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Maryland bill would create new consolidated social equity department

A bill being considered in the Maryland General Assembly would establish a new Cabinet-level agency in the state, to be known as the Department of Social and Economic Mobility, by absorbing and combining three separate existing offices; those being 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.

The bill (HB1253, introduced by House Speaker Adrienne Jones) would, in addition to consolidating the three programs, also be given the responsibility to "monitor trends in social equity program and policies across the nation," and "propose new and innovative approaches to social equity programs". The new department would be manned by full-time staff and all state government departments and units would be required to use "standards set by the Department related to social equity".

"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 during testimony on the bill in the House.

HB1253 has been passed by the Assembly's House and is currently being considered in the Assembly Senate.

Find the bill at https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1253?ys=2025RS.