Maryland Rise is a left-of-center Greenbelt, Maryland-based group that pushes for left-of-center economic legislation in Maryland. In 2021, the group supported legislation expanding the state’s Earned Income Tax Credits to illegal immigrants. ¹

The group supported legislation in 2024 that would have raised taxes on the wealthy and corporations instead of imposing budget cuts. ²

Background

Maryland Rise began operations in 2021. ³ The group claims to be non-partisan, but the group is an advocate for many left-of-center economic policies including higher government spending, more generous welfare programs, and higher taxes. ⁴

Issue Advocacy

Support For Easier Voting

In 2021, Maryland Rise supported legislation that it claimed expanded voting rights and made it easier for people to vote. The legislation created “a permanent absentee ballot list, ensure ballot boxes, set new rules on the siting and operation of early voting centers, ease voting for members of the military and students and contain updated rules on ballot curing.” ¹

Expanded Earned Income Tax Credit

In 2021, Maryland Rise supported legislation that expanded the size of Maryland’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and made illegal immigrants eligible to collect them.  ¹

Medical Debt

In 2021, Maryland Rise supported legislation that ensured “that no one who qualifies for free or reduced-cost care can have their wages garnished because of a hospital medical debt, guarantees that no patient will lose their home to a lien by a hospital, and puts a one year moratorium on all lawsuits from hospitals on medical debt until January 2022.” ¹

In 2024, the group supported legislation that would ban Maryland hospitals and medical practices from placing a line on houses due to unpaid medical debt. The group claimed the practice disproportionately impacted Black people. ⁵

Paid Leave

In 2022, Maryland Rise supported the passage of the Time to Care Act which created a paid leave program in the state of Maryland. In 2023, the group supported the passage of legislation that set the required taxes to fund the program to be a split of 50 percent paid by the employer and 50 percent paid by the employee. ⁶

In 2024, the group supported legislation that would grant Maryland state government employees up to 10 days of bereavement leave if they lost a child or had a stillbirth which would be separate from other leaves granted by the state. ⁷

Pay on Job Listings

In 2024, Maryland Rise supported legislation that would require an employer to list pay ranges, a general description of benefits, and other compensation in job listings. The group claimed that it would reduce alleged racial and gender pay gaps. ⁸

Support for Higher Taxes

In 2024, Maryland Rise supported proposed income tax increases on the wealthy, higher taxes on businesses, and higher estate taxes on the wealthy. The proposed legislation would expand selected tax credits for lower-income Marylanders, which it claimed would disproportionately help black families. The group came out against proposed budget cuts and instead suggested closing the proposed budget deficit with higher taxes. ²

Work Scheduling Legislation

In 2024, Maryland Rise supported legislation that would guarantee compensation for scheduled shifts shortened or cancelled by employers. The legislation would also allow workers to decline schedules that do not permit enough rest time between shifts. ⁹

Leadership

Maryland Rise’s executive director is Lisa Klingenmaier. She was previously the assistant director of advocacy for Catholic Charities of Baltimore. ¹⁰

The group’s former executive director is Myles Hicks. He became the executive director of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence. After that, he became the deputy legislative officer for Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D). ¹¹

Financials

According to Maryland Rise’s 2022 tax returns, the group had $598,200 in revenue, $353,772 in expenses, and $307,336 in assets. ¹²

1. “Legislative Updates.” Maryland Rise. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.marylandrise.org/legislative-updates.
2. “Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 766  Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2024.” Maryland Legislature, February 21, 2024. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2024/wam/1RMAsDGuMYxWSF_lSe1Kky1qiVgFEpIWb.pdf.
3. “Maryland Rise Inc – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed October 28, 2024.  https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/851251741.
4. “Maryland Rise.” Maryland Rise. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.marylandrise.org/.
5. “Testimony Is Support of House Bill 673  Real Property – Contract Liens – Medical Debt .” Maryland Legislature, February 14, 2024. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2024/hgo/1IfaVvYEg24qIgwFfMNOPWBXe5me6gNVR.pdf.
6. “TESTIMONY ON HB 988  FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM – MODIFICATIONS.” Maryland Legislature, March 7, 2023. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2023/ecm/1t0qbNPlcXxBHKKcIFvtlGQs-PEbdHhA2.pdf.
7. “Bereavement Leave Testimony.” Maryland Legislature. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2024/fin/19220_01312024_201842-152.pdf.
8. “Testimony Is Support of House Bill 649  Labor and Employment – Equal Pay for Equal Work – Wage Range Transparency.” Maryland Legislature, February 21, 2024. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2024/ecm/1lDX5FtRyAHe3iuwdF_OWOIWyG1RgeD0S.pdf.
9. “Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 994  Maryland Predictable Scheduling Act.” Maryland Legislature, March 12, 2024. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2024/fin/1p8e7tbEHcaXlgRm2qiSSZPPqSwZcV8Lv.pdf.
10. ^[1] “Lisa Klingenmaier  .” LinkedIn. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-klingenmaier-38077933.
11. “Myles Hicks.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-hicks-96054b110/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app.
12. “Maryland Rise Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/851251741/202333149349304423/full.