2025 Legislative Wrap Up

in Maryland

Dear Neighbor,

The 2025 Maryland General Assembly session has officially come to a close—and I’ll be blunt: Annapolis is spending us into crisis. I showed up every day to fight back against reckless spending, opaque backroom deals, and policies that punish working families while pushing extreme agendas. I’ve been your voice in the room when common sense was ignored and accountability was nowhere to be found.

This newsletter includes key highlights from the session, if you’d like more information on any issue, my door is always open.

STRUCTURAL DEFICIT: A CRISIS OF THEIR OWN MAKING

Let’s call it what it is: Maryland is in a financial mess, and it’s not by accident—it’s by design.

For the third year in a row, the General Assembly wielded its new power to increase and shift funds around the state budget—a power granted by voters through Question 1 in 2020. But instead of using that power responsibly, they doubled down on spending and borrowing. The result? A staggering $3.3 billion deficit to start the session, and a looming $6 billion deficit by 2030 if nothing changes.

This fiscal cliff wasn’t created by chance. It’s the direct result of unchecked spending on programs like the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, green energy fantasies, and a Medicaid expansion that our economy can’t sustain. The state is mortgaging your future to appease special interests today.

THE OPERATING BUDGET: A SHAM “BALANCE” ON YOUR BACKS

Passing the state budget is the legislature’s only constitutional duty—and they still managed to get it wrong.

Despite multiple amendments to rein in spending and avoid hammering taxpayers, the majority party rammed through a so-called “balanced” budget that relies on over $1.6 billion in new taxes and fees—a burden you’ll feel in your wallet. Even worse? We were given just days to review the budget’s final form. That’s not transparency—it’s legislative malpractice.

This budget also includes $800 million in shady fund transfers, and they bragged about making “cuts” by not putting money into our Rainy Day Fund—as if skipping savings is fiscal responsibility. They even shifted $144 million in costs onto county governments, which means you’ll end up paying more in local taxes too.

I voted NO on this betrayal of working families. I stood firm because you deserve better than budget gimmicks and broken promises.

THE BRFA: A TROJAN HORSE FOR TAXES

The Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) was once meant to fine-tune budget formulas. This year? It became a tool to sneak in even more tax and fee increases under the radar. It’s a textbook case of using technical legislation to mask political agendas.

BRFA TAX & FEE INCREASES:

• Phase out itemized deductions for federal AGI above $200,000.
• New tax bracket of 6.25% for single filers with income of $500,001-$1,000,000 and joint filers with income of $600,001-$1,200,000.
• New tax bracket of 6.5% for single filers with income over $1 million and joint filers with income over $1.2 million.
• Establish a 2% surcharge on capital gains for filers with income over $350,000.
• Increase the sports wagering tax from 15% to 20% (33% increase).
• Impose a 3% sales tax on data/IT services.
• Repeal sales tax exemption for sales of photographic and artistic material used in advertising.
• Repeal sales tax exemption for sales of precious metal coins or bullion over $1,000.
• Increase cannabis tax from 9% to 12% (33% increase)
• Apply 6% sales tax to vending machine snacks.
• Authorize counties to increase their maximum local income tax rate from 3.2% to 3.3%
• Doubles certificate of title fees on automobiles.
• Increases the vehicle excise tax to 6.5%

• Increases the maximum VEIP fees from $14 to $30 and increases late fees.
• Establishes a $5 per tire fee for each new tire purchased.
• Limits which vehicles qualify for historic tags from 1999 and older models rather than 20 years.
• Eliminates the registration fee discount for short-term vehicle rentals.
• Applies a 3.5% excise tax to short-term rental vehicles.
• 25% increase in the tire recycling fee (from 80 cents to $1) and indexed to the CPI.
• Establishes the unemployment insurance fee.
• Rental Property Lead Registration Fee
• Increase Securities Agent Fee
• Alter weights and measures Registration and Process Fees
• Increase and alter surface mining fees
• Increase voluntary cleanup program fees
• Increase fees for certification of nurseries, licensing of plant brokers and dealers, and inspection of nursery stock.
• Increase horse establishment license renewal
• Increase wholesale seedsman permit fee 

LEGISLATION I INTRODUCED

HB188 was a reintroduction that would have prohibited adversary countries from participating in our state procurement system. This bill once again passed the house chamber unanimously but did not advance in the senate chamber. Why are we protecting foreign threats more than our own taxpayers?

HB229 / SB32 Reinforces Maryland's commitment to supporting its active-duty service members and their families by streamlining the legal process of active-duty service members and their spouses as landlords dealing with holdover tenants. While the House Bill did not move, its cross-file is headed to the Governor’s Desk.

