Read more about the article “There’s No Money”: State Leaders Preview the 2026 Session at #MACoCon
County News / Feature / General Assembly News / Winter Conference
“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…

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December 17, 2025
Read more about the article Senate President Ferguson Announces Leadership, Committee Shifts Ahead of 2026 Session
County News / General Assembly News / News You Can Use
Senate President Ferguson Announces Leadership, Committee Shifts Ahead of 2026 Session

During this week's special session, Senate President Bill Ferguson announced several leadership and committee changes in preparation for the 2026 legislative session. Senator Benjamin Brooks (Baltimore County) will serve as chair of the Senate Executive Nominations Committee. Senator Katie Fry Hester (Howard and Montgomery) will chair the Senate Rules Committee. On the Budget and Taxation Committee, Senator Shelly Hettleman (Baltimore County) was named chair of the Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee. Senator Karen Lewis…

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December 17, 2025
Read more about the article Historic Transition as House Elects Peña-Melnyk Speaker
Feature / General Assembly News / News You Can Use
Historic Transition as House Elects Peña-Melnyk Speaker

During a special session this week, the Maryland House of Delegates elected Joseline Peña-Melnyk as the next Speaker, marking another historic moment for the chamber as it prepares for a challenging fiscal and policy year ahead. Speaker Peña-Melnyk becomes the first Afro-Latina and immigrant to lead the House. She steps into the role with unanimous support from her colleagues following Speaker Adrienne Jones’s decision earlier this month to step aside after more than six years…

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December 16, 2025
Read more about the article Special Session Will Choose New House Speaker, Consider Veto Overrides
Feature / General Assembly News
Special Session Will Choose New House Speaker, Consider Veto Overrides

Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis on Tuesday, December 16, for a special session called to elect a new Speaker of the House of Delegates. The session follows Speaker Adrienne Jones’ decision to step down after more than six years in the role. Governor Wes Moore issued the order earlier this week. The House Democratic Caucus will meet that morning to select its nominee, and the whole chamber will vote later that day. House Health…

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December 10, 2025
Read more about the article Historic Tenure Ending as Speaker Jones Steps Aside
Feature / General Assembly News
Historic Tenure Ending as Speaker Jones Steps Aside

Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones this week announced that she is stepping down after more than six years in the role. Jones made history as the first woman and first Black legislator to serve as Speaker, and her tenure shaped some of the most consequential policy debates in recent memory. The announcement came during a meeting of House committee chairs in Annapolis. Jones did not attend the meeting but released a written statement saying her…

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December 5, 2025
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Professor Todd Eberly on “Interesting Times” in MD Politics
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Emergency Management / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Intergovernmental Relations / Risk Management / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Conduit Street Podcast: Professor Todd Eberly on “Interesting Times” in MD Politics

As Maryland heads into a challenging budget year and an election cycle legislative session, Professor Todd Eberly of St. Mary’s College of Maryland joins the Conduit Street Podcast to unpack the forces shaping the state’s political and economic landscape.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!  

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December 5, 2025
Read more about the article Preview the 2026 Session “Big Picture”
County News / Feature / General Assembly News / Winter Conference
Preview the 2026 Session “Big Picture”

A compilation of Issue Papers previews major fiscal and policy issues facing the General Assembly in the year ahead. This resource is a handy guide to the top issues your legislators will tackle in 2026. It is an excellent preparation document for county officials before meetings with their local Delegations. Developed by the Department of Legislative Services, the 2026 Issue Papers are an annual staple for the Annapolis policy-inclined population. They are also an excellent resource for county officials…

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December 2, 2025
Read more about the article Governor Moore Appoints Howard “Kevin” Anderson to Fill District 38A Vacancy
General Assembly News / News You Can Use
Governor Moore Appoints Howard “Kevin” Anderson to Fill District 38A Vacancy

Governor Wes Moore announced a new appointment to the House of Delegates for District 38A, naming Howard “Kevin” Anderson to succeed the late Delegate Charles Otto. Anderson will represent Somerset County and portions of the Lower Shore for the remainder of the term. “Kevin Anderson is a son of the Eastern Shore, with deep roots in Somerset County and a lifelong commitment to growing Maryland’s agricultural sector,” said Governor Moore. “He understands the needs of…

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November 26, 2025
Read more about the article Fiscal Reality Check: State Projects $1.4B Shortfall, With Deficits Climbing Toward $4B
Source: DLS
County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Fiscal Reality Check: State Projects $1.4B Shortfall, With Deficits Climbing Toward $4B

Maryland’s budget picture has darkened. The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) informed lawmakers this week that the State now faces a $1.4 billion shortfall in fiscal 2027, nearly five times larger than the projection made in the spring. The updated forecast from DLS, presented to the Spending Affordability Committee, indicates that slower revenue growth, higher baseline costs, and statutory transfers to the Rainy Day Fund have significantly altered Maryland’s fiscal trajectory. From Surplus to Shortfall…

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November 12, 2025
Read more about the article Central Committees Nominate Howard Anderson To Fill District 38A Delegate Vacancy
General Assembly News / News You Can Use
Central Committees Nominate Howard Anderson To Fill District 38A Delegate Vacancy

The Republican Central Committee of Somerset County announced the nomination to fill the District 38A House of Delegates vacancy following the passing of Delegate Charles Otto, with the Tri-County Republican Committee forwarding Howard “Kevin” Anderson for appointment. According to a Republican Central Committee of Somerset County Facebook post: Congratulations to Howard Kevin Anderson for his selection by the tri-county 38A District from an impressive pool of candidates as the nominee to fill the vacant Delegate…

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November 10, 2025
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