Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has outlined his priority legislation for the 2025 session of the Maryland General Assembly, emphasizing measures to protect the civil rights, health, and well-being of the state’s residents, especially the most vulnerable.
The proposed legislation will include stronger protections for individuals in assisted living facilities against abuse and exploitation, as well as for workers to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions. Additionally, Brown aims to reinforce Maryland’s civil rights laws.
Key legislative proposals for 2025 include:
- Protection of Vulnerable Adults: Measures to install video recording equipment in long-term care facilities and hold caregivers to higher standards in financial dealings with vulnerable adults.
- Worker Protection Legislation: Establishment of a Worker Protection Unit to enforce labor laws vigorously and revisions to the Workplace Fraud Act to extend protections across all industries.
- Protection of Rights in Private Detention Centers: Legislation to ensure that private detention centers respect constitutional rights, with provisions for legal action against rights violations.
- Housing and Employment Law Enhancements: Updates to clarify prohibitions against discriminatory practices and mandates for local jurisdictions to promote fair housing.
The Attorney General also supports reforms to address the disproportionate incarceration of Black Marylanders, including amendments to school attendance laws for justice-involved youth, broader eligibility for parole based on medical conditions or age, and expansions to Second Look laws allowing sentence adjustments…