With a looming budget deficit in Maryland, our schools, transit services, health care and other essential services are on the line this year. The House of Delegates is negotiating the budget the week of March 10th, and our legislators on the Ways & Means and Appropriations Committee need to hear from us, their constituents, as they consider how to address the budget deficit and revenue options.

We ask that you sign up to call your delegate(s) on these key committees on Tuesday, March 10 or Wednesday, March 11. You can find your State District Number here.

We will be calling to ask them to support the Fair Share for Maryland Act (HB 1014), which would reform Maryland's tax system to make sure everyone pays their fair share so our communities have what they need, without raising taxes on working families or small businesses.

INSTRUCTIONS

Use the phone numbers and script below as a guide, but feel free to share any personal reasons for why you support the Fair Share for Maryland Act. If someone from the office does not pick up, please leave a message.

*If you are a JUFJ member: after you make your calls, please fill out this form: https://jufj.org/mdga-outreach/. This will help us know if you talked to staff or left a voicemail, and any other important information from your call that we can share with coalition partners as we continue to strategize about how to pass this legislation.

Remember to thank the staff you talk to - they work hard and have fielded a lot of our calls!

CALL GUIDE

Please note that legislators' staff have told constituents that it sounds like they are reading from a script. We want you to be aware that this is a possible response you may receive, that you should feel free to personalize the script, and that the most important thing is to use your voice and make a call, regardless of whether you use the script or your own words!

Hi - my name is YOUR NAME, and I'm calling to urge Delegate NAME to pass the Fair Share for Maryland Act, HB1014. I'm very concerned about plans to close Maryland's budget gap through drastic cuts to critical programs and services. Our state continues to give away millions in business tax breaks through corporate loopholes and an upside down tax system, despite overwhelming evidence that this doesn't boost our economy. Over a third of large corporations don't pay any income taxes in Maryland, while working families and small businesses pay more than their fair share. The Fair Share for Maryland Act is a comprehensive proposal of smart reforms to close corporate loopholes, ensure the wealthiest residents pay their fair share, adequately fund our public services, help our state thrive and be competitive, and deliver tax relief to over 1 million working families. I urge the Senator to vote YES on HB1014. Thank you.

Please make your calls on Tuesday, March 11 or Wednesday, March 12, 2025, if possible, between the hours of 9AM and 5PM.