February 18, 2025

Today may be President’s Day, but President Trump’s actions in recent weeks—attempting to revoke birthright citizenship, freezing Congressionally appropriated funds, dismantling legislatively established federal agencies, purging civil servants contrary to the legal standards, and engaging in selective prosecutions based on quid pro quos—are an unprecedented assault on the rule of law. I wish this was hyperbole, but we must acknowledge the United States is quickly approaching a constitutional crisis. 

The United States government is defined by a series of checks and balances which have endured for nearly 250 years, but we are witnessing the erosion of our Constitution as the Trump Administration refuses to obey lawful court orders and Republicans in Congress decline to intercede. This is more than a difference surrounding policy—it’s a foundational question of whether democratic self-governance will endure.

Maryland is refusing to stand by as Attorney General Brown secures restraining orders to protect federal funding and block Elon Musk’s unauthorized access to Treasury records. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Raskin have denounced the administration’s power grab, with Raskin pursuing legal action against Musk.

Maryland will remain a firewall against federal overreach, using every legal and legislative tool to uphold the rule of law.

Last Thursday, I testified before the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment in support of my bill, the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (Senate Bill 10). As we address the exigent crisis of climate change, it’s imperative that we transition our energy economy to reliable renewable sources as quickly as possible. Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS) was created to provide State-level subsidies to true zero-emission technologies of the future, allowing them to increase the scale of the green energy generated as quickly as possible.

Senate Bill 10 simply removes waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuels from inclusion in the State’s RPS program. As a result, the tens of millions of dollars currently subsidizing three power plants which burn trash to generate electricity can be reallocated to spur the development of true clean energy projects, like geothermal, wind, solar, and hydroelectric plants.

The incineration of waste is an important tool for generating electricity and keeping trash out of our landfills, but it is not clean energy. As the PJM Interconnection capacity auction prices skyrocket and are projected to remain at historically high levels for the foreseeable future, these waste incineration plants have sufficient incentive to continue operating without participating in Maryland’s RPS program.

I am confident that this will be the year that we finally remove subsidies for waste-to-energy in Maryland’s RPS.

Last week, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 223, expanding and renaming the Senior Call-Check Service and Notification Program into the Social Connections Program. This initiative provides older adults at risk of isolation with regular check-ins through phone calls, text messages, video chats, and in-person visits. Beyond wellness checks, the program fosters purposeful social engagement by connecting seniors with local volunteer networks, community events, and peer support groups. Senate Bill 223 integrates services with the Telecommunications Access of Maryland program to enhance accessibility for seniors with disabilities.

This bipartisan effort underscores Maryland’s commitment to reducing loneliness and improving behavioral health outcomes for our seniors. By allowing the Department of Aging and the Department of Disabilities to collaborate on funding and program development, Senate Bill 223 will ensure that older adults have consistent social interaction, community involvement, and a stronger support system.

Maryland led the nation in addressing skyrocketing prescription drug prices with the creation of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) in 2019. This year, legislation was introduced to expand the Board’s authority, allowing it to set Upper Payment Limits (UPLs) on certain high-cost medications to protect Marylanders from excessive drug prices. Senate Bill 357, introduced by Senator Gile, would authorize the PDAB to monitor drug prices in the private sector and impose limits where costs impose a financial burden on residents.

Marylanders shouldn’t have to choose between life-saving medicine and basic necessities. I remain fully committed to ensuring Maryland continues to lead the nation in fighting for affordable, accessible healthcare.

The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act (Senate Bill 428), introduced by Governor Moore, was heard in the Senate last week. It is a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving water quality, supporting regenerative agriculture, and expanding oyster aquaculture. The bill would establish the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program, providing funding to farmers who implement conservation best practices such as riparian buffers, cover crops, and soil restoration techniques. 

