MASC Advocacy Week: Monday, February 24– Friday, February 28, 2025

Advocacy Week is a suggested time when MASC regions travel to Annapolis to meet with legislators and advocate on youth-related bills.   Many students can testify in committee hearings, attend part of a general assembly session, and also have time for sightseeing in our state’s capital.

Although MASC has designated this week as Advocacy Week, Regions may plan any day during the legislative session that meets their needs (or the available time of their legislators).

Regions should contact their legislators to plan meeting times or informal “drop-in” visits.  In addition, if delegates wish to attend part of a general assembly, they need to reserve space in the House or Senate balcony.  Legislators reserve the seats and will “announce” you at the beginning of the session (see Information from the Legislative Services website below).

There is no set schedule for this week and it is up to regions/attendees to decide when they go to Annapolis, set up appointments with their legislators, and do any sightseeing they wish to do.  Legislative Services can also set up tours of the State House, Senate & Lowe House Buildings as well as the  Legislative Services buildings (http://dls.maryland.gov/library/educational-tours).  There are also tours you can take of the greater Annapolis area via Trolley Car  (https://www.townetransport.com/tour-schedule).

Directions and Parking:  The easiest and least expensive parking is at the Naval Academy Stadium.  The Annapolis shuttle/trolley is an inexpensive one-way ticket.  (Directions.ParkingAnnapolis) 

Resources:

• • Maryland General Assembly Home Page: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frm1st.aspx?tab=home
• • How a bill becomes law: http://dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/NoPblTabLibResDocs/Legislative-Process.pdf
• • Legislative Lingo: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-legislative-lingo.pdf
• • Explanation of Floor Motions and Legislative Actions: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-motions.pdf
• • Information from the Legislative Services website: The chambers of the Senate and the House of Delegates are located on the first floor of the State House in the section that was completed in 1905. Each chamber’s gallery, located on the second floor, is open to the public, but seating is limited and is available on a first-come-first-seated basis.

• Floor sessions usually begin at 8:00 p.m. on Monday evenings and at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Friday floor sessions usually start at 11:00 a.m. However, visitors should be aware that actual floor session start times may vary and that floor sessions increase in number and duration as the General Assembly moves toward the end of its 90-day deliberations. Visitors may check the Senate and House Proceedings on the Maryland General Assembly website for the time of the next floor session by scrolling to the end of the selected day’s action or by calling Library and Information Services.  On the Legislation by Session page, go to the Legislation List to choose Proceedings – Senate or House.