March 17, 2025

Today marks Crossover Day, one of the busiest and most important days of any legislative session. It is the deadline by which a bill must pass its chamber of origination to avoid being assigned to the opposite chamber’s Rules Committee before being assigned to the relevant standing committee.

Crossover Day marks the start of the final stage of our annual Legislative Session. While we have reiterated that balancing our budget to protect against the Trump Administration and lowering energy costs for Marylanders continue to be our top priorities this Session, we have been addressing issues facing our State's residents. 

The Senate stayed late on Friday night and started early this morning to move as many critical bills as possible by that deadline. We are taking decisive action on issues like climate change, consumer protections, public safety, and workers' rights. Below are a sampling of important bills that cleared the Senate and now await further consideration in the House of Delegates:

• Senate Bill 466 protects vulnerable Marylanders and seniors from financial exploitation by caregivers, family, or household members;
• Senate Bill 149, the RENEW Act, requires the State to study the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions by the largest polluters to Maryland’s environment and the cost to taxpayers for resulting resiliency and remediation activities.
• Senate Bill 828 ensures immigration enforcement does not disrupt essential services or create fear in communities by strengthening safeguards at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals.
• Senate Bill 46 cracks down on fraudulent claims by illegal squatters, allowing property owners to more swiftly remove individuals unlawfully occupying their property through a streamlined legal process, thereby enhancing community safety.
• Senate Bill 49 implements clear consumer guardrails around automatic contract renewals, requiring companies to provide easy cancellation options and transparent terms.
• Senate Bill 360 strengthens protections against revenge porn by allowing victims to file civil lawsuits when their likeness is used in AI-generated intimate images without consent.
• Senate Bill 357 expands the authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set upper payment limits for prescription drugs and addresses rising medication costs and drug shortages.
• Senate Bill 342, the Voting Rights Act of 2025, creates a State-level claim for minority groups disenfranchised by counties and municipalities should they engage in voter dilution efforts.
• Senate Bill 845 mandates all Maryland school districts to join a national educator screening system which would prevent individuals with misconduct records from moving between states undetected.
• Senate Bill 901 establishes an extended producer responsibility framework so companies reduce and collect packaging and related waste before it enters our natural environment.
• Senate Bill 750 grants adjunct faculty at State institutions the right to unionize to negotiate better wages and working conditions.

Marylanders deserve answers as to why their energy bills are increasing at such unaffordable and unacceptable rates. That’s why the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and House Economic Matters Committee held a 3.5 hour joint hearing last week with representatives from Maryland utility companies and the Public Service Commission (PSC). BGE and other companies pointed to colder-than-usual winter temperatures as the primary reason for skyrocketing bills in recent months, but seasonal fluctuations do not fully explain why distribution rates have climbed so drastically and so quickly. 

With another spike expected this summer due the PJM capacity auction, Marylanders need more than assurances. Utilities must do more than offer payment plans to a fraction of customers and the PSC must exercise greater oversight authority when approving proposed rate increases.

These underlying dynamics are exactly why the 2025 Leadership Energy Package is a priority. Maryland’s reliance on out-of-state energy leaves residents vulnerable to unstable pricing and unpredictable costs. The New Generation Energy Act will reduce dependence on imported electricity and give the State more control over energy production. The goal isn’t just affordability—it’s long-term stability for Maryland ratepayers and our electric grid to keep the lights on as demand for energy continues increasing.

Federal spending cuts and workforce reductions are hitting Maryland hard. With 29,000 federal jobs at risk and at least $280 million in lost revenue projected over a two year period, Maryland’s economic outlook remains highly uncertain. The Trump Administration’s aggressive cuts to government agencies force us to confront difficult decisions around protecting essential services. The Board of Revenue Estimates warned that without action, programs like Medicaid, foster care, and long-term care facilities could suffer devastating losses. 

The Senate identified $2.5 billion in spending cuts, but reductions alone won’t be enough. A nominal tax on some business-to-business services remains under consideration only because the alternative means gutting lifesaving programs that Marylanders rely on. Maryland’s business owners are the backbone of our economy and their contributions are deeply valued. At the same time, this approach will help to prevent regressive tax increases and the elimination of key public services. With Congress offering only temporary federal funding, uncertainty looms over what cuts may come next. The Senate must act now with fiscally responsible choices that keep Maryland’s economy stable and protect the people who need it most.

