April 20, 2026

 

Dear Friend:

 

Ninety days. Big challenges. Clear priorities. Amid significant chaos and disruption in Washington, the General Assembly focused on Maryland’s priorities: protecting our residents from the lawless Trump Administration; enhancing affordability in core areas like energy bills, housing, and health care; and promoting economic growth while reducing our reliance on the federal government. It’s hard to believe the 449th Legislative Session is now over-- with important legislation headed to Governor Wes Moore for his signature!

 

Meeting the Moment

 

The Trump Administration’s policies are responsible for driving costs higher, creating economic instability, and putting our fundamental rights at risk. The damage includes massive federal layoffs and freezing or cancelling critical funding for science and education. Montgomery County-- where one in eight residents works in a federal job-- is especially affected by the evisceration of funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Security Agency (NSA). The DC-area now has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 6.7%, according to The Guardian. Trump’s cruel deportation tactics have traumatized communities and torn apart families, including in Montgomery County, where one in three residents is foreign-born. These and many other challenges shaped our agenda this session.

 

In my opinion, the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol was one of the darkest chapters in recent American history. I introduced SB962 with dozens of my Senate colleagues as co-sponsors to forbid individuals convicted of crimes related to the insurrection from serving in positions of public trust. I believe that public service should be reserved for those who respect our Constitution and was honored that retired Capitol Police officers Sgt. Aquilino Gonell and Harry Dunn (pictured below) joined me in testifying at the hearing.

Turning Up the Heat on ICE

 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their enablers have fomented fear, trampled on rights, and tried to justify the killing of innocent American citizens. We cracked down on these abuses, ensuring that federal government actions reflect our core values of fairness and human dignity.

 

Unmasking the Police (SB1: Sen. Augustine, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Forbids most law enforcement officers from wearing masks on duty. Trust and accountability start with knowing who patrols our streets. Passed!

 

Protecting Our Values (SB810: Sen. King, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Prohibits ICE activity in sensitive locations, including schools, bus stops, health care facilities, courthouses, and other designated public spaces. Passed!

 

Banning Partnerships with ICE (SB245: Sen. Smith)-- Prohibits law enforcement from collaborating with or entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE. Passed!

 

No Kings Act (SB346: Sen. Waldstreicher, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Allows lawsuits against federal agents who violate our Constitutional rights. Federal law has long provided this protection. Passed!

 

Restricting ICE Facilities (HB1017: Del. Wells)-- Prohibits ICE from constructing or operating detention facilities in Maryland unless a local jurisdiction expressly approves and zones a site for that purpose. Passed!

Closing the Budget Gap

 

Drastic federal spending cuts and layoffs forced us to confront a roughly $1.5 billion budget shortfall. The $70.8 billion operating budget closed this gap without raising taxes or fees. It required tough decisions, including targeted spending reductions and program delays. Despite this, the budget made important investments and retains $2.2 billion in our “Rainy Day Fund” and leaves a $250 million surplus. Maryland is positioned to expand and diversify our economy and withstand future disruptions.

 

Highlights of the budget (SB282) include:

 

  • Reducing energy bills: Provides $100 million in residential utility fee relief and invests in clean energy and resiliency to help lower bills
  • Increasing education funding: Adds $374 million to last year’s Blueprint funding, bringing the total to $10.2 billion to advance equity, early childhood learning, teacher quality, and college/career readiness
  • Revitalizing communities: Funds more than 250 housing and community development projects
  • Uplifting families: Allocates $434 million for parents to enroll young children in high-quality child care
  • Making Maryland safer: Budgets $124.1 million to continue the reduction of violent crime
  • Supporting Maryland businesses: Directs $100+ million in business tax cuts; strengthens our ability to attract private investments; and guarantees that we continue to lead in science and technology

Increasing Accountability (SB858: Joint Audit & Evaluation Committee, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Creates a unit in the Department of Budget & Management to ensure that issues identified in agency audits get resolved. As a member of this Committee, I want problems corrected quickly and taxpayer dollars spent responsibly. Passed!

Working for Gaithersburg & Rockville

Montgomery County’s Delegation collaborated with MoCo’s own Sen. Craig Zucker, Chair of the Capital Budget Subcommittee, to secure millions of dollars for local priorities. In a tough budget year, Delegates Julie Palakovich Carr, Ryan Spiegel, Joe Vogel, and I are proud to have won financial support for these worthy projects:

Providing Energy RELIEF

 

As prices soar at the gas pump due to the war in Iran, consumers are also struggling with skyrocketing utility bills. In response, our Democratic majority crafted an energy package to lower bills, strengthen grid reliability, set standards for data centers, and ensure that our energy future is sustainable and secure.

 

Utility RELIEF for Families (HB1532/SB841: Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Increases accountability for utility companies and lowers residential bills by at least $150 per year. This comprehensive package requires data centers to pay their fair share for the energy they will consume and engage with local communities during planning, construction, and operation of new facilities. It also includes my Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits Loan Program-- G.R.E.E.N. (SB23: Sen. Kagan). [It’s disappointing that it took five years to get this enacted, but I’m thrilled that it will facilitate clean energy choices and reduce costs for our nonprofits.] Passed! (See more on G.R.E.E.N. under “Protecting the Environment” on page 6.) 

