (3/6) at 1 PM in the Senate Finance Committee. ?? Tell legislators: Vote YES on SB848! ?? Read the full alert: https://conta.cc/3DeQBkU ?? Email legislators in just a few clicks: https://bit.ly/4bpEn5w Maryland voters protected abortion rights, but too many people still struggle to afford care. SB848 creates a sustainable grant program to help uninsured, underinsured, and low-income individuals access abortion care without relying on charity. ? Covers abortion care costs for those who can’t afford it. ? Uses existing insurance surplus funds—not taxpayer dollars. ? Helps with travel, lodging, and childcare for people facing logistical barriers. #SB848 #ReproductiveFreedom #AbortionAccess #HealthcareJustice

? Night of the Advocate is here! ? Join the Women’s Law Center of Maryland on Tuesday, May 6th, from 6–8 PM at Rye Street Tavern for an evening dedicated to celebrating changemakers and advancing justice in Maryland. The WLC Awards bring together advocates, legal professionals, and community leaders to support free legal services and policy advocacy for survivors of intimate partner violence. ?? Your support makes a difference. Every ticket, every sponsorship, and every donation helps ensure survivors across Maryland have access to justice, safety, and stability. ??? Get Your Tickets or Become a Sponsor Today! https://lnkd.in/eDAPu5wK #NightOfTheAdvocate #AdvancingJustice #SupportSurvivors #WLC2025

?? A stronger Maryland starts with fair tax policies. ?? Hearing: TODAY (3/5) at 1 PM in the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee. ?? Tell legislators: Vote YES on SB859! ?? Read the full alert: https://conta.cc/3DeQBkU ?? Email legislators in just a few clicks: https://bit.ly/4bpEn5w SB859 expands tax credits for working families, closes corporate loopholes, and ensures that big businesses and the wealthiest contribute their fair share—just like the rest of us. ? Expands the Earned Income & Child Tax Credits so parents can afford food, housing, and childcare. ? Prevents tax-dodging by multi-state corporations so they pay what they owe in Maryland. ? Keeps tax rates stable for low- and middle-income families. ? Funds public services like roads & transit without burdening working people. #SB859 #FairShareForMaryland #TaxJustice #InvestInFamilies

?? For 16 years, Maryland has denied incarcerated women the reentry support they need. It’s time to change that. ?? Hearing: TODAY (3/4) at 1 PM ?? Take Action Now: ?? Read the full alert: https://conta.cc/41EQBE6 ?? Email legislators in just a few clicks: https://bit.ly/4iiGKcy HB1198 (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act) establishes Maryland’s first women’s prerelease facility in over a decade—giving women access to stable housing, job support, and trauma-informed rehabilitation before release. ? Provides dedicated services for mental health, addiction recovery, and financial stability. ? Ensures access to housing, jobs, and essential documents before release. ? Prevents women from being placed in unsafe, mixed-gender facilities with no transition support. #HB1198 #ReentryMatters #WomenDeserveBetter #JusticeForAll

?? No one should have to choose between safety and the risk of deportation. TODAY at 1 PM, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is hearing SB828, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act—a bill that ensures hospitals, schools, courthouses, and shelters are safe spaces where people can get help without fear of being detained. ?? Hearing: TODAY (3/4) at 1 PM ?? Take Action Now: ?? Read the full alert: https://conta.cc/41EQBE6 ?? Email legislators in just a few clicks: https://bit.ly/4iiGKcy ?? What SB828 does: ? Protects critical places from immigration enforcement, so people can access healthcare, education, and legal help without fear. ? Ensures survivors of violence and trafficking can seek safety without ICE using courthouses or shelters to detain them. ? Strengthens public health by making sure no one is too afraid to visit a doctor, get vaccinated, or seek medical care. ? Requires the Attorney General to create clear guidelines so state agencies follow policies that put safety over enforcement. ?? Why It Matters: ?? Survivors shouldn’t have to stay in danger. Many people in violent relationships fear seeking legal help because they worry they’ll be detained. ?? Healthcare should be about health, not fear. When people avoid medical care due to immigration concerns, public health suffers. ?? Courthouses should be about justice, not intimidation. ICE enforcement near courthouses silences victims and witnesses, making communities less safe. ?? Maryland must stand for safety, not fear. SB828 ensures that Maryland does not follow federal policies that allow ICE to target people in hospitals, shelters, and schools. Tell lawmakers: Vote YES on SB828! Everyone deserves to access essential services without fea