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There hasn鈥檛 been much public discussion about a proposed Reparations Commission in the nearly three months since legislators overrode the governor鈥檚 veto of the original bill. But that doesn鈥檛 mean there hasn鈥檛 been talk.

Lawmakers are scheduled to take up a bill this week that would take two commission appointments away from the governor and hand them over to legislative leaders, who would also gain the authority to name an additional five members to the commission between them. The bill would also add a representative from the Maryland Commission for African American History and Culture to the panel.

Those changes are part of , sponsored by Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George鈥檚), which is scheduled to be heard Thursday by the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee.

A representative from the governor鈥檚 office didn鈥檛 respond to a request for comment Friday on Muse鈥檚 bill.

Legislation creating a reparations commission passed last year after years of trying, but Gov. Wes Moore (D) 鈥� the nation鈥檚 only Black governor 鈥� surprised many when he chose to last spring. The governor said in his veto message in May that it was a 鈥渄ifficult decision鈥� but that 鈥渘ow is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.鈥�

The legislature overrode the governor鈥檚 veto to create a voluntary commission to assess specific federal, state and local policies from 1877 to 1965, the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, and to examine how public and private institutions may have benefited from policies that led to discrimination. The commission is also charged with recommending appropriate reparations, from a statement of apology to monetary compensation or social service assistance.

That bill called for a 23-member commission, with members from the public, industry, academia and various interest groups. Muse鈥檚 bill would expand that list to 28 members, adding the representative of the Maryland Commission for African American History and Culture, whose Executive Director Chanel C. Johnson welcomed the change in a statement Friday.

鈥淲e are excited about what is to come. While we have not yet made a selection, we look forward to doing so in the near future,鈥� Johnson said.

Muse鈥檚 bill would also take the governor鈥檚 ability to appoint two members of the general public, but would give Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and House Speaker Joseline Pe帽a-Melnyk (D-Prince George鈥檚 and Anne Arundel) the authority to appoint two members of the general public each, or four total.

Ferguson and Pe帽a-Melnyk would each appoint a 鈥渇aith leader鈥� to the commission under Muse鈥檚 bill, and would jointly have final say on a representative of the state NAACP, who would have been chosen by the state chapter president under the original bill. All told, Moore appointees on the board fall from eight to six under Muse鈥檚 bill, and the speaker鈥檚 and president鈥檚 appointees rise from four to nine.

One community leader Muse said mentioned as a possible nominee is the Rev. Robert Turner, pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore. Turner has hosted monthly walks for several years from Baltimore to the White House for reparations to be granted nationally. Turner posted on last month he completed his 40th walk, which he called 鈥�40 walks for 40 acres.鈥�

Turner, who traveled to Annapolis to join Muse and Del. Aletheia McCaskill (D-Baltimore County) in support of establishing the commission, was unavailable for comment Friday.

鈥淧eople like Rev. Turner are why it鈥檚 important that we hold up our position and keep Black History at a forefront so that we never forget the damage that it鈥檚 done to our people and how they have been disenfranchised for so long,鈥� Muse said Friday. 鈥淭hat needs to stay in front of us as a priority.鈥�

McCaskill, who sponsored the House version of last year鈥檚 reparations bill 鈥� the Senate version ultimately passed 鈥� said the addition of a few more individuals will ensure more voices are heard.

Muse鈥檚 bill also pushes back the deadline for a preliminary report from the commission, from Jan. 1, 2027, to Sept. 30, 2028, and extends deadline for a final report from Nov. 1, 2027, to Dec. 1, 2028. McCaskill said the dates needed to be pushed back because 鈥渨e鈥檝e lost so much time鈥� due to the governor鈥檚 veto.

One other provision would require the commission to 鈥渉old at least three public hearings and continuously solicit public input.鈥�

McCaskill had some advice for those anxiously waiting for the commission to begin its work.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time coming. Take deep breaths,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ang in there with us because we have a lot of work to do.鈥�

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org.