Supporting 9-1-1 and Public Safety

 

Implementing a Statewide 3-1-1 System (SB114: Sen. Kagan)-- Enacts the bipartisan recommendation of the statewide workgroup I chaired. It creates a first-in-the-nation statewide 3-1-1 system using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to lighten the load on our 9-1-1 Centers (which handle far too many non-emergency calls)! The system would be interoperable with 9-1-1 and 9-8-8 and use trusted government and nonprofit sources to provide accurate answers to non-emergency questions 24/7/365. Passed, in partnership with Sen. Corderman (R) and Kenyn Benjamin!

Honoring Our 9-1-1 Specialists (SB148: Sen. Kagan, Sen. Carozza (R) co-sponsor)-- The bipartisan workgroup I chaired unanimously endorsed improving the retirement benefits for our courageous 9-1-1 Specialists. Kudos to my D/17 colleague Del. Vogel for his strong partnership on this bill. Passed!

 

Interference With Critical Infrastructure (SB482/HB593: Sen. McKay, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Strengthens protections for water systems, power grids, communications networks, and 9-1-1 Centers by increasing penalties for malicious interference and cyberattacks. It builds on my 2023 swatting legislation to deter bad actors who put emergency response systems and public safety at risk. Passed!

 

Reforming Youth Justice (SB323: Sen. Smith)--  Roughly 85% of legal cases in the adult judicial system involving youth are ultimately dismissed or sent to juvenile court. This new law will affect roughly 500 youth annually and ensure compliance with federal standards. Passed!

 

Gun Buyback Programs (SB775 Sen. Smith)-- Mandates the destruction of all recovered firearms and parts. The shooting at Wootton High School is a painful reminder of why we must keep weapons off our streets and out of our schools. Passed!

Committing to Student Success

 

Strengthening the Blueprint (SB311: President Ferguson)-- Invests in tutoring and out-of-state teacher recruitment to reduce classroom sizes, addresses the educator shortage, and ensures equitable access to dual-enrollment courses. Passed!

 

Phone-Free Schools (SB928: Sen. Harris, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Mandates that every county Board of Education develop and implement a student phone usage policy by the 2027-2028 school year, reducing screentime and distractions in the classroom. There are exceptions for students with disabilities. Passed!

 

Civic Excellence (SB204: Sen. Kagan)-- Creates an optional civic excellence program for public schools to recognize students who complete a capstone project focused on community service. After multiple years of working on this bipartisan bill, it will finally become law. Passed!

 

Charter School Funding (SB960: Sen. Rosapepe)-- Provided new capital funding for public charter schools. As a strong advocate for our traditional public schools and Vice Chair of the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, I objected-- and voted against-- allocating $5 million in taxpayer money on less accountable charters while high-performing schools (like Wootton High) have waited years for upgrades. I successfully amended the bill requiring charters to pass a clean audit before qualifying for funding. Passed!

 

No One Left Behind (SB507: Sen. Zucker, Sen. Kagan co-sponsor)-- Public schools will develop emergency plans to identify accessibility issues and safely evacuate those with disabilities. Passed!

 

Smarter School Planning (SB31: Sen. Lam)-- Would have required Boards of Education to use comprehensive data and improve coordination when contemplating boundary changes or new schools. I appreciated hearing from hundreds of constituents about the Wootton/Crown decision and amended this bill to require school leaders to include municipal data in long-term facility planning.

 

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Calendar (HB1084: MoCo Delegation)-- Would give MCPS flexibility in providing the full amount of instructional time without adding extra days. MCPS and the Department of Education reached a compromise, making this bill unnecessary. I believe it’s in the best interests of our students to follow the guidelines set by the State and am happy an agreement was reached.

 

School Board Transparency (SB99: Sen. Kagan)-- Since 2017, Del. Korman and I have enacted legislation increasing transparency in our State government. This bill would have required school board meetings to be livestreamed and archived for public access for at least five years. This failed in the final moments, but we’ll bring it back next year!

 

Excused Absences for Civic Engagement (HB575: Del. Wilkins)-- Requires each county Board of Education to adopt an attendance policy that excuses absences for civic engagement by public school students. These absences include testifying before a legislative body, participating in the General Assembly Page Program, and meeting with elected officials. Passed!

Senatorial Scholarships

 

I am always inspired by the talented students who apply for my Senatorial Scholarships. We are seeking D/17 residents who are passionate about their education and community service. Don't wait until the last minute! My volunteer Senatorial Scholarship Selection Committee looks for well-written, thoughtful essays. For more information and to apply, please visit www.CherylKagan.org/scholarships.

Keeping Up with Kagan!

 

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I’m pretty active on social media, and all posts and tweets are my own. You can follow me on Facebook (@CherylCKagan), Twitter/X (@CherylKagan), and Instagram (@CherylCKagan) for photos and posts. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Spotify, or Apple podcasts to be alerted to new episodes of my "Kibbitzing with Kagan" podcast. And, you can always send me questions or comments via email.

 

More to come in a few days...

Best,

 

Cheryl

 

Cheryl C. Kagan

State Senator, District 17

(Gaithersburg & Rockville)

Vice Chair, Education, Energy, & the Environment Committee

www.CherylKagan.org

410-841-3134

 

PS: I’m so proud of my friend, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who made history as the first Afro-Latina and the first immigrant to serve as Speaker. She has brought a new leadership team and new energy to the House of Delegates!

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