Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HJ8: Apology and Acknowledgement of the State's Responsibility in Racial Terror Lynchings
Status: In committee, March 11, 2026
Issuing an apology and acknowledging the State's complicity and negligence in allowing the perpetration of acts of racial terror lynching; and committing to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 6, 2026:
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION P5 6lr2928 CF 6lr2931 By: Delegates White Holland, Addison, Alston, Amprey, Boafo, Boyce, Coley, Davis, Fennell, Harrison, Hill, Kaufman, J. Long, Martinez, McCaskill, Mireku-North, Pasteur, Phillips, Roberson, Roberts, Ruff, Simmons, Smith, Taylor, Terrasa, Toles, Turner, Wells, Wilkins, and Woods Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026 Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION A House Joint Resolution concerning Apology and Acknowledgement of the State's Responsibility in Racial Terror Lynchings FOR the purpose of issuing an apology and acknowledging the State's complicity and negligence in allowing the perpetration of acts of racial terror lynching; committing to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and generally relating to racial terror lynchings in the State. WHEREAS, In Chapter 41 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2019, the General Assembly authorized the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission to research cases of racial terror lynching and to make recommendations "for addressing the legacy of lynching that are rooted in the spirit of restorative justice"; and WHEREAS, The Commission recommended that "the Maryland General Assembly issue an apology and acknowledgment of responsibility" for its complicity and negligence in allowing the perpetration of acts of racial terror lynching; and WHEREAS, Between 1854 and 1933, there were 38 documented cases of racial terror …
Sponsors
- Jennifer White Holland (D, HD-010) · primary sponsor
- Jackie Addison (D, 45)
- Tiffany Alston (D, HD-024)
- Marlon Amprey (D, 40)
- Adrian Boafo (D, 23)
- Regina Boyce (D, HD-043)
- Coley, Derrick (D, 24)
- Debra Davis (D, 28)
- Diana Fennell (D, HD-047A)
- Andrea Harrison (D, HD-024)
- Terri Hill (D, HD-012)
- Aaron Kaufman (D, HD-018)
Latest actions
- : Hearing 3/16 at 12:00 p.m.
- : First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations
Common questions
- What is HJ8?
- HJ8 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Apology and Acknowledgement of the State's Responsibility in Racial Terror Lynchings.
- What does HJ8 do?
- Issuing an apology and acknowledging the State's complicity and negligence in allowing the perpetration of acts of racial terror lynching; and committing to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- What is the status of HJ8?
- In committee as of March 11, 2026. Latest action: Hearing 3/16 at 12:00 p.m. (March 11, 2026).
- Who sponsored HJ8?
- Jennifer White Holland (D, HD-010), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HJ8?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hj0008?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.