A first report card for new Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake |
The 2026 Maryland State Legislative Session was the first one for the brand new Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake (JFedA-C.org). While we are still new and are learning, thanks to many partners and volunteers, it was a big success!
The new Federation decided early on to focus on both security issues and fighting antisemitism. At the very start of the legislative session, fully 60 of volunteers from the Federation joined established Jewish Federations and Jewish Community Relations Councils for Maryland Jewish Advocacy Day. This is an annual event that has been run successfully for years. However, thanks to our new Federation, now Jews in more Maryland counties are able fully participate.
JFedA-C worked in coalitions led by the Baltimore Jewish Council, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, ADL and others. This was instrumental. One example of this partnership was that the Baltimore Jewish Council organized a follow up meeting with Maryland leaders where Federations from across the state could again make a case on key policy items.
Over the 90-day legislative session, JFedA-C volunteers went to every single office in the statehouse – reaching out to Democrats and Republicans alike from across the state with a shared agenda. This included providing testimony on a number of key bills of concern to the Jewish community.
During the legislative session, several teens from Bowie, Annapolis, Severna Park and other areas in the community participated in the first-ever Jewish Legislative Shadow Day. They got to meet elected officials who are Jewish, learn what it’s like to work as staff in the Maryland legislature, and to hear from Maryland’s Speaker of the House, Joseline Pena-Melnyk.
Below is a scorecard on legislation that the Jewish Federation of Annapolis & the Chesapeake supported that impacts Maryland’s Jewish families and students and communities across the state.
PASSED AND ALREADY SIGNED INTO LAW:
Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant Program ($10 million, level funding) The Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant (PAHC) in the Governor’s budget was established in FY2020 because of the unfortunate rise in hate bias incidents in Maryland and throughout the country. These grants continue to be used for infrastructure upgrades........