Senate Bill 587
MARYLAND – Wednesday, April 4,2025 Maryland lawmakers voted in favor legislation aimed at helping African Americans that many are calling controversial.
To sign, or not to sign?
That’s the decision Maryland’s first Black Governor and currently the only Black Governor serving in the nation, Wes Moore, has to make concerning Senate Bill 587- the Maryland Reparations Commission. Passing 101 to 36, the bill recommends appropriate benefits to enslaved Descendants.
Some lawmakers say he should be focused on the budget, while others say bigotry affects the bottom line.
Housing discrimination, redlining, segregation
These are policies Chairwoman Joseline Pena- Melnyk says affected Black people post slavery in Maryland. “This is not about Money, this is a serious issue. This is about the past, the damage that had a lasting effect on the political, economic, social, physical, mental and cultural wellbeing of Black people.
Equity vs Equality
Bill amendments to include Descendants of the Holocaust and abuse victims failed. Delegate Sheree Sample- Hughes was the only Eastern shore voter in favor, and Delegate Matt Morgan said quote “equity is a Marxist term”.
“I think it’s disgraceful that we’re going to set up a reparations tax that might tax one race and give to another race. It is the year 2025, are you kidding me?… In America, you don’t get equity, you get equality- meaning equal rules for everyone.
Taxpayers, then and Now
The bill describes reparations as, official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social service & childcare assistance, business incentives, debt forgiveness and college tuition waivers.
Multiple delegates stood to explain their green vote. Delegate —- shared she was the direct descendant of Harriet Tubman. Delegate Gabriel Acevero said Maryland’s 1639 Doctrine of Exclusion started the blueprint for the Slave codes.
Delegate Stephanie Smith spoke on taxes. “I think we forgotten that there were taxpayers in the late 1800s, in the early 1900s through the mid 20th century. Who did not get the benefit of the taxes they paid. There were roads they paid for they could not drive down, there were schools they paid for they could not enter.”
Will he, or won’t he?
Governor Wes Moore hasn’t said whether he would sign the dotted line, and many are hoping he doesn’t. “I’ve never been black, I know. I have no clue what it’s like. I know you went through some hell. I don’t think this is going to fix it. I think it’s going to make it worse.”
Lawmakers in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York passed legislation either attempting to atone for racist policies or offering reparations for Descendants of slavery. If Governor Moore signs, he’ll add Maryland to the movement.
The bill is currently sitting on Governor We’s Moore’s desk, and if the legislation were to be signed, it would go into effect July 1, 2025. The commission would then be tasked with submitting a preliminary report by January 1, 2027, and a final report by November 1, 2027.
