Maryland Legislature Considers HB 524 To Establish African Heritage Month

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — On Jan. 27, the Maryland General Assembly introduced House Bill 524 to formalize an annual state observance of African Heritage Month.

Assigned to the House Government, Labor and Elections Committee, the bill would require the governor to annually proclaim the month of September as African Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions that people of African descent have made to the state of Maryland, according to the bill text. The legislation also encourages organizations to observe the month with programs and activities designed to honor and educate about African heritage and culture.

Celebrations recognizing African Heritage Month have taken place in Maryland for several years through local proclamations, community organizations and cultural events, particularly in September. In 2024, Gov. Wes Moore issued a proclamation designating September as African Heritage Month, celebrating the cultural, social and economic contributions of African immigrants and communities in the state. Several counties and municipalities have also issued annual proclamations highlighting the contributions of African immigrants and descendants to Maryland’s cultural, economic and social life. HB 524 would formalize these celebrations and codify the commemoration indefinitely.

As of early February, HB 524 is pending in the Government, Labor and Elections Committee and has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing or advanced to a vote, according to the General Assembly’s legislative agenda.