The bill would also modernize Maryland’s aquaculture and fisheries industries by streamlining aquaculture lease reviews and allowing commercial fishers to sell directly to restaurants without extra licensing burdens. Additionally, the bill seeks to expand oyster restoration efforts by making these projects eligible for water quality trading credits, incentivizing more investment in protecting the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act is a strategic and necessary step toward a sustainable future for Maryland’s land and waterways.

Maryland must take bold steps to secure its energy future, and the $100 million investment by Constellation Energy in the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant is a significant part of that strategy. As the only nuclear facility in the State, Calvert Cliffs provides roughly 40% of Maryland’s power generation, and these upgrades will expand its delivery of carbon-free, reliable energy by 10% for decades to come. With demand soaring, largely driven by electrification and energy-intensive industries like manufacturing and artificial intelligence, modernizing our in-state generation facilities is a necessity.

The Maryland General Assembly is taking action. As discussed in previous updates, the Leadership Energy Package lays the groundwork for expanding Maryland-made power generation, streamlining regulatory approvals, and supporting advanced nuclear energy development when that technology is ready to deploy. With 40% of our electricity currently imported from surrounding states, we must make Maryland an attractive and predictable site for energy investment. We are committed to keeping costs low, reducing emissions, and maintaining long-term energy stability for Maryland families and businesses.

I hope you’ll join me, along with Delegates Clippinger, Lewis, and Edelson for a 2025 Legislative Session Town Hall on Saturday, February 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Baltimore Rowing & Water Resource Center (3301 Waterview Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230). With the Legislative Session underway, this is an important chance to discuss our work on behalf of the 46th District in Annapolis, and how it impacts Baltimore and our neighborhoods.

I was saddened to hear that former Delegate Frank Turner, the first African American to represent Howard County in the General Assembly, passed away last week. Delegate Turner passionately represented his constituents in the 13th Legislative District for over two decades, serving as vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, House chair of the Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight, and twice as House chair of the Howard County delegation.

Senate Bill 465 was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee last week and would require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to install video cameras in common areas to prevent elder abuse and aid in prosecutions where necessary. The proposal follows cases where video evidence was crucial in securing convictions, but opponents argue that high installation and maintenance costs could strain smaller facilities.

Community leaders are urging Maryland school officials to strengthen protections after reports that a teacher offered student names to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This incident shook trust within the school community, with advocates urging local boards of education to adopt a clear policy preventing ICE from accessing sensitive locations and school resources. School officials continue to emphasize that existing federal privacy laws safeguard student data.

Marando Warthen, who spent nearly 40 years in prison for a wrongful murder conviction, received an official apology and $3 million in compensation from the State. Warthen’s 1984 conviction was vacated in 2023, and under Maryland law, he is also eligible for housing, vocational training, and healthcare.

I was disappointed to learn that Baltimore City recently forfeited a $1.5 million grant meant to complete a network of walking and biking trails because officials failed to use the money for years. In 2021, the State budgeted for the development of the Greenway Trails Network, a 35-mile lattice of multi-use paths to serve as both recreational facilities and functional connections to jobs, stores, and for other “active” transportation. Planners intended to use the money along with a 2024 award from the National Park Service to purchase the rights to a 1.5-mile strip of land in East Baltimore. The purchase would have filled roughly half of the gap in the trail system between Herring Run Park and the Canton waterfront.

The firm 28 Walker wants to build 120 new townhomes in Locust Point on the site of the old “Cheer Building” on Beacon Street. The warehouse was formerly used for Under Armour office space. The company plans to solicit input from residents at a Locust Point Civic Association meeting this week. If necessary zoning changes are approved, construction of the project is likely to start this fall.

Artscape will move to Downtown Baltimore this year, attracting thousands to the City over the Memorial Day Weekend. The main stage will be located at the War Memorial Plaza and will host performances by Fantasia and Robin Thicke. The area under the Jones Falls Expressway will receive a new mural and a light installation that will stay up after the event to create a more inviting experience for farmers' market attendees.

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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