Light Rain, 61°
Wind: mph,
After 90 days of debate, the Maryland General Assembly adjourned in April, passing nearly 900 bills. Budgetary, tax and revenue bills are scheduled to take effect on July 1 while other laws go live on October 1.
The following topics dominated the discussion.
$3.3 billion
Lawmakers started the session with this budget deficit. They attributed much of the gap to Medicaid costs and spending on education through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future plan.
While many issues made headlines, the budget became the most complex and contentious one. As Democrats and Republicans squabbled over actions to balance the budget, finger-pointing reached the highest levels of state government.
Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan noted that he left office with the state's rainy day fund at $3 billion and a structural surplus of $2.5 billion. Current Maryland Governor Wes Moore argued that COVID money was a one-time gift and not a structural surplus.
$1.6 billion
This is the projected amount in new taxes and fees the legislature adopted. Republicans in the House and Senate voted against both the budget and the tax package in the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act. They said the budget is “balanced” on the backs of middle-class families. Some Democrats defended the fees as a necessary means for Maryland to keep offering high-level services and programs.
Single tax filers with incomes over $500,001 and joint filers with incomes over $600,000 will be part of new tax brackets. The following fees are just some of the ones passed to balance the budget:
Over 28,000
The number of federal workers expected to be affected by President Donald Trump’s workforce cuts, according to Maryland’s revenues board. State legislators passed the Protect Our Federal Workers Act to aid eligible employees affected by mass layoffs and firings, giving them access to interest-free loans and unemployment assistance.
$25 million
A new grant program will provide the Maryland Department of Health with access to approximately $25 million for reimbursing health care providers for abortion costs.
To Be Determined
Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board can now set upper price limits for prescription drugs. While the board could already explore options for people on the state’s health care plan, board members can now look to reduce costs for individuals on private insurance plans.
Three
A trio of new bills are designed to lower electricity and gas bills. Advocates said the Next Generation Energy Act will spur energy development for nuclear and gas while relying less on grids from neighboring states. They believe the Renewable Energy Certainty Act will create standards for solar energy and the Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act will form an office to manage energy strategies and models.
Republicans representing Severna Park and Arnold believe the bills impose costly labor and construction mandates while doing nothing to provide long-term relief to ratepayers.
20 Years
With the Second Look Act, some Marylanders who have served 20 years in prison will be able to go before a judge to petition for an appeal of their sentence under the Juvenile Restoration Act. The legislation was crafted to “open pathways to rehabilitation for Marylanders — while requiring judges to enforce conditions necessary to promote victim safety and peace of mind,” according to Governor Wes Moore’s administration.
Three years
Senate Bill 587 will establish a state commission to recommend potential reparations for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or who were subjected to inequitable government policies. The study is expected to take three years.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here