July 3, 2026

Dear Inquirer,

This weekend, Maryland will join the rest of the nation in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

As we celebrate Independence Day, it is worth revisiting the words that launched our nation. On July 4, 1776, our Founders declared that our rights come from God, not government, and that government exists to secure those rights with the consent of the governed.

Those principles still remain today. Government should serve the people, not burden them.  

It should be accountable, transparent, and responsible with the resources entrusted to it. Liberty, self-government, and equal justice under the law are not simply ideas from our past, they remain the foundation of the American promise.

Maryland played a proud role in our nation's founding. Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of our state, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of freedom.

The signers raised serious grievances against a government that imposed excessive taxation, denied meaningful representation, and failed to administer justice fairly. While our nation has made tremendous progress over the last 250 years, those principles continue to guide us. They remind us to remain vigilant whenever government grows less accountable, when the voices of citizens are diminished through practices such as partisan redistricting, or when policies favor special interests over hardworking families.

Marylanders are also feeling the effects of rising taxes, increasing fees, and higher energy costs. In many cases, residents are being asked to bear a greater financial burden while seeing little improvement in the services they receive. Even Maryland's Budget Manual recognizes that government should balance the public's willingness to pay taxes against the benefits provided to the community. Many Marylanders believe that balance has been lost.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, let us recommit ourselves to the principles that have sustained our nation: limited government, individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and government that remains accountable to the people it serves.

Happy Independence Day, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

This Fourth of July, I reaffirm my commitment to:

• Putting constituents first. One of the most important roles of my office is bridging the gap between State and local government and the people those institutions are meant to serve. When backlogs, confusion, or delays stand in the way, my priority is to help cut through the red tape, unjam the process, and get answers on your behalf.
• Delivering results for Baltimore and Harford Counties. I will continue working on legislation and bond initiatives that directly benefit the communities I have committed myself to serving, while also focusing on public safety, affordability, and the long-term well-being of Maryland.
• Advocating for Marylanders who need a voice. That includes vulnerable residents who need a little extra help, families concerned about environmental changes in their communities caused by out-of-state developers, families and small business owners concerned about new taxes and fees, and landowners standing up against eminent domain tied to transmission projects.
• Calling out corruption, incompetence, and waste. Marylanders deserve a government that is honest, competent, and accountable. I will continue demanding fiscal responsibility, transparency, and better stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I will be proposing my Inspectors General bill again and welcome cooperation from my colleagues across the aisle to ensure this bill passes this year.

I hope you enjoy your Fourth of July weekend and have some time to reflect on all that has occurred to earn this freedom we enjoy, and all that must be done to ensure we maintain it.

Left: Kingsville Parade 2025

Above: Coastal Bay Farms by Martin State Airport; Photo credit: BQ Drone Guy, LLC. 

As always, please click "View Entire Message," if you do not see my signature at the bottom of this screen. 

Maryland's Primary Election:

Maryland’s Primary Election was held on June 23, 2026. I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote, especially those who came out in the rain to make their voices heard.

Congratulations to all of the candidates who won their primaries an earned a place on the General Election ballot.

Unfortunately, voter turnout was extremely low, despite several days of early voting and the availability of mail-in voting. I urge all Marylanders to participate in the election process by thoroughly investigating each candidate and voting for the person whose views match yours. Our government should reflect the will of the people, not just the wishes of the small number who show up.

Election integrity and voter participation should not be treated as competing priorities. We can and should do both.

A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that 95% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats support requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification when voting. During the 2026 Legislative Session, I, along with the Senate Republican Caucus sponsored legislation to require proof of identity for in-person voting in elections held on or after January 1, 2027. After a bill hearing in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, the legislation did not move forward for a vote.

Unfortunately, some of the unfavorable testimony relied on claims that were either inaccurate or speculative. For example, the cost of a Maryland birth certificate was cited as $50, even though the Maryland Department of Health lists the fee for a birth certificate at $10. Concerns were also raised about access to photo identification, birth certificates, and other documents, despite the fact that identification, Social Security numbers, and birth certificates are often already required to access social services, enroll a child in public school, or obtain employment.

If obtaining proper identification is a barrier for some Marylanders, then the responsible answer is to help close that gap, not to pretend the problem is impossible to solve. Since the bill would have been effective on January 1, 2027, the next impacted election cycle is two years away. Maryland has more than enough time to make voting both accessible and secure.

