Maryland Legislative
Action Needed: Help Protect Maryland Families from Predatory Payday Lenders
Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB1294 which legalized payday lending in Maryland for the first time in more than 50 years. Now, cash-strapped low-wage workers can use apps on their phone to take out a loan until the next payday. App-based short-term lenders charge large fees which means these loans have a 90%-300% APR, three to ten times Maryland’s approved rate of 33% for other consumer loans. And these out-of-state lenders request tips from hardworking Maryland residents for simply borrowing their own money. Take action to protect Marylanders from predatory payday loans today! While these payday loan apps are ...
Past Session Accomplishments
Past Legislative Accomplishments 2025 You can read our 2025 legislative review here. 2024 You can read our 2024 legislative review here. 2023 Our 2023 legislative session accomplishments are here.
Our Impact
Click on the links below to see the impact our direct service work has made across Maryland. Our 2023 impact by county and legislative district Our 2024 impact by county and legislative district
Join Us for a Legislative Session Wrap-Up Webinar
Twenty days ago, Maryland’s General Assembly concluded its 2025 legislative session at the stroke of midnight amid a flurry of balloons, confetti, and cheers. Now that the confetti has been swept, the balloons deflated, and the chamber silent, it’s important to reflect on the session overall: Where did economic rights advocates advance progressive policies? Where were advocates and legislators able to codify or expand on consumer protections being rolled back at the federal level? How will new laws address racial equity and disparate impact? Where did we fall short? Why? What bills did Wall Street work to pass that harmed ...
2025 End of Session Report
Yesterday was the last day of the legislative session and although it was a cool, gray, rainy day, there were still moments when the rain stopped, and the sun burst through. This is an apt description of this year's legislative session as well. At a time when economic protections and policies to promote racial equity are being decimated, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is currently on life support, Maryland’s General Assembly passed some great bills, some good bills, and some very bad bills for working families. Below are some of the bills that Economic Action was thrilled to lead ...
Help Protect Maryland Homeowners from Foreclosure!
Maryland, Alabama, and Connecticut are the only three states in the country that do not have a statute of limitations for foreclosures. Statutes of limitations establishes the time limit for bringing a foreclosure action. Essentially, it means that if a homeowner misses mortgage payments, a foreclosure action must begin before the time runs out. This provides clarity for the homeowner and ensures that mortgage servicers have an incentive to work with homeowners to refinance the mortgage to a more affordable payment or begin foreclosure proceedings in a timely fashion. Forty-seven states already do this which means that mortgages lenders and ...
Help Stop Predatory Payday Loans in Maryland (Again!)
From the National Consumer Law Center: The Maryland State Senate is nearing passage of a bill that could legalize 300% APR payday advance loans in Maryland. The bill, HB 1294, exempts “earned wage access” loans from Maryland’s 33% interest rate cap, allowing fees and so-called “tips” that could add up to $100 or more per month. The bill has already passed the Maryland General Assembly and the Senate Finance Committee. Call your Maryland Senator and tell them not to legalize 300% APR payday advance loans in Maryland. You can also call Governor Moore's office at (410) 974-3901 or send his ...
Protect Maryland Residents from Foreclosure on Zombie Mortgages!
Maryland, Connecticut, and Alabama are rarely thought of as a trio; they are located in different regions in the U.S. with distinct food, culture, cities, and natural environments. They share one unfortunate trait: Maryland, Alabama, and Connecticut are the only three states in the country that do not have a statute of limitations for foreclosure. Statutes of limitations establishes the time limit for bringing a foreclosure action. Essentially, it means that if a homeowner misses mortgage payments, a foreclosure action must begin before the time runs out. This provides clarity for the homeowner and ensures that mortgage servicers have an ...
Post-Crossover Update: Heading To the Finish Line
Last Monday, March 17 wasn’t just St. Patrick’s Day. It was also ‘crossover day,’ the day by which a bill had to pass out of one chamber of the General Assembly in order to have a good chance of final passage by Sine Die, the last day of the 2025 legislative session on Monday, April 7. It wasn’t the luck of the Irish, it was the hard work of our policy team, our bill sponsors, our partners and supporters that led to 14 bills we’ve led and supported making it across this critical legislative hurdle. A few highlights include: HB268/SB981: ...
Your Utility Bill Shouldn’t Fund Shareholder Perks!
It’s no secret that utility bills are at an all time high in Maryland, and are only set to increase. With the rising costs, families have been forced to choose between heating their homes and food, medicine, and other basic needs. Thousands of Baltimore City households experienced BGE shutoffs in 2024. Meanwhile, our monopoly utilities are using the money they collect from your monthly bills to fund their lobbying and advertisements. They've even attempted to charge ratepayers for their retirement gifts. This lavish spending benefits them, not you. The ratepayer pays the bill, the utility companies reap the rewards. This ...