Progress today on getting witnesses to testify on two of my bills.

A Department of Social Services facility in Northwest Baltimore was closed last year.

The notice to the affected community was inadequate.

House Bill 1138 would require notice of a closure and, in some instances, a public meeting.

I’ve been working with a religious leader on this issue, but he will be out of the country when my bill is heard.

I’ve asked him if he knows people who were affected by the closure.

I’ve also asked my Constituent Director, Jackie Greenfield, if she knows of anyone.

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My SLAPP bill has passed the House several times but not the Senate.

It would make it more difficult to file a frivolous lawsuit to intimidate someone exercising their First Amendment rights.

Since the Senate committee has heard the bill before, the hearing is limited to the bill’s sponsor and only two witnesses from the public.

A survivor of domestic violence has contacted me.

She has written two published articles about her abuse.

She has been legally threatened for her writing by her abuser.

We can’t add her to the witness list for the hearing, but we will try to arrange for her to meet with committee members whose votes we need and can get.