An issue that arose immediately before the Primary Election was the mail-in ballot printing error by the State’s vendor. That mistake resulted in more than 500,000 replacement ballots being sent to Maryland voters, with reports of some residents receiving multiple ballot packets, including as many as three. Here is some of the early and National coverage.

Mail-in voting remains an important option for servicemembers, students, seniors, Marylanders with disabilities, and others who may not be able to vote in person. However, this situation made clear that Maryland must strengthen inspections, quality control, and audits of the mail-in ballot process.

The WYPR article reports that the Maryland State Board of Elections unanimously approved public canvassing guidelines for how local election boards should handle mail-in ballots after a vendor printing error required more than 437,000 replacement ballots to be sent to voters before the June 23 primary. The error occurred when Taylor Print & Visual Impressions sent some voters the wrong party ballot based on voter registration.

The new guidance said:

• Replacement ballot returned: the replacement ballot counts.
• Original ballot returned, then replacement returned: the replacement ballot counts, and the original ballot remains quarantined.
• Original ballot returned, then voter votes in person: the voter casts a provisional ballot, and the provisional ballot counts over the original.
• Only original ballot returned: election officials review it. If it matches the voter’s registration and district, it may count. If it does not match, it will not count. If it includes a nonpartisan race, such as school board, only that nonpartisan portion may count.
• State Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis emphasized that voters should use the replacement ballot and said protocols are in place so that “no one can vote twice.”

Every voter deserves confidence that their ballot will be handled properly, securely, and consistently. Ensuring that every lawful vote is counted and counted only once should not be controversial. It is a basic responsibility of government and a necessary part of maintaining public trust in our elections.

The broader issue is that the printing mistake created real confusion for voters and election officials. While the board moved to clarify the counting process, the incident underscores the need for stronger vendor oversight, ballot quality control, audits, and transparent procedures so voters can trust that every lawful vote is counted once and handled consistently.

Legislator of the Year, Maryland State Firefighters Association:

I am incredibly honored to have received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Maryland State Firefighters Association.

This recognition is deeply meaningful to me because volunteer fire service has been part of my own life. From serving as a volunteer wildland firefighter to volunteering in Jacksonville, I have seen firsthand the courage, sacrifice, and sense of duty that define Maryland’s fire service.

This year, I was proud to sponsor Senate Bill 579, which was signed into law. This new law which provides no-cost preventive cancer screenings for Maryland’s volunteer and retired volunteer firefighters. This law is about taking care of the people who put their lives at risk for the community. These men and women run toward danger when others are running away. Too often, that service comes with long-term health risks, including increased exposure to cancer-causing conditions.

I am grateful to the Maryland State Firefighters Association for this recognition, but the credit belongs to the firefighters, EMTs, rescue personnel, and volunteers who answer the call every day and those who showed up to testify.

Fair Representation Should Not Be a Partisan Weapon:

Governor Moore has announced plans to bring the Maryland General Assembly back to Annapolis for a Special Session later this month. Based on the information available, it appears the primary focus will be congressional redistricting following recent court developments.

If the result is an attempt to redraw Maryland's congressional districts to eliminate the state's only Republican-held congressional seat, Marylanders should be deeply concerned. Elections should be decided by voters, not by politicians drawing district lines to predetermine the outcome.

In the 1990s, Maryland’s congressional representation was much more balanced. But over time, redistricting has been used to tilt the field further in one party’s favor. After the 2010 Census, Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District needed only modest population adjustments, about 17,414 people, to meet equal-population requirements. Instead, more than 711,000 people were moved into or out of the district, more than 40 times what was necessary. The federal district court later described the change as the “single greatest alteration of voter makeup in any district in the Nation following the 2010 census.”

Former Governor Martin O’Malley later acknowledged that the goal was to change Maryland’s congressional delegation from 6-2 to 7-1 by making a district more likely to elect a Democrat. Maryland tried again after the 2020 Census, when the General Assembly advanced a map widely viewed as an attempt to create an 8-0 Democratic congressional delegation. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave that map an “F” rating, while Governor Hogan’s bipartisan Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission map received an “A.” A court later struck down the legislature’s map, finding that Republican voters’ voices had been diluted.

