State Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (District 20), chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, shared priorities the caucus has for this General Assembly session.
Priorities include Black wealth, health, cannabis legalization, housing access and education equity, Wilkins said during a media briefing with County Executive Marc Elrich on Thursday.
She said she is particularly excited to work on health-related legislation, citing that African Americans are more likely than any other group to die after a cancer diagnosis.
Two bills will ensure free screenings as well as no or few cost barriers to accessing follow-up tests. She said the body’s work around cancer disparities and health will be “life-saving” this legislative session.
Wilkins represents the Silver Spring, Takoma Park and White Oak areas in Montgomery County.
Elrich said he looks forward to continuing to support the Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda.
On housing, Wilkins said she will introduce a bill that creates a $15 million statewide voucher program that reflects the federal voucher program, to get people off the waiting list.
She said the caucus wants to protect Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) programs and minority businesses by making sure programs with an end date do continue.
Also, legislators are working to ensure the Blueprint for Maryland is implemented with oversight and fidelity and to support Governor Wes Moore’s efforts around teacher shortages and recruitment.
She said the cannabis legalization bill that was recently drafted is a great start, but needs improvements to ensure equity. An 88-page bill dropped on Friday, and is sponsored by several members of the Black Caucus.
The caucus is looking at improvements including ensuring access to licenses for Black businesses, ensuring criminalization does not take place when interacting with police, expanding expungements and ending the practice of stopping and searching people due to odor of marijuana.
