The Maryland legislature adjourned last Monday, April 7th after an intense 90-day session. This year was full of challenges. Beyond the typical bills that Marylanders need to keep state government functioning, our elected officials had to decide how to handle a massive budget crisis, and how to respond to this moment of national emergency.
While some progress was made this session, the legislature missed many opportunities to protect our residents, and our values. We applaud strong efforts by House Democrats to protect immigrants, close corporate tax loopholes, and create a reclamation period for tenants facing eviction so that they don’t lose all of their belongings as well as their home. Unfortunately, the Senate rejected these proposals.
Positive Highlights
Budget Reform
As our state faced a significant budget deficit, further exacerbated by the Trump administration and DOGE’s outrageous federal funding cuts, our legislators unquestionably tried their best to address the deficit without cutting important funding for public schools, Medicaid, or state agencies, and without taxing working families.
We are very proud of our work to ensure Maryland’s wealthiest residents pay what they owe in taxes! The legislature passed new, higher tax brackets for those who make $500,000 a year or more. Under the budget plan, 94% of Marylanders will see a decrease or no change in their taxes.
Action on Rising Utility Costs
Utility bills across the state have skyrocketed – because utility company profits have been rising too. On the last day of the legislative session, the General Assembly passed bipartisan legislation to reform utility regulation, and protect consumers from their wasteful spending driving up our bills and their profits.
With this legislation, utility companies will be required to prioritize safety and be cost effective with gas pipeline spending. They will also be prohibited from charging ratepayers for trade association membership and private planes. This will save Marylanders hundreds of millions in utility costs.
Abortion Funding
As several other states restrict access to essential medical care and abortion, Maryland successfully passed HB 930 which will allow the state department of health to put to use $25 million in unspent Affordable Care Act money to ensure that grants for abortion care can be available to providers as they meet the needs of Marylanders and those in need from out of state looking for appropriate medical care.
Significant Steps Back
Inadequate Support for Immigrant Marylanders
Perhaps the clearest failure this session was Senator Bill Ferguson’s refusal to act on The Maryland Values Act. This bill would have ended local partnerships between ICE and local sheriff’s departments that have led to wildly unconstitutional and traumatic policing tactics and have shredded trust between communities of color and local law enforcement, undermining public safety for all.
Instead, Senator Ferguson deliberately delayed efforts to address these issues (even as the consequences of these partnerships garnered national attention, as seen in Westminster, MD).
AMD continues to support our tireless partners at CASA in their efforts to protect our immigrant communities, including the fight to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to his family and his home.
Limiting Automatic Charging of Children as Adults
For the 13th session, the legislature has failed to take action to end, or even limit the practice of charging children as adults. Maryland is among the worst in the country, charging more children as adults than any other state (per capita) except Alabama.
This session, compromise legislation was introduced by Senator Smith and Delegate Toles, and was supported by former judges, youth justice policy experts, and advocates. Still, neither chamber held a committee vote.
Housing Justice
For the 12th session, the legislature has failed to take action to prevent no-cause evictions. In FY24, landlords filed 5,104 “no cause” evictions. Ensuring that people cannot be evicted without a reason significantly decreases eviction filings, and can prevent homelessness.
This session, Senator Muse and Delegate Wilkins introduced enabling legislation that would simply allow localities in Maryland to pass good cause eviction legislation at the local level. Despite widespread support from organizations and local elected officials, Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Smith decided that the bill would only move if they created a provision stating that municipalities can only have good cause eviction OR rent control, creating a false dichotomy between staying in your home, and being able to afford rent. Of course, this was heavily influenced by landlord lobbyists who played to legislators' unfounded fear of affordable housing shortages as a result of good cause eviction.
Delaying Paid Family Leave
Instead of closing corporate tax loopholes to ensure our state has the funding it needs, the Governor and legislature chose to delay Maryland’s Paid Family Leave program to 2028.
Potential Medicaid Cuts
Instead of closing corporate tax loopholes to ensure our state has the funding it needs to defend against future Trump cuts, the legislature passed legislation saying it will automatically cut Medicaid eligibility for some Marylanders.
This list is a small representation of the policy wins and losses this session. We worked on dozens of bills and were proud to partner with so many great organizations and coalitions.
We’re also proud of you, our fellow Marylanders, because the grassroots showed up in force! Thousands of Maryland residents joined our rallies and lobby day, even more made calls and sent emails! That collective leadership will only continue to blossom as we recognize we must do everything we can to ensure our country remains a multicultural democracy.