Now, Governor Moore is again pursuing congressional redistricting. House Bill 488 passed the House and did not move forward in the Senate. The bill would have altered Maryland’s congressional boundaries for the 2026 election and future elections through the next post-2030 districting plan. The Governor’s advisory commission advanced a map that election analysts described as a renewed effort to move Maryland toward an all-Democratic congressional delegation. Which wasn't a secret, he was very open about it.

Special sessions are meant for extraordinary circumstances, not erosion of the rights of Marylanders. Our Constitution allows the Governor to convene the Legislature on “extraordinary occasions,” but another redistricting fight should not take priority over the real emergencies facing working families.

At a time when Marylanders are facing rising energy costs, higher taxes and fees, serious budget pressure, and the consequences of a Moody’s credit downgrade, Annapolis should be focused on affordability, energy reliability, public safety, nonprofit accountability, and protecting vulnerable Marylanders, not helping one party tighten its grip on power.

It's clear that Governor Moore's national political image is more important than the day-to-day needs of Marylanders.

Should we go back for another Special Session (which should be rare), we will have a limited amount of time to address vetoes of legislation that passed in both chambers, and work through legislation, which may not even be heard.

Effective July 1, 2026:

Maryland General Assembly Page Program:

Maryland high school seniors have an opportunity to see state government up close through the Student Page Program in Annapolis.

Through this program, students are assigned to serve in Annapolis for two weeks during the legislative session. Pages sit on the floor of the Senate or House of Delegates, receive formal introductions, assist with the day-to-day work of the legislative process, gain firsthand experience in the Maryland General Assembly, and build relationships with fellow students and public officials from across the state.

The program is open to Maryland high school seniors who are at least 16 years old. Interested students should contact the Page Coordinator for the county where their school is located to learn more about local application requirements and deadlines.

For our area:

Baltimore County
Mr. Kevin Jenkins — kjenkins8@bcps.org
Please copy: crook@bcps.org

Harford County
Ms. Erin Lange — Erin.Lange@hcps.org
Assisted by Ms. Lucy Brandt — Lucy.Brandt@hcps.org

Our young people are the future of Maryland. Programs like this give students a meaningful look at public service, responsibility, and how decisions are made on behalf of the people.

Please share this with a high school senior who may be interested in serving as a Student Page in Annapolis.

Town Hall on Public Safety: Baltimore County:

Baltimore County is hosting a Public Safety Town Hall series at CCBC Essex, at 7201 Rossville Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21237 on July 14th, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

If you'd like to learn what Baltimore County Government, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, and Baltimore County Police Department plan to do to mitigate the ongoing public safety concerns, I'd recommend attending.

Crime, especially juvenile crime, is something I have addressed several times, having toured the Hickey School in Parkville and met with Secretary Fox Tolentino, where she announced new policies her department had created. I look forward to hearing more on the topic and new policies that will be developed to mitigate the current spike.

In Harford, I toured the Detention Center in Harford County and met with Sheriff Gahler and the Warden, to discuss how crime is handled in Harford County.

In addition, the Maryland Senate Republicans and I have written numerous letters to both leaders of the Department of Juvenile Services under the Moore Administration and plan to continue to advocate for solutions that provide meaningful impact on our young people, the community, and those who count on a safe environment for a successful future.

Crime must be addressed in a multi-pronged manner.

On one hand, there must be a focus on reduction, through employment, mental health options, care for our most vulnerable, accessible education and community resources, which are funded and available.

There must also be expectations, accountability, and consequences. I look forward to seeing what expectations will be set forth, and the eventual impact on our communities, moving forward. I will continue to propose legislation and advocate for meaningful change that improves the quality of our communities, public safety, and achievement.

Congratulations!

Photo Credit: Shawn Leightcap of Shawn Leightcap Photography and Turn N Burn Photography

This is an amazing photograph of a Blue Angel with Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Rescue & Marine. Fleet Week is a truly special time in Maryland, where the state celebrates our servicemembers and has an extensive boat and air show. Made only more special by the 250th anniversary of the forming of the United States.

It is an honor to serve the residents of Legislative District 7.

If there is ever an issue that needs attention, please do not hesitate to contact me at jb.jennings@senate.maryland.gov. This may include community events, special recognitions, unresolved concerns involving state government, public resources, utilities, or other matters where my office may be able to assist.

Best Regards,

Senator J.B. Jennings

Legislative District 7

Baltimore & Harford Counties

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