For the first time in nearly a decade, Baltimore’s population is growing. After nine consecutive years of decline, the City saw a modest 0.1% increase in residents in 2024, reversing a long downward trend. While small, this shift signals that more people are choosing to stay, and more are moving in. Fewer residents left Baltimore for other parts of the country, and international immigration helped offset population loss. These are encouraging signs that investments in public safety, education, housing, and economic opportunity are making a big impact.

Sustaining this progress requires continued commitment to the issues that make a city livable—safe streets, strong schools, reliable public services, and economic mobility. Expanding housing options, addressing affordability, and ensuring neighborhoods are walkable and vibrant will continue building on this momentum. Baltimore’s growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about confidence in the City’s future. The Baltimore City Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly is laser focused on marshaling State resources towards exactly these aims so Baltimore is a place where families and businesses thrive.

Every week seems to bring new, unforeseeable, and callous cuts by the Trump Administration that impact Marylanders. Press outlets in our State are doing the heroic work of telling the stories of what the chaos at the federal level actually means and who it hurts the most.

Maryland farmers expecting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) renewable energy grants now face frozen funds, leaving them responsible for thousands in expenses the federal government promised to pay. The National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg was shut down without warning, halting critical first responder training even as people were flying there from across the country. At Johns Hopkins-affiliated global aid organizations, nearly 2,000 jobs worldwide and 247 in Baltimore disappeared after $800 million in USAID funding was slashed. These cuts threaten jobs, public safety, and local economies with long-term damage if they continue.

Marylanders are also bracing for President Trump’s proposed auto tariffs, which threaten to disrupt supply chains, drive up car prices, and raise insurance rates. Free trade agreements built a system where auto parts and vehicles cross borders multiple times before final assembly. New tariffs could shatter that structure, forcing automakers to increase prices or move production elsewhere. The Port of Baltimore, a key vehicle import hub, faces major losses if manufacturers relocate.

During my weekly press conference last Friday, I addressed many of the topics in this newsletter, including the growing federal fallout hitting Maryland’s economy. Job losses at Johns Hopkins, cuts to federal agencies, and the FAFSA shutdown are forcing the State to step up where the federal government is failing. With three weeks left in Session, the Senate remains focused on balancing the budget while protecting critical services. You can view the full press conference here.

A second federal judge ruled that the Trump Administration must temporarily reinstate thousands of probationary employees laid off en masse. The ruling rejected the Administration’s claim that the firings were based on poor performance and expanded protections to additional federal agencies. While this provides short-term relief, the Administration could still move forward with mass layoffs if proper procedures are followed.

Senator Angela Alsobrooks introduced the Tariff Transparency Act to examine the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico. The bill requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to study how these tariffs increase costs for food, energy, housing, and other essentials. Maryland business leaders warn that the uncertainty threatens farmers, small businesses, and middle-class families by raising prices and disrupting trade.

Maryland is cracking down on Medicaid fraud in mental health and addiction treatment services. State officials referred over 100 cases for investigation as part of an effort to protect healthcare funding and prevent abuse. In one case, a Parkville woman pleaded guilty to scamming the program out of $3.7 million by falsifying patient records and using stolen identities. As the State strengthens oversight of providers, additional criminal and civil actions are expected to ensure resources reach those who truly need care.

A Howard County resident tested positive for measles after traveling internationally through Dulles International Airport, prompting a public health alert. Health officials are working to identify anyone who may have been exposed at the airport on March 5 and at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center on March 7. Anyone experiencing symptoms—rash on the face and body, watery eyes, cough, fever over 101 degrees, and runny nose—should isolate and contact a healthcare provider immediately.

The Maryland men’s basketball is heading into March Madness with momentum, earning the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament after a 74-61 win over Northwestern, though they were defeated in the semi-finals. Prior to the Big Ten Tournament the Terps ranked 11th nationally and won seven of their last eight games. Fans and players alike are embracing the excitement, hoping for a deep postseason run.

The Maryland women's basketball team ranked 18th nationally and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. They will host the first and second rounds of the tournament at XFINITY Center this Saturday, March 22. The Terps will play host and take on No. 13 seed Norfolk State.

Baltimore will host D-Nice’s “Club Quarantine” as part of the State’s effort to revitalize the Preakness Stakes. His May 14 performance at Pier Six Pavilion kicks off a week of events designed to boost tourism and reenergize Maryland’s biggest horse racing tradition. With State and City support, this investment will help rebuild excitement around Preakness and strengthen Maryland’s position as a premier destination. Click here to learn more about the festival.

If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact my office via email, bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us, or by phone, 410-841-3600.

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