HB1451 The Climate Solutions Affordability Act Bill of 2025 would have injected common sense reality into these overly ambitious regulations to the Climate Solutions Act Now Bill of 2022 by simply adding “to the extent economically practical” to all of these regulations. Marylanders deserve energy policy rooted in reality, not utopian green mandates that explode your utility bills. An amendment was offered to repeal the EmPOWER program altogether which would have immediately reduced costs on Marylander's utility bills. Unfortunately, this bill did not even earn a vote in committee. That’s not democracy—it’s cowardice.

I also fought hard on the House floor, offering a series of common-sense, well-reasoned amendments to major energy and budget bills — all aimed at correcting course and mitigating the harm these bills would cause everyday Marylanders. These proposals weren’t radical; they were practical steps toward transparency and accountability. But true to form, the majority refused to even consider them. They thrive in the shadows of Annapolis, and they despise the light of public scrutiny.

OTHER LEGISLATION OF NOTE

BUSINESS & TAX HIKES

An all-out assault on your wallet:

• HB40 raised fishing license fees, including for seniors. Because apparently retirees are now seen as a revenue stream. Passed.
• HB482 allows agencies to charge up to $100 for occupational license background checks. Passed.
• HB719 hiked fees on boat titles and dealer licenses. More cost, same government. Passed.
• HB1554 would’ve slapped a 3% sales tax on business-to-business services—another tax on job creators. Failed.

EDUCATION

Activist overreach and financial sleight-of-hand:

• HB161 mandates schools teach gender identity starting in Kindergarten using a locked curriculum that can’t be changed—even if parents object. Schools risk losing funding if they try. Passed.
• HB226 gives Anne Arundel the option to cut early dismissal days. Passed.
• HB380 — the “Condoms for Kindergarteners” bill — would’ve allowed vending machines with contraceptives in schools including pre-K. Passed the house, but advocacy and public outcry killed it before it got a hearing in the Senate. Failed.
• HB504 shifts per-pupil funding calculations and delays teacher planning time. It’s a shell game with student funding. Passed.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Sky-high costs dressed up as climate progress:

• HB1035/SB937 claims to boost energy supply but offers no support for nuclear and slams natural gas with mandates and conversion costs. The “relief” this bill provides for ratepayers? Two rebates for Fiscal Year 2026 only of under $100. Passed.
• HB1036/SB931 strips local governments of the right to block large solar or battery projects—even in preserved farmland. Passed.
• HB1037/SB909 spends $10 million to create a new state energy office. More bureaucracy, no real energy savings. Passed.

IMMIGRATION

Prioritizing politics over public safety:

• SB608 expands U visa access for noncitizens, putting more strain on law enforcement already stretched thin. Passed.
• SB828 would have blocked ICE from operating near schools, churches, and hospitals. Failed.
• HB1222 originally designed to block local police from cooperating with ICE. Final bill was watered down but still Passed.

HEADLINES & HOT-BUTTONS

• SB444 would’ve forced law enforcement to destroy all surrendered firearms, and requires law enforcement agencies to verify whether surrendered firearms are lost, stolen, or evidence in a crime before destruction. Failed.
• SB587 creates a Maryland Reparations Commission. A $178,000 taxpayer-funded study to recommend benefits based on ancestry. Passed.
• HB853 lets inmates retroactively petition for sentence reductions. A win for criminals, not victims. Passed.
• HB1378 Prohibits the filing of certain child sexual abuse claims against the State or a unit of State government after January 1, 2026. Passed.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BOND BILLS

We had 4 projects in District 31 and the surrounding Severna Park area. The following were funded through Legislative Bond Initiatives in either the Senate, the House, or both:

• Stoney Beach Living Shoreline - $120,000
• Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company - $50,000
• Chesapeake High School - $100,000
• Severna Park Elks- $120,000

(Pictured, from left to right)

Matthew – Communications Coordinator

Lighting up the truth and calling out Democrat's shady moves, Matthew keeps Maryland residents informed and fired up.

Zach – Legislative Aide

Deep in the weeds of legislation so you don’t have to be, Zach exposes what’s really hidden in Annapolis’ most outrageous bills.

Aysia – Chief of Staff

The engine behind the operation, Aysia runs the show, knows policy inside and out, and never stops fighting for District 31 and all of Maryland.

Brian A. Chisholm – Your District 31 Delegate

Standing strong in Annapolis, Brian is fighting for our small businesses and holding the line against nonsense taxes, ridiculous fees, and the never-ending stream of bad legislation.

Respectfully,

Brian Chisholm

Delegate, District 31

Maryland General Assembly