Your Voice in Annapolis: 2025 Session Recap

The 447th legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly came to a close on April 7, wrapping up one of the most challenging — and consequential — sessions in recent memory. Through it all, my guiding principle never wavered: to protect the people I represent and make sure Maryland families aren’t asked to carry more than they can afford.

Even with continued uncertainty at the federal level, we remained focused on the work Marylanders sent us here to do. We strengthened worker protections, safeguarded access to health care, advanced long-term solutions to make our energy system more affordable and reliable, and defended reproductive rights.

This session wasn’t easy, but it was important. And as always, it was an honor to represent District 33 through it all. Serving you in the Maryland Senate is about the difference we can make together — and this year, I’m proud to report real results.

One of the toughest challenges we faced was closing a major budget shortfall. Maryland, like many states, had benefited from strong revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to one-time federal relief funds and temporary economic stimulus. But those supports masked an underlying structural deficit and a slowdown in economic growth. Once the federal aid dried up and tax revenues leveled off, the shortfall became impossible to ignore.

To close the gap, the General Assembly made over $2 billion in spending cuts. However, I voted against the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) because it included tax and fee increases that I believe placed too much burden on working families. That said, it’s important to note that under the changes passed, 94% of Maryland taxpayers will see no increase — or will actually pay less in income taxes. Still, I felt the bill asked too much of residents during a time when many are already feeling stretched. I did vote for the operating and capital budgets, which protect core investments in our schools, public safety, health care and infrastructure.

As part of the capital budget, I secured nearly $1 million in direct support for local nonprofits, including $170,000 for the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company to support the construction of a new firehouse and purchase of a new fire truck, and $120,000 for the Severna Park Elks Lodge to renovate its Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible bathroom and improve wheelchair access.

I sponsored and passed 20 bipartisan bills this session — 16 of them individually — reflecting priorities I’ve heard directly from constituents: improving affordability, protecting consumers, strengthening public health, and enhancing safety in our communities. As chair of the Anne Arundel County Senate delegation, I also led the charge on four additional local bills focused on addressing needs right here at home.

Here are just a few highlights:

• Senate Bill 0357 empowers Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set upper payment limits on high-cost prescription medications, helping lower costs for all Marylanders, not just those on state health plans.
  
  
• Senate Bill 0049 installs key consumer protections for auto-renewing subscriptions, like streaming services and gyms, requiring companies to clearly disclose terms and make cancellation as easy as sign-up.
  
  
• Senate Bill 0689, brought to me by a Severna Park constituent, allows divorcing spouses who meet credit and income criteria to assume a mortgage, avoiding the need for costly refinancing at higher interest rates.
  
  
• Senate Bill 0569 (House Bill 0226) creates a two-year pilot program for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, allowing the system to meet state instructional hour requirements without also meeting the minimum number of school days, reducing nearly half of existing early dismissal days and easing scheduling burdens for families.

I’m deeply grateful for the trust you continue to place in me. But I also know that effective representation only works when it’s a two-way conversation.

I will host community events and town halls throughout the interim and would be honored to join you at an upcoming homeowners association, PTA or neighborhood gathering. If you’d like to receive my full end-of-session letter, invite me to an event, get help with a state issue, or share a concern or idea, please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 410-841-3568 or emailing dawn.gile@senate.state.md.us.