The Maryland General Assembly gave final approval on April 2 to legislation authorizing the state to form a commission to study the possibility of providing reparations for slavery.
The state House approved Senate Bill 587 in a 101–36 vote on April 2 after the Senate passed it by 32–13 on March 14.
An analysis by state legislative staff does not estimate how much such benefits might cost taxpayers.
The commission is required to file a preliminary report by Jan. 1, 2027, and a final report including its findings and recommendations with the governor and the Maryland General Assembly by Nov. 1, 2027.
Among the various benefits that the commission will explore are an official apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, down payment assistance for purchasing residential real estate, child care, debt forgiveness, and higher education tuition payment waivers.
“This is a really serious issue. This is about the past, the damage that had a lasting effect on the political, economic, social, physical, mental, and cultural well-being of black people,” she said.
During the debate, bill opponent Delegate Matthew Morgan, a Republican, said: “Let’s call this bill out for what it is. It’s a commission to set up a reparations tax.”
“How it would be implemented, who knows?“ he said. ”But I think it’s disgraceful that we’re going to set up a reparations tax that might tax one race and give to another race all in the name of equity.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
“I have said and long stated that the history of racism in this state is real,” Moore told reporters.
The effects of slavery “are still very much being felt and they’ve been structurally felt within the state of Maryland,” he said.
The governor has 30 days to sign or veto the bill. If he fails to act, after 30 days it becomes law.
Supporters of reparations benefits being paid to descendants of slaves say such benefits are justified because the harms that slavery inflicted on black Americans continue to be felt today, long after the practice was abolished.
Opponents say that no one alive today suffered under slavery and that it would be unfair to force Americans who had nothing to do with slavery to pay people who themselves did not experience slavery.
Although jurisdictions around the United States—including California and New York—have enacted legislation to study reparations, few have authorized payments.
Evanston, Illinois, approved a compensation package in 2021 aimed at black residents. The city authorized the payment of $10 million in the form of $25,000 housing vouchers.
