MOORE BUDGET INCLUDES SHIFTING $144M IN COSTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: County government leaders knew that Maryland’s fiscal 2026 budget season – with its $3 billion deficit and proposed $2 billion in budget cuts — would be a tough one. But according to state fiscal analysts Gov. Moore’s proposed budget also includes about $144 million in costs shifting from the state onto local governments — which could have been worse, county leaders say, but still isn’t ideal. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
UNIVERSITIES BRACE FOR $100M IN EDUCATION CUTS: Leaders at several public universities in Maryland are wrestling with Gov. Wes Moore’s proposal to cut over $100 million in state funding for higher education. At some institutions, the cuts will feel a little deeper. Other schools have a roadmap for facing hard times and pulling through. Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE’s REWRITING OF BLUEPRINT TO IMPACT POOR, IMMIGRANT STUDENTS: Gov. Wes Moore is proposing to rewrite major portions of Maryland’s landmark education law, cutting nearly one-fifth of the new funding the state promised schools by 2029. While Moore has portrayed his bill as “pausing” pieces of the 10-year plan, the effect will be felt most by students living in poverty and immigrant students learning English. Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.
MEANWHILE, TEACHERS LOBBY FOR FULL FUNDING OF BLUEPRINT: Ninth-grade math teacher Joseph Mahach has a simple message for Maryland lawmakers: Fully fund the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The Baltimore City teacher joined dozens of fellow American Federation of Teachers Maryland members Monday at their annual lobby night in Annapolis, where their main objective was to persuade lawmakers to stay the course and keep the 10-year education reform plan intact. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
STATE EXTENDS CONTRACT TO TRACK TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: Gov. Wes Moore’s office has extended an agreement to employ outside consultants to help track the influx of executive orders and other policy changes coming down from President Donald Trump’s White House. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
MARYLAND CONGRESSMEN WARN WHITE HOUSE ON PAUSE IN MEDICAL RESEARCH: The abrupt pause in hiring, public communications, meetings and training workshops for some scientists at the Maryland-based National Institutes of Health since President Donald Trump took office is a threat to important medical research, some Maryland Democratic lawmakers warned Monday. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE SAYS MARYLAND TO FOLLOW CONSTITUTION ON IMMIGRATION POLICY: Gov. Wes Moore on Monday said that Maryland will follow the Constitution regarding President Donald Trump’s commitment to deport people who have entered the country illegally. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
- Gov. Wes Moore this week declined to say whether he would deploy the Maryland National Guard to the southern border if asked by the federal government, raising questions about whether he would deny such a request from President Donald Trump. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
EDUCATORS, LAWMAKERS SEEK TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE ICE SCHOOL ACCESS: School districts and education officials across Maryland are considering how to respond if ICE officials unexpectedly show up at a school seeking student information. There are roughly 50,000 undocumented immigrants younger than 18 in Maryland. And Del. Jheanelle Wilkins said she plans to introduce an emergency bill that would establish guidance around ICE access to schools, courthouses, health care facilities, places of worship, among others. Bridget Byrne/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE GETS OK FOR PILOT PROGRAM TO AID FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE: In the final hours of the Biden administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a program that will give Maryland more leeway in how it administers Medicaid services. The 1115 waiver program allows states to explore experimental pilot programs with certain populations to better healthcare services. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
COLUMN: A HODGE-PODGE OF ODD BILLS: Why did state Sen. Bryan Simonaire introduce legislation in Annapolis to end state inspection of those sweet orange melons at summer farmers markets? Sen. Pamela Beidle wants to ban state transportation spending on maglev trains, which could one day cross this Democrat’s corner of Anne Arundel. Prince George’s County lawmakers want a memorial sign for the 95 people killed in accidents on Indian Head Highway since 2007. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
ALSOBROOKS BACKS HAWKINS AS NEXT PG COUNTY EXEC: Among news tidbits, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D) officially endorsed At-Large Prince George’s County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (D) in the crowded race to replace her as Prince George’s County executive. Alsobrooks, who was sworn in Jan. 3 as the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate, said in a statement Friday that Hawkins will be someone “that puts people first.” William Ford and Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
