“There’s No Money”: State Leaders Preview the 2026 Session at #MACoCon

At the MACo Winter Conference, legislative leaders and administration officials offered a blunt preview of the fiscal landscape facing Maryland heading into the 2026 session. The discussion centered on budget constraints, economic competitiveness, energy costs, and the growing pressure on counties as State decisions ripple outward.

Frederick County Council Member and 2026 MACo President MC Keegan-Ayer moderated the General Assembly Forecast session and kept the conversation grounded in the local impacts counties experience first when fiscal pressures tighten.

Panel speakers included:

  • The Honorable David Moon, Majority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates
  • The Honorable Steve Hershey, Minority Leader, Maryland Senate
  • The Honorable Jason Buckel, Minority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates
  • Jeremy Baker, Chief Legislative Officer, Office of Governor Wes Moore

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House Majority Leader David Moon opened with praise for outgoing Speaker Adrienne Jones, then moved quickly to the central problem for 2026: “There’s no money.” He linked that reality to a set of pressures converging simultaneously, including infrastructure needs, housing costs, population trends, and rising healthcare demand. Moon framed growth as a core challenge, stressing that Maryland needs investment to support it, even as the budget tightens.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey stressed that Maryland must live within its means as deficits widen and costs continue to climb. He called for a more competitive business climate, urged a hard look at what works and what does not, and flagged Blueprint pressure on both the State and counties. Hershey also warned that energy prices will rise further next year, adding strain for residents, businesses, and local governments.

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel argued that Maryland’s economic policy choices helped create today’s fiscal problems. He pushed back against shifting costs to counties as a budget solution and called for bipartisan work on affordability and growth rather than shifting responsibilities without resources.

Jeremy Baker opened by recognizing outgoing Speaker Jones and then turned to the constitutional bottom line: Maryland must balance its budget. He flagged federal OBBBA changes as a significant hit that will cost Maryland hundreds of millions, but said the State will balance its books despite those pressures.

Keegan-Ayer closed by noting that budget decisions are made first at the county level, and their effects are felt locally first in infrastructure, schools, public safety, and core services.

The session took place on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland.

More about MACo’s Winter Conference: