Joint Hearing on Proposed Changes to Blueprint

Last week, four legislative committees held a joint hearing on the Moore Administration's proposed adjustments to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Central to the discussion was the Governor’s bill outlining delays to certain funding elements of this transformative plan for Maryland public education due to our State’s challenging fiscal outlook.

One major point of discussion was the Administration’s plan to delay "collaborative time" for teachers due to the severe teacher shortage, which makes immediate implementation unrealistic. While this delay presents like a reduction, it reflects necessary adjustments to align with a realistic timeline for implementation due to realities related to personnel and hiring. We must expand the teacher pipeline in the State, bringing additional educators into our schools so we can realize the potential of collaborative time to provide existing teachers with necessary planning and professional development time.

At the same time, I cannot support reduction to schools with concentrated poverty. This feature of the funding formula provides vital support to those communities by bringing in outside resources to ensure basic needs are met. Preserving the funding for these community schools remains a top priority.

The General Assembly remains dedicated to ensuring the students who require the most educational support are able to receive those services. We need to make difficult decisions around the Blueprint this year, but our commitment to its transformative goals remains unwavering.

Bracing for Federal Cuts to Medicaid Funding

Maryland is preparing for the possibility of significant federal cuts to Medicaid based on the federal budget proposal outlined by Congressional Republicans, which could add $900 million to $1.2 billion in costs to our already strained budget. If Congress reduces the federal share of Medicaid expansion funding from 90% to 50%, the State will face impossible choices about how to sustain critical health services. These aren’t just numbers—they represent the well-being of Marylanders who rely on Medicaid for essential care.

Although we cannot predict the final outcome in Washington, D.C., we are working to minimize any potential disruptions that may arise. That includes developing budget triggers to temporarily fund services and afford State government time to evaluate our options. It is unthinkable that Congress would consider cutting healthcare for low-income Americans to pay for tax cuts primarily benefiting the ultra-wealthy, but we must prepare for the worst at the State level.

Strengthening Workplace Safety for Public Employees

Maryland’s public servants dedicate themselves to keeping our State running, often under dangerous conditions. The Senate Finance Committee is considering the Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act, which would strengthen workplace protections for those who serve our communities.

Named after Agent David Martinez, a dedicated State parole and probation agent who was killed in the line of duty, this legislation would create a public employee safety unit within the Maryland Department of Labor, expand Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) protections, and hold public employers accountable when they fail to protect their workers. No public employee should risk their life simply by showing up to work.

Beyond Agent Martinez, we must also honor the lives of other public workers who tragically lost their lives on the job last year, including Baltimore DPW employees Ronald Silver II and Timothy Cartwell. Their deaths highlight the urgent need for clear workplace violence prevention plans, proper safety equipment, and enforceable penalties when public bodies fail to meet basic safety standards. Risk may be inherent in some jobs, but preventable tragedies must never be tolerated.

Transparency in Opioid Restitution Settlement Spending

With Maryland set to receive $670 million in opioid settlement funds this year, tracking how these funds are used is essential. Senate Bill 589 would require the Maryland Office of Overdose Response and the Maryland Department of Health to create an interactive dashboard detailing Opioid Restitution Fund spending. Counties and municipalities receiving funds must report their use, ensuring accountability and transparency for overdose prevention, recovery, and education efforts.

Other states have struggled to track opioid settlement spending. Maryland will uphold its commitment to spending every dollar effectively while maintaining oversight that balances public health and community stability.

Impact of Public Transit on Educational Outcomes

Thousands of Baltimore students rely on public transit to get to school each day, making reliable transportation a key part of their education. A recent investigation by The Baltimore Banner highlighted the challenges students face—long commutes, late buses, and unpredictable service that leads to lost instruction time. School choice should be a real opportunity, not one limited by the ability to reach a classroom on time.

Maryland has made important investments in transit, and ongoing efforts continue to strengthen transportation infrastructure. The Maryland Transit Administration plays a vital role in serving both students and commuters, and there is room to improve service to better meet the needs of those who depend on it. Access to safe and consistent transportation supports both education and economic mobility.

As the Maryland General Assembly works on sustainable transportation funding, discussions must include how to improve transit reliability for students. Public transportation should be an asset, not an obstacle, in accessing educational opportunities.

More News

It was a pleasure hosting students from Clay Hill Public Charter School and Patterson Park Public Charter School in Annapolis last week. It’s always a true pleasure having some of our City’s brightest young people visit during the Legislative Session to see their State’s legislature working for them.

There are numerous lawsuits challenging actions by the Trump Administration ranging from freezing congressionally approved federal grants to providing unfettered access to private personal data held by government agencies. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office, the City of Baltimore, and other entities in Maryland continue to push back on this unprecedented attack and you can track the progress of those legal challenges here.

I recently created a brief video explaining why Maryland’s legislative session lasts 90 days—a timeline that sets us apart from many other states. This deadline ensures we pass a balanced budget, debate critical policies, and make decisions that impact every Marylander, all within a focused and efficient window.

Last week, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 922, legislation to better regulate tourism companies serving Marylanders after at least three individuals died last year during the Hajj, a sacred annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The tourism company entrusted with their care did not provide them with proper visas, blocking them from cooling tents along the route and restricting their access to medics, food and water. The bills would require travel agencies to put up a surety or cash performance bond depending on a company’s annual profits to prevent companies from disappearing or closing down if they encounter issues.

Community members, historians, and Maryland officials gathered last week to retrace the path enslaved people once took toward freedom. The march, which honored Black History Month, culminated at Emmarts United Methodist Church, a historic landmark that served as a safehouse for those escaping slavery in the 1700s. Hidden beneath the church’s steeple is a belfry with a secret trap door, once used to conceal formerly enslaved people. Before 1872, the land was home to Nicholas Smith, an abolitionist who assisted enslaved people on their journey to freedom.

The beloved board game, Monopoly, is debuting a Baltimore edition this fall! The company that produces the 90-year-old game, is looking for suggestions from the public on locations, businesses, and organizations to feature in the special edition. Organizations must be deemed “quintessentially Baltimore” to appear on the game’s property spaces, Community Chest and Chance cards, and box lid. Email Baltimore@toptrumps.com to share your favorite Charm City landmark!