MARYLAND’s ACA CUSTOMERS MAY SEE SIGNIFICANT INSURANCE HIKES: Maryland residents who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act may see significant increases in premiums next year due to the potential loss of the federal premium tax credit. Maryland insurers are proposing a 17% average hike for premiums next year, stating the loss of the credits as a major factor in losing potential customers. In the meantime, the Maryland Insurance Administration is working with the state Health Benefit Exchange to create a state subsidy to help mitigate the impact. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
- Roughly 500,000 Marylanders are covered through a state exchange. But the hike – 17% for individual; 5.5% for businesses – could put health insurance out of reach for many middle-income people at a time when big cuts also are expected in Medicaid. As a result, exchange officials estimate up to 70,000 people might forgo coverage. Meredith Cohn/The Baltimore Banner.
- Insurers say the rate increases are needed to account for the federal insurance premium tax credits under the ACA that are set to expire at the end of the year. If the tax credit remained, insurers would only be seeking “an overall average rate change of 7.9%, with most carriers filing for an increase between 5% and 7%,” the MIA statement said. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
BRAVEBOY DECLARES VICTORY IN PG COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE: Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy is claiming victory in the special general election for county executive Tuesday after amassing over 89% of the unofficial vote over Republican Jonathan White. The county Board of Elections hasn’t officially called the race, but Braveboy’s win positions her to serve the remaining two years of Angela Alsobrooks’ term, who stepped down after winning a U.S. Senate seat last November. Will Vitka/WTOP-FM.
- “This is the first time in a very long time that we have a united executive and legislative branch,” Braveboy, 50, said. “Everyone who has been elected to serve, we have all agreed that we are going to work together to serve you and not ourselves.” One of the first priorities in the office, Braveboy said, is simply cleaning up the county. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
MO CO LAWMAKERS OUTLINE RIPPLE EFFECT OF FEDERAL CUTS, STATE BUDGET WOES: Following a challenging 2025 Maryland General Assembly session, Sen. Brian Feldman says one of the biggest struggles for lawmakers was adjusting to changes at the federal level – including the mass firings of thousands of federal workers. “Just last month, Maryland lost more than 2,600 federal jobs … and this has a ripple effect,” Feldman, who represents Potomac, said at a Monday legislative breakfast held by the Committee for Montgomery, a coalition of business, education and civic associations that advocate for the General Assembly to prioritize issues and causes considered vital for Montgomery County. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today.
KLAUSMEIER CONTENDS BA CO IG MADIGAN NEVER ASKED TO BE REAPPOINTED: Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said the county’s first inspector general never asked to be re-appointed to her position, so she decided she would “go by the charter” and require Kelly Madigan to re-apply for her job. Madigan’s emails tell a different story. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
BA CO COUNCIL EXPANSION, REDISTRICTING A LONG, LOUD ROAD: Baltimore County’s redistricting process is not quite all over but the shouting. The shouting is pretty loud and shows no signs of subsiding. When the County Council voted last year to expand from seven members to nine, the decision launched a process that will take months, require hours of public officials’ time, and ultimately not please all residents. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
NEXT ARUNDEL EXEC TO SEE 27% SALARY INCREASE: The next Anne Arundel County Executive will earn an annual salary of $180,000 after the County Council on Monday unanimously supported the first pay raise for the position since 2017. The approved bill, introduced by council Chair Julie Hummer, a Democrat, on behalf of County Executive Steuart Pittman, would raise the position’s annual salary from $142,000 when the next county executive is inaugurated in December 2026, a 27% increase. James Matheson/The Baltimore Sun.
RASKIN’s PET BILL COULD SHOW SOME UNITY BETWEEN PARTIES: There’s a wide divide between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Maybe dogs can bridge the gap? Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Montgomery County Democrat, will reintroduce a bill on Wednesday that would allow pet stores to donate expired food and kibble to animal shelters. Rep. Young Kim, a California Republican, will join as its Republican sponsor. The legislation’s Senate companion is expected to be reintroduced by Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, and Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.
FREDERICK COUNTY MAY LOSE FEDERAL FARM SUBSIDY FOR SCHOOL MEALS: Frederick County Public Schools may lose some federal funding after the USDA canceled the Local Food For Schools Cooperative Agreement Program in March. The program sought to create strong food chain networks by providing states with funding that local governments could use to purchase produce from farmers in their communities. Nathanael Miller/WYPR-FM.
PROGRAM OFFERS PARENTS WAYS TO OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH KIDS: The Parent Encouragement Program in Kensington offers parents new ways to connect with their children and improve their relationship, by teaching parents how to communicate with their children in an encouraging and respectful way. Ethan Therrien of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
