Maryland Commission for Women

09/25/2026

Looking forward to another powerful year of advocacy with our partners at Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW)!

MLAW is now accepting legislative proposals for their 2027 Legislative Agenda, which will be presented at their annual conference, Our State! Our Voice! Our Agenda!, on Saturday, November 14, 2026.

If your organization is working on Maryland legislation that advances women’s health, safety, economic independence, or civil rights, we encourage you to submit a proposal by October 31st. Selected lead groups will present their bills at the November conference.
Submit your proposal here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWJN9jedV-cBW6DVyUquMQGNsUAirVYpH7pVvK68gYux4EZA/viewform

MLAW will host its annual Legislative Agenda Conference, Our State! Our Voice! Our Agenda!, on Saturday, November 14, 2026. MLAW is inviting/encouraging organizations (lead groups) and legislators to submit legislative proposals for consideration at the conference. Selected legislation will comprise our 2027 Legislative Agenda.

Legislation must meet the following criteria:
*Addresses an issue related to women's health, women's personal safety at home, in public, in school, and in the workplace; the ability to achieve and maintain economic independence; or freedom from discrimination in Maryland's economic, educational, judicial, political, and social system;
*Can be addressed through the legislation in the Maryland General Assembly;
*Has a reasonable chance to move successfully through the legislative process;
*Has at least one legislative sponsor
*Has an identifiable, sustainable lead group that can shepherd the bill. The lead group must be a Maryland-based group or a national group with a strong on-the-ground presence in Maryland and have issue-area expertise and/or a track record of supporting legislation/advocacy in areas related to this proposal.

All proposals MUST be submitted no later than October 31st. If accepted, you or someone from your organization must attend our conference on November 14th to present your bill.

To submit a proposal, complete this online form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWJN9jedV-cBW6DVyUquMQGNsUAirVYpH7pVvK68gYux4EZA/viewform

09/18/2026

Our Commissioner, Amanda Rodriguez, who also serves as CEO of the Baltimore-area nonprofit Turn Around Inc., recently spoke with The Baltimore Sun about the staggering 70% increase in calls to their 24/7 hotline.

As both a survivor and a former prosecutor, Commissioner Rodriguez brings empathy, advocacy, and perspective to help survivors reclaim their lives and navigate the path forward.

🔗 Read the full Q&A here: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/09/17/baltimore-turnaround-hotline-calls-surge/

TurnAround CEO Amanda Rodriguez discusses human trafficking, rising demand for services and barriers that keep survivors from reporting abuse

09/14/2026

Honored to stand with Senator Dawn Gile, Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, and Delegate Heather Bagnall in leading this shift for women’s health! Huge thanks to Melinda French Gates for national recognition of our Maryland team.

09/14/2026

📢 Save the date! Our Executive Director, Ariana Kelly, will be sharing the stage with Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi for her upcoming author event at Wonderland Books.

They'll discuss Delegate Qi's new memoir, Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland, tracing her path from Cultural Revolution-era China to the State House and examining her community's political movement.

Where: Wonderland Books (7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD)
When: Tuesday, Sept 15 at 7:00 PM
Learn more: wonderlandbooks.com/events

09/10/2026

Within the last two weeks, we lost three extraordinary figures who shaped generations of progress: Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan, and Dolly Parton.

From Steinem's decades of coalition-building and Morgan's foundational movement-building, to Parton’s trailblazing economic independence and philanthropy, these icons proved that women’s liberation is a collective effort.

As Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton reminded us upon Gloria’s passing: "We must carry her example forward the only way she would have wanted: by refusing to accept less than full equality for women, and by getting back to work."

At the Maryland Commission for Women, we are doing just that. Read Executive Director Ariana Kelly's full message reflecting on their legacies and outlining our core priorities for 2026: including pay equity, caregiving policy, and reproductive health access: https://mailchi.mp/maryland.gov/remembering-gloria-steinem-robin-morgan-and-dolly-parton

09/04/2026

Great article featuring Commissioner Nyki Robinson of Black Girls Vote about the power of Black women voters.

In Baltimore politics, all roads go through Black women — the city’s largest, most consistent voting bloc.

09/03/2026

The Maryland Commission for Women is pleased to invite you to the Prosperity Small Business Event: Women in Business on September 29, 2026, featuring Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.

Join us to learn more about opportunities including:
• Access to grants, loans, and investment capital
• Free and subsidized business support, including legal, accounting, HR, office, and business resources
• Connections to Maryland leadership, programs, and resources supporting women entrepreneurs and small business owners

Space is limited, so advance registration is encouraged:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prosperity-small-business-event-tickets-1994881499265?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please share this opportunity with entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members who may benefit. We look forward to bringing women across Maryland together to connect, learn, and build greater economic opportunity.

Executive Alliance - A Catalyst for Women Leaders in Maryland

08/28/2026

Today state and local advocacy came together in Prince Georges County to advance student health equity! ✂️🎉

The Maryland Commission for Women (MCW) was thrilled to join leaders, faculty, and students at Prince George's Community College to cut the ribbon on the new "Care on Demand" Health & Wellness Vending Machine located in the Center for Performing Arts building.

This milestone is a direct result of our OTC Birth Control Collaborative and Grant Initiative, a statewide effort led by the Maryland Commission for Women, the American Society for Emergency Contraception (ASEC), and the Straus Foundation to help Maryland community colleges implement 24/7 access to over-the-counter contraception.

Maryland State Commissioner Dr. Christine Lee joined Prince Georges County Commission for Women Commissioners Maritza Gonzalez and Bethania Gonzalez for the official unveiling.
By removing transportation and financial barriers, this project gives PGCC students confidential, reliable access to emergency contraception, Opill, and essential wellness products right on campus.

Thank you to Dr. Bryant, the PGCC Contraception Task Force, and the Straus Foundation for working with us to turn legislative policy into real world student support! 💙

08/26/2026

Happy National Women’s Equality Day! 🌸

To mark today, we want to highlight the Maryland Commission for Women as your premier source for data, policy insights, and status reports on women across our state.

Our Data & Publications page is packed with valuable tools for community members, organizers, students, partners, and policymakers, including:

✔️ 2026 Legislative Session Women’s Issues Report: Our latest guide analyzing 35+ enacted bills, implementation schedules, agency accountability benchmarks, and upcoming policy forecasts (including our work on menopause legislation SB892/HB1365).
✔️Student Research Hub (2025–2026): Spotlighting collaborative research and policy analyses produced in partnership with talented student researchers across Maryland.
✔️Justice-Involved Maryland Women – A 2025 Status Report: Critical research addressing systemic challenges and equity within the justice system.
✔️Maryland Women in Elected Office – Status Report: Key data tracking female representation in state leadership. (Look for our updated 2026 post-election edition later this year!)

We are committed to continually expanding our research to bring you the facts and figures that drive change.

👉 Check out our full collection of resources here: https://dhs.maryland.gov/maryland-commission-women/news-and-publications/

08/12/2026

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📖 Read our latest newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/maryland.gov/august-maryland-women-newsletter

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