Ellis–Andrews campaign outlines legislative priorities during Annapolis hearing week
MDBayNews Staff
ANNAPOLIS — As the Maryland General Assembly moves deeper into the 2026 legislative session, a long-shot gubernatorial campaign from the Green Party is attempting to inject several controversial policy debates into the conversation.
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Andy Ellis and running mate Owen Silverman Andrews released their weekly campaign briefing outlining positions on constitutional convention reform, Israel-related legislation, juvenile justice reform, and expanded labor rights in Maryland schools.
While the campaign has limited political infrastructure compared to major party candidates, the briefing highlights several bills currently moving through Annapolis that could generate broader debate during the remainder of the legislative session.
Israel-Related Bills Spark Political Divide
Two pieces of legislation dealing with Israel policy are drawing attention from the campaign and advocacy groups across the political spectrum.
The first proposal, HB 1382, would prohibit the state of Maryland from requiring contractors to certify they are not participating in boycotts of foreign countries as a condition of doing business with the state.
Maryland’s existing anti-boycott policy toward Israel was implemented through an executive order by former Governor Larry Hogan and has been maintained by Governor Wes Moore. Critics of the order argue it restricts political speech and limits business participation in state procurement.
The Ellis campaign supports eliminating the certification requirement.
“It is time Maryland does the right thing and gets out of the business of supporting Israel,” Ellis said in the campaign briefing, citing concerns raised by international organizations about Israeli government policy.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday before the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee.
A second proposal, HB 1455, would require the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System to divest from certain Israeli investments. According to campaign materials, the pension system held approximately $73.7 million in Israel Bonds as of late 2025, funds tied to the retirement savings of more than 420,000 public employees.
The legislation is expected to receive a hearing March 19 in the House Appropriations Committee.
The proposals place Maryland lawmakers in the middle of a broader national political dispute over boycott and divestment campaigns tied to Israel. Critics of such measures argue they unfairly single out a key U.S. ally and politicize state investment policy.
Juvenile Justice Reform Advances in Senate
Another issue highlighted by the Green Party campaign is the Youth Charging Reform Act, which passed the Maryland Senate last week by a 32-12 vote.
The legislation would reduce the number of criminal charges that automatically place teenagers in adult court.
Under the bill:
• Assault charges involving minors would generally return to juvenile jurisdiction
• Gun possession cases involving juveniles would also move to the juvenile system
• More serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and carjacking would still be prosecuted in adult court
Advocates have pushed for changes to Maryland’s youth charging laws for more than a decade.
Supporters argue the current system exposes teenagers to adult prison environments that can increase long-term recidivism.
Ellis framed the legislation as a long-overdue reform and criticized lawmakers for taking years to act.
“Hundreds of children have been needlessly exposed to the traumatic conditions of the adult prison system,” Ellis said in the briefing.
Opponents of the bill, however, warn that weakening adult court jurisdiction could limit prosecutors’ ability to handle violent offenses involving juveniles.
The House version of the bill, HB 409, previously received a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.
Constitutional Convention Reform Returns to Debate
The Ellis campaign is also highlighting legislation that addresses an obscure but unusual provision of Maryland’s state constitution.
HB 979 seeks to modify how votes are counted when Maryland voters are asked whether to convene a constitutional convention.
Under current rules dating back to the 1867 Maryland Constitution, blank ballots effectively count as “no” votes on the question of whether to hold a convention.
That rule helped defeat a convention proposal in 2010 even though more voters supported it than opposed it.
According to election results from that referendum:
• 897,239 voters supported calling a constitutional convention
• 751,228 voted against it
• 216,817 voters left the question blank
Because blank ballots were counted against the measure, the proposal failed.
HB 979 would change the counting method so that only votes actually cast on the question are counted — the same standard used for constitutional amendments.
The bill has bipartisan sponsorship, including Republican Delegate Mike Hornberger of Cecil County and Democratic Delegate Vaughn Stewart of Montgomery County.
Ellis argues the change is necessary to prevent procedural quirks from overriding voter intent.
“If you vote yes, your vote counts as yes. If you vote no, your vote counts as no. If you skip the question, you skip the question,” Ellis said.
Expanding Labor Rights in Schools
The campaign is also promoting legislation aimed at expanding labor rights for school employees and raising wages for education support staff.
Several related bills will receive hearings this week in Annapolis, including proposals addressing the right to strike and compensation levels for non-teacher education workers.
While labor advocacy groups have pushed similar legislation for years, critics argue expanding strike rights in public education could disrupt school operations and place additional financial burdens on local governments.
Green Party Seeking Relevance in 2026 Race
The Ellis–Andrews ticket remains a long-shot in Maryland’s heavily Democratic political environment, where statewide elections are typically dominated by Democratic candidates.
However, third-party campaigns occasionally influence political debate by raising issues that later gain traction among major party candidates.
The Green Party campaign is seeking public financing and small donor support, and Ellis and Andrews host a weekly livestream discussing their policy platform and legislative developments.
Whether the campaign can translate activism into electoral momentum remains uncertain.
But as Annapolis enters the final weeks of the legislative session — with major deadlines approaching for bills to move between chambers — the issues highlighted by the campaign are already appearing on committee agendas across the State House.
On the Calendar This Week
Key events referenced in the campaign briefing include:
• March 9 — HB 979 hearing: Constitutional convention reform in the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee
• March 11 — HB 1382 hearing: Anti-BDS procurement legislation in the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee
• March 11 — HB 1492 hearing: Right-to-strike legislation in the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee
• March 11 — HB 1205 hearing: Education support staff wage legislation
• March 12 — Weekly campaign livestream: Ellis and Andrews discuss education policy and legislative developments
With crossover deadlines approaching later this month, lawmakers will soon decide which proposals advance and which quietly die in committee — a familiar reality in Annapolis politics.
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