Speaker’s bill would make social equity part of state government, literally

As the Trump administration continues its push to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs wherever they are found, Maryland lawmakers are advancing a bill that creates a Cabinet-level department to oversee social equity programs in the state.

The name of proposed agency has changed since it was first introduced by House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), from the Department of Social Equity to the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. But the mission remains the same: supporting social equity programs throughout state government and collecting scattered agencies that assist small and disadvantaged businesses under one roof.

House Bill 1253 passed the House on a 101-37 vote on March 17 and was heard Wednesday by the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee.

“We know we are stronger when everyone has the same access to the same opportunities, and when everyone has a seat at the table,” Jones said in testimony befoer the committee Wednesday.

“We have programs that require minority and small business contracting. We support supplier diversity and state procurement,” Jones said. “Unfortunately, right now, these programs are fractured across our state government. They’re isolated in different agencies and often work independently of each other.”

The department would combine three existing offices focused on social equity programming: the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Affairs (GOSBA); the Office of Social Equity in the Maryland Cannabis Administration; and the Office of Minority Business Enterprises in the state Department of Transportation.

Besides overseeing programs that support small and disadvantaged businesses, the new department would be responsible for proposing new and innovative approaches to social equity programs, monitoring trends in social equity programs and policies across the nation and adopting standards for various agencies and other units within the executive branch to promote social equity.

The proposal comes at President Donald Trump had ordered the elimination of DEI programs at the federal level and has threatened to withhold federal funding to states that don’t comply to eliminate initiatives focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

At a February gathering of governors at the White House, Trump challenged Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) over her state’s policy allowing transgender girls from playing girls’ sports. But Mills held firm, telling Trump, “We’re going to follow the law sir. We’ll see you in court.”

This month, the federal government started to investigate Maine and found it was in violation of the federal civil rights rule that bans sex-based discrimination in schools.

On the day HB 1253 passed the House, Del. Lauren Arikan (R-Harford) said Maryland could be next in line for federal retribution.

“We have some of the worst policies in the nation, maybe second only to California … because of our woke policies,” Arikan said. “I think a lot of our behavior is being watched, and we’re really close to D.C. We’re an easy target to keep an eye on because we’re right next door.”

But Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) said Wednesday that Maryland should not back down in the face of federal threats, but should continue to implement and support diverse programs and initiatives, especially about people of color. Atterbeary is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which reviews education policies.

“We heard the message loud and clear, Mr. President, you don’t care for us. You don’t like us. You don’t want us around,” Atterbeary said. “You want no mention of us in any photo and any history.

“He’s [Trump] trying to erase history and our culture, which is our culture. America’s culture. So, I think it’s really important in Maryland that we preserve that,” she said.

Most of the funding and personnel for the new department would be shifted from existing agencies and accounts, including the Transportation Trust Fund and cannabis sales and use taxes. According to the fiscal note for HB 1253, $2.3 million would be needed for next fiscal year to for nine new positions such as a secretary, principal counsel and support personnel for human resources and finance, among others.