‘CUTS ARE COMING,’ SENATE PREZ FERGUSON WARNS: Senate President Bill Ferguson is warning Maryland lawmakers they will have to walk a tightrope this session to maintain state priorities while bridging a $2.7 billion budget deficit — and that’s before potential cuts to federal funds that the state relies on. “Cuts are coming,” he said on Tuesday. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
- Maryland’s 447th legislative session begins Wednesday when lawmakers will take on a massive budget deficit and prepare for the second term of President-elect Donald Trump. “I worked in public service for over 40 years, and I know that it’s not always easy to play defense,” Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, said Tuesday. “But I’ve learned there is a season for everything.” Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
AS SESSION OPENS, LAWMAKERS TARGET EDUCATION SYSTEM FIXES: As the countdown begins on the General Assembly’s 90-day legislative sprint, the only guarantee is that elected officials need to solve a nearly $3 billion problem. But legislators have already made other priorities known through the bills introduced ahead of session, including some that could alter the state’s education system, from school cellphone bans to lowering the cost of applying to college. Maya Lora, Kristen Griffith and Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
PRE-FILED BILLS ALSO ADDRESS CHILD CARE STAFFING, ‘FOOD DESERTS:’ Here’s a look at some of the bills already filed that would impact Marylanders the most, including addressing food deserts, altering staffing requirements in child care facilities and increasing fines for speeding. The “Food Desert Bill,” sponsored by Frederick Republican Sen. Johnny Ray Salling, would identify areas to add grocery stores in Maryland, where there are food shortages. Glynis Kazanjian/The Baltimore Sun.
WITH CARTER’s MOVE, SYDNOR TO TAKE LEAD ON SENTENCE REDUCTION BILL: The General Assembly lost one of the main advocates for legislation that would allow for the modification or reduction of a prison sentence, when former Sen. Jill P. Carter stepped down after her appointment last month to the Maryland Board of Contract Appeals. But Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County) plans to step in to that spot and sponsor the measure in the 2025 legislative session that begins today. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
SEN. KLAUSMEIER NAMED BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE: With a promise “to do great things for Baltimore County,” Kathy Klausmeier was sworn in Tuesday afternoon as the county’s 15th executive. The Baltimore County Council voted unanimously for Klausmeier to finish the remaining two years of Johnny Olszewski’s term. Olszewski resigned last week and took the seat in Congress he won in November. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
- Klausmeier, a Maryland state senator has represented Baltimore County for almost 30 years, said, “I am thrilled and honored to be here, and humbled and every other word I can think of.” Blair Young and Kate Amara/WBAL-TV News.
- Klausmeier becomes the first woman to serve as county executive. The announcement comes after a two-month process that resulted in 12 applications and public presentations by five final candidates. During her presentation, Klausmeier said she would not seek re-election in 2026 and highlighted her experience in advocating for the county in the State House. JT Moodee Lockman and Kelsey Kushner/WJZ-TV News.
- Klausmeier, 74, said her priorities are to increase public safety, balance the budget, make government more efficient, maintain the county’s AAA bond rating and invest in public schools and parks. She also stressed investing in the arts, quipping: “There’s more to life than sports, but you know, go Ravens.” “I want to hear from all our residents and work with all of them and use my ears to listen,” she said. “Our work will begin in earnest tomorrow morning.” Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
- With Klausmeier’s Senate resignation to become county executive, there are three vacancies in the Senate Democratic Caucus: Klausmeier’s seat, the seat in District 30 that was held by now-U.S. Rep. Sarah K. Elfreth (D), and the 41st District seat, where Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City) recently resigned after being nominated to the State Board of Contract Appeals. The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee on Saturday narrowly recommended nominating Del. Shaneka Henson (D) to replace Elfreth in the Senate. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- D’Andrea Walker, who has served as acting county executive since Olszewski’s resignation, will return to her role as county administrative officer. Marcus Dieterle/Baltimore Fishbowl.
MARYLAND DEMS GATHER FOR ANNUAL PRE-SESSION EVENT: While Maryland Democrats continue to celebrate electoral victories at home in 2024, they are still stunned by Democratic losses in national elections and fear the myriad impacts President-elect Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress could have on the state. And while Democrats control all levers of state government and enjoy supermajorities in both chambers, they are staring at enormous deficits, which have to be closed over the next 90 days — and which are expected to necessitate uncomfortable choices over taxes and spending in the weeks ahead. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
KEY BRIDGE WORK SET TO BEGIN: The first steps in the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge are set to begin later this week, according to the MDTA. Pre-construction activities were originally set to begin Tuesday but were postponed due to snow in the area of the rebuild. Christian Olaniran and Dennis Valera/WJZ-TV News.
POLL: MOST MARYLANDERS WANT LOCAL COOPERATION WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT: Maryland voters overwhelmingly support requiring local officials in the state to cooperate with federal law enforcement agents in the effort to arrest and deport aliens in Maryland who have committed crimes. Statewide, 76% support requiring local officials to cooperate with federal agents (56% “strongly” support and 20% “somewhat” support), while only 20% oppose this (13% “strongly” oppose and 7% “somewhat” oppose), with 4% offering no opinion. Patrick Gonzales/Maryland Reporter.
- Gonzales surveyed 811 registered voters who said they are likely to vote in the next election. The poll asked voters about cooperation with enforcement of immigration laws, the job performance of President Joe Biden as well as views on Trump, and the direction of the country. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
$85 MILLION IN FED FUNDING TO REDEVELOP ‘HIGHWAY TO NOWHERE:’ More than $85 million in federal funding has been allocated to begin redeveloping the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore, Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks and Congressman Kweisi Mfume announced Tuesday. JT Moodee Lockman/WJZ-TV News.
