Bill > SB587

This bill establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and propose benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or impacted by inequitable government policies during the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras (1877-1965). The Commission will be composed of 23 members, including state legislators, government officials, representatives from historical and civil rights organizations, historians, and public members appointed by the Governor. The Commission is tasked with examining the history of slavery in Maryland, investigating past discriminatory policies, and exploring potential forms of reparations such as monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social services, education tuition waivers, and business incentives. The Commission will develop recommendations for eligibility criteria, application processes, and potential funding sources, including fees from private businesses that benefited from historical inequities. The Commission must submit a preliminary report by January 1, 2027, and a final comprehensive report by November 1, 2027, to the Governor and General Assembly. Commission members will not be compensated but will be reimbursed for expenses, and the State Archives and a public university will provide staff support. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will remain in effect until June 30, 2028.

Education, Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0587?ys=2025RS