State Government - Research Duties and Advisory Committee on Black Males - Repeal
HB119 repeals a provision in the State Government Article that had assigned the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs a set of research and reporting duties focused specifically on black males. Under the repealed section, the Office was required to study issues affecting black males in the areas of unemployment, criminal justice, education, and health, develop recommendations, and submit annual findings to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill also repeals the authority for the Special Secretary to create an Advisory Committee on Black Males to assist with that work.
In practical terms, the bill removes a targeted statutory mandate from Maryland law rather than creating a new program or benefit. It eliminates the requirement for ongoing research, recommendations, and annual reporting on black male outcomes, and it ends the express authorization for a related advisory committee. The bill is set to take effect October 1, 2025.
The bill amends the Annotated Code of Maryland by repealing Section 9-303.2 of the State Government Article. That repeal removes the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs’ specific statutory obligation to study and report on issues affecting black males, and it eliminates the Governor-authorized advisory committee tied to that work. The affected parties are primarily the Office itself, the Special Secretary, the Governor, and the General Assembly, which would no longer receive the annual reports required under the repealed section.
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and repeal-focused rather than policy-expanding, suggesting a neutral or procedural posture. The bill is a departmental request, which often indicates agency support for the change, but that cannot be confirmed from the provided record.
The main potential point of contention is the elimination of a race-specific research and advisory structure focused on black males. Supporters may view the repeal as removing an outdated or duplicative mandate, while opponents may see it as reducing attention to persistent disparities in unemployment, criminal justice, education, and health. Because no hearing transcript or vote history is included, it is not possible to identify specific legislators, agencies, or advocacy groups taking either side.