Maryland lawmakers delivered a historic victory for reparations advocates Tuesday, voting to override Gov. Wes Moore’s veto and establish a commission to study reparations for slavery and Jim Crow-era discrimination. The override marked a rare rebuke of Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, and came after months of tension between the Democratic executive and the Legislative Black Caucus that championed the bill.
The Override Vote
The Maryland Senate voted 31-13 to override Moore’s veto, while the House followed with a 93-35 vote, both exceeding the three-fifths majority needed. All 13 Senate Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Mary-Dulany James (D-Harford), voted to sustain the veto. In the House, debate lasted more than an hour before the final vote, with seven delegates speaking on the bill and five more rising to explain their votes.
What the Commission Will Do
The legislation creates a 23-member voluntary commission tasked with assessing specific federal, state, and local policies from 1877 to 1965—the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras. The commission will examine how public and private institutions benefited from discriminatory policies and recommend appropriate reparations, which could include:
Official statements of apology Monetary compensation Property tax rebates Social service assistance Down payment assistance for homes Business incentives Childcare support Debt forgiveness Tuition waivers for higher education Licensing and permit fee waivers and reimbursement.
Why Moore Vetoed the Bill
In his May 16 veto letter, Moore called it a “difficult decision” but argued that “now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results.” The governor, who took office in 2023, said there has been enough study of slavery’s legacy and emphasized the need to “focus on the work itself” to address systemic racism.
After Tuesday’s override, Moore said he disagreed with the legislature’s decision but was “eager to move forward in partnership on the work of repair.” He added: “I believe the time for action is now—and we must continue moving forward with the work of repair immediately.”
A Stunning Rebuke From Black Lawmakers
Moore’s veto shocked many Democrats and advocates, both in Maryland and nationwide. The bill had been a priority of the Legislative Black Caucus, and the governor’s opposition created an unusual rift. Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s), the lead Senate sponsor, said after the vote: “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so very grateful that this body saw fit to do that.”
Muse acknowledged the disagreement with Moore but emphasized: “The governor is a friend of everyone here, so we disagree, but we disagree in friendship.”
The Case for a Commission
Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County) delivered a more than 10-minute speech on the Senate floor, mixing historical context with policy rationale. He noted that Baltimore County did not provide Black students with a high school education in the 1940s and emphasized: “Let’s be clear: Slavery may have ended 150 years ago, but segregation, redlining, discrimination, stretched well into our own lifetime.”
Sydnor added: “This topic isn’t easy, but, again, without formal study, reparations risk being dismissed as symbolic or unconstitutional, regardless of moral merit.”
Republican Opposition
House Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R-Allegany) voted to sustain the veto, reminding colleagues that it was “the actions of the majority of the people of the United States of America, Black and white at the time, who said enough is enough” and fought to end slavery. Del. Matthew Morgan (R-St. Mary’s) criticized the commission as “race bait handouts.”
A Defining Moment for Del. Aletheia McCaskill
Del. Terri Hill (D-Howard), who voted to override the veto, said the bill “requires us as an arm of the Maryland government to look at the things that government policy allowed to happen and enable.”
Maryland’s Demographics and National Context
Maryland’s Black population is approximately 30%, the highest percentage of any state outside the Deep South. Support for reparations gained momentum following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, though the issue remains politically challenging for high-profile Democrats amid a broader conservative backlash over how race, history, and inequality are addressed in public institutions.
The Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement that the commission “will now become law in our state. At a time of growing attacks on diversity and equity, today’s action reaffirms our shared commitment to truth-telling, accountability, and meaningful progress for Black Marylanders.”
Other States’ Reparations Efforts
Maryland joins a small but growing number of jurisdictions exploring reparations. In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law authorizing $6 million for California State University to study how to confirm descendant status but vetoed other reparations bills. Last year, Newsom signed a law formally apologizing for slavery.
New York City lawmakers approved legislation in 2024 to study the city’s role in slavery and consider reparations. In 2021, Evanston, Illinois, became the first U.S. city to create a reparations plan for Black residents, using tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales.
Public Opinion Remains Divided
A 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults supported reparations for descendants of enslaved people, while approximately 7 in 10 opposed such measures. The Maryland commission will now test whether formal study can shift public sentiment and provide a constitutional framework for potential remedies.
Moore, who has denied plans to run for president in 2028 but maintains a national profile, now faces the challenge of implementing a policy he opposed while preserving relationships with the Black lawmakers who